AS21600 Katana:Suifu Ju Katsumura Norikatsu Saku Kore (first generation)

Ordering number: AS21600
Katana in Koshirae(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)(Toensha estimation paper)

Signature :　Suifu Ju Katsumura Norikatsu Saku Kore (first generation)
水府住勝村徳勝作之
Bunkyu 4 Nen 2 Gatsu Hi
文久四年二月日

explanation: First-generation Norikatsu made this sword in February, Bunkyu 4(1864).
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyo-jyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jyou Jyo saku ranking.
The blade was polished.
Habaki :　Gold foiled single habaki.
Blade length:64.4cm or 25.35inches.
Sori:2.0cm or 0.78inches.
Mekugi:1
Width at the hamachi:3.09cm or 1.21inches.
Width at the Kissaki:2.08 cm or 0.81inches.
Kasane:0.73cm or 0.28inches.
The weight of the sword:735grams.
Era: The late Edo period, Bunkyu 3(1864)
Shape: The blade is thick and has slightly deeper Sori and longer Kissaki.
Jigane: Koitame-hada gets close together well and flows like Masa, Jinie is attached a lot, Chikei appers.
Hamon: Niedeki, Gunome-midare with deep Nioikuchi, Ashi works well, Sunagashi and Kinsuji work actively in Hachu. Boshi is Niedeki and tuns back round.

Special feature: Katsumura Norikatsu, also known as Hikorokum originally learned sword making from Norimune and later moved to Edo and also learned from Hosokawa Masayoshi and Ishido Unju Korekzu. Norikatsu 1st and 2nd both made Masame-Jigane, however, there are sometimes Koitame-hada works like this one. Many of Mito Samurai liked his works.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Oval iron Tsuba, dragon and waves are engraved with gold color.
Fuchikashira: On iron plate, patterns are engraved with gold color.
Saya: Black roiro Saya.
Menuki: On Shakudo plate, Chinese Phoenix is engraved and colored with gold.

From Aoi Art: Most of works of Suifu Ju Katsumura Norikatsu have Masame-hada, but we sometimes find works with Koitame-hada. This is just a personal opinion though, works with Masame-hada have tendency to be Suguha-deki while Koitame-hada to be radical Gunome-midare. This is perhaps because it is very difficult to make Gunome with Masame-hada, there weren’t any choice but to make Koitame-hada. This work has head-aligned Gunome with deep Nioikuchi, and there Ashi comes in largely, Sunagashi and Kinsuji work actively in Hachu. This is a masterpiece by Norikatsu without a doubt. Koshirae is not gorgeous but it has a calm atmosphere and we truly recommend this work for you. There is Ububa left and it is in unbelievably healthy condition as if we touched the skin of clams.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token
Toensha estimation paper
Aoi Art estimation paper: whole Oshigata.