AS17228 Katana: Echizen Ju Hyuga Kami Fujiwara Sadakuni

Ordering number : AS17228
Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae.(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature : Echizen Ju Hyuga Kami Fujiwara Sadakuni

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jyo-jyo Saku ranking.
The blade was polished.
Blade length : 68.6 cm or 27.0 inches.
Sori :0.7 cm or 0.27 inches.
Mekugi : 2
Width at the hamachi : 3.16 cm or 1.24 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 2.28 cm or 0.89 inches.
Kasane :0.58 cm or 0.22 inches.
weight :735 grams
Era : Edo period Kanbun era.
Shape : There is about 6cm of Suriage and Machiokuri. Regular width, thickness and Sori sword but Kissaki is longer. Typical Kan-ei era shape sword. Characters are engraved on both side, Futasuji-Hi is engraved on backside.
Jigane : Ko-Itame-Hada well grained, Jinie attached Aoe style beautiful Jigane.
Hamon: Niedeki Suguha with soft Habuchi. Ashi and Yo worked, long Sunagashi and Kinsuji worked. Boshi is long shape.

Special feature: Echizen Ju Hyuga Kami Fujiwara Sadakuni is Echizen’s sword smith who worked around Keicho era. His works look very similar to Yasutsugu 1st so some people says they are the same person or he was study from Yasutsugu. Also some people says he is Kotetsu’s master. And also some people says he was also famous and popular carving crafter.

Koshirae : Toppei style Koshirae.
Tsuba: Mokko style copper plate Shingen Tsuba.
Fuchikashira: Shakudo Nanako plate. Dragon is engraved with gold color.
Saya: Sakura tree is engraved with lacquar.
Menuki: Pure gold plate(?) Dragon is engraved.
Kojiri: Shakudo plate.

From Aoi Art: Sadakuni maybe is Yasutsugu 1st generation, but this is not clear and we also not sure.
The sword has Suriage and also Machiokuri but Jigane is very beautiful and carvings also nice. The carving style of Mei is also similar to Kotetsu and this is why people says Kotetsu is his student.
Hamon also wonderful and it seems like Koto.

NBTHK Hozon paper.
Aoi Art estimation paper: whole Oshigata.