Page Last Updated: Tuesday, 03 November 2015 11:45 EDT, © 2010, 2013, 2014

Col Hartley's Collection

Gallery 1: Japanese Edged Weapons, Katana

 

 

 

 
Type KATANA
Smith YOSHIHARU
Papers  
Body Test  
Other  
Sugata (shape, form) SHINOGI ZUKURI
Mei (signature) YOSHIHARU
Date NONE
Nagasa (blade length) 66.04cm (26")
Overall length 81.28cm (32")
Mihaba (blade body width) 3.175cm (1.25")
Kasane (blade thickness) 0.79cm (0.3125")
Sori (curvature) 1.90cm (0.75")
Nakago shortening UBU
Mekugi Ana (nakago holes) ONE
Yasurime (nakago file marks) UNFINISHED
Mune (blade back) IORI
Hada (skin texture) ?
Hamon (temper) ?
Boshi (point temper) ?
Horimono Omote (front carving) NONE
Horimono Ura (back carving) NONE
Habaki (collar) NONE
Saya (scabard) NAKED BLADE
Saya notes  
General notes (Photo by Ed Marshall, click below for more photos) Not often one has the chance to see a blade which was never completed. 


Katana, Yoshiharu.

 

Type KATANA 
Smith MASAHIRO
Papers  
Body Test  
Other  
Sugata (shape, form) SHINOGI ZUKURI
Mei (signature) MUMEI
Date NONE
Nagasa (blade length) 65.09cm (25.625")
Overall length 85.09cm (33.5")
Mihaba (blade body width) 30.02cm (1.1875")
Kasane (blade thickness) 0.63cm (0.25")
Sori (curvature) 0.95cm (0.375")
Nakago shortening O-SURIAGE
Mekugi Ana (nakago holes) THREE
Yasurime (nakago file marks) KIRI
Mune (blade back) IORI
Hada (skin texture) KO-MOKUME WITH MASAME IN SHINOGI
Hamon (temper) CHU SUGUHA WITH GUNOME
Boshi (point temper) KO_MARU
Horimono Omote (front carving) NONE
Horimono Ura (back carving) NONE
Habaki (collar) 1PC. SILVER FOIL
Saya (scabard) SHIRASAYA
Saya notes  
General notes (Photo by Ed Marshall, click below for more photos)  


Katana, Masahiro

 

Type KATANA 
Smith NAGAYUKI
Papers  
Body Test  
Other  
Sugata (shape, form) SHINOGI ZUKURI
Mei (signature) MUMEI
Date  
Nagasa (blade length)  
Overall length  
Mihaba (blade body width)  
Kasane (blade thickness) 0.63cm (0.25")
Sori (curvature)  
Nakago shortening UBU
Mekugi Ana (nakago holes) TWO
Yasurime (nakago file marks)  
Mune (blade back) IORI
Hada (skin texture)  
Hamon (temper)  
Boshi (point temper) KO_MARU
Horimono Omote (front carving) NONE
Horimono Ura (back carving) NONE
Habaki (collar) TWO PIECE GOLD FOIL
Saya (scabard) SHIRASAYA
Saya notes  
General notes (Photo by Ed Marshall, click below for more photos)  


Katana, Mumei

 

Type KATANA
Smith HIZEN TADAHIRO
Papers  
Body Test WITH BODY TEST
Other  
Sugata (shape, form) SHINOGI ZUKURI
Mei (signature) HIZEN no KUNI JU OMI DAIJO FUJIWARA TADAHIRO
Date DATE FOR BODY TEST
Nagasa (blade length) 69.53cm (27.375")
Overall length 90.01cm (35.44")
Mihaba (blade body width) 3.18cm (1.25")
Kasane (blade thickness) 0.63cm (0.25")
Sori (curvature) 1.27cm (0.5")
Nakago shortening SURIAGE
Mekugi Ana (nakago holes) TWO
Yasurime (nakago file marks) KIRI
Mune (blade back) IORI
Hada (skin texture) ITAME
Hamon (temper) KO-MIDARE BASED ON SUGUHA
Boshi (point temper) KO_MARU
Horimono Omote (front carving) NONE
Horimono Ura (back carving) NONE
Habaki (collar) 1 PC. SILVER
Saya (scabard) SHIRASAYA
Saya notes  
General notes (Photo by Ed Marshall, click below for more photos) Katana inscribed Hizen no Kuni Ju Omi no Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro.  The sword is in good condition with on some surface condition issues such as oxidation, surface scratches, etc., but nothing fatal or detrimental. The sword also contains a body test inscription which translates as follows: Kansei hachi tatsudoshi yongatsu nijűichinichi – wakige dotanbarai Yamada Gengorô Yoshimutsu (寛政八辰年四月廿一日・腋毛土壇拂・山田源五郎吉睦) “Yamada Gengorô Yoshimitsu performed [with this blade] on the consecrated test ground a wakige armpit cut on the 21st day of the fourth month Kansei eight (1796), year of the dragon” Yoshimutsu was a samurai cutting tester (suemono-kirite, 据物斬手) of the Yamada Asaemon school. He was active around Bunka (文化, 1804-1818).


Katana, Tadahiro

 

Type KATANA
Smith HIZEN MASAHIRO
Papers  
Body Test / BODY TEST
Other  
Sugata (shape, form) SHINOGI ZUKURI
Mei (signature) HIZEN no KUNI KAWACHI no KAMI MASAHIRO
Date DATE FOR BODY TEST
Nagasa (blade length) 68.58cm (27")
Overall length 88.9cm (35")
Mihaba (blade body width) 3.01cm (1.1875")
Kasane (blade thickness) 0.63cm (0.25")
Sori (curvature) 1.59cm (0.625")
Nakago shortening UBU
Mekugi Ana (nakago holes) ONE
Yasurime (nakago file marks) KATTE SAGARI
Mune (blade back) IORI
Hada (skin texture) KONUKA
Hamon (temper) SUGUHA
Boshi (point temper) KO_MARU
Horimono Omote (front carving) NONE
Horimono Ura (back carving) NONE
Habaki (collar) 1 PC SHAKUDO
Saya (scabard) SHIRASAYA
Saya notes  
General notes (Photo by Ed Marshall, click below for more photos)  Katana signed Hizen Masahiro.  The sword is in good condition with on some surface condition issues such as oxidation, surface scratches, etc., but nothing fatal or detrimental.  The sword also has a body test inscription which translates as follows: Enpô ninen sangatsu jűichinichi – futatsudô-kiriotoshi – Yamano Kanjűrô Hisahide + kaô (延寳二年三月十一日・貮ツ胴切落・山野勘十郎久英) “Yamano Kanjűrô Hisahide cut through [with this blade] on the eleventh day of the third month Enpô two (1674) through two bodies”


Katana, Masahiro

 

Type KATANA
Smith KANEMOTO
Papers NTHK
Body Test  
Other  
Sugata (shape, form) SHINOGI ZUKURI
Mei (signature) KANEMOTO
Date NONE
Nagasa (blade length) 69.53cm (27.375")
Overall length 91.12cm (35.875")
Mihaba (blade body width) 2.85cm (1.125")
Kasane (blade thickness) 0.79cm (0.3125")
Sori (curvature) 1.42cm (0.5625")
Nakago shortening UBU
Mekugi Ana (nakago holes) ONE
Yasurime (nakago file marks) SUJIKAI
Mune (blade back) IORI
Hada (skin texture) ITAME
Hamon (temper) SAN BON SUGI
Boshi (point temper) KO_MARU
Horimono Omote (front carving) BO-HI
Horimono Ura (back carving) BO-HI
Habaki (collar) 1 PC COPPER
Saya (scabard) KOSHIRAE
Saya notes The sword comes in a nice koshirae.
General notes (Photo by Ed Marshall, click below for more photos) Katana signed and attributed to Kanemoto. Kanemoto needs no introduction as the name is a very famous one.  This particular sword has been attributed to the Kanemoto who worked in the Kanei era c. 1624 (see worksheet above).  Hawley's list's two Kanemoto from the time period, one who produced midara hamon and one whom produced san bon sugi hamon as is seen in this example.  This would seem to indicate the Yondai Magaroku Kanemoto (KAN 1586). As shown in the photos, the blade's surface condition is rather poor exhibiting scratches, light rust, small pitting, etc.  Yet, there is more than enough visible activity seen to know that this sword would be beautiful in new polish.  It is priced with consideration of the need for polish. Even in it's current substandard polish, this sword received a 73 pt. kanteisho per the NTHK at the Tampa Shinsa 2014 (see worksheet above). The new papers will be forwarded to the new owner upon arrival.


Katana, Kanemoto

 

Type KATANA
Smith YOSHIHARU
Papers  
Body Test  
Other GENDAITO, c. 1969
Sugata (shape, form) SHINOGI ZUKURI
Mei (signature) TO TO JU MINAMOTO YOSHIHARU SAKU
Date NONE
Nagasa (blade length) 15.88cm (26.25")
Overall length 86.99cm (34.25")
Mihaba (blade body width) 4.76cm (1.875")
Kasane (blade thickness) 0.63cm (0.25")
Sori (curvature) 1.59cm (0.625")
Nakago shortening UBU
Mekugi Ana (nakago holes) ONE
Yasurime (nakago file marks) KIRI
Mune (blade back) IORI
Hada (skin texture) MUJI
Hamon (temper) GUNOME
Boshi (point temper) KO_MARU
Horimono Omote (front carving) NONE
Horimono Ura (back carving) NONE
Habaki (collar) 1 PC. COPPER
Saya (scabard) SHIRASAYA
Saya notes  
General notes (Photo by Ed Marshall, click below for more photos) Gendaito signed Toto Ju Minamoto Yoshiharu Saku.  This smith worked c. 1969.  The sword is in good condition with on some surface condition issues such as oxidation, surface scratches, etc., but nothing fatal or detrimental. 


Katana, Yoshiharu

 

Type KATANA
Smith DUAL MAKER, KUNIHIRO / KUNITSUNA
Papers NBTHK
Body Test BODY TEST
Other SAYAGAKI BY KANZAN SATO
Sugata (shape, form) SHINOGI ZUKURI
Mei (signature) OMOTE: SAGAMI no KAMI FUJI WARA KUNITSUNA /  SURITSUKE DOTAN SETSUNYU, URA:  IZUMI no KAMI FUJIWARA KUNIHIRO / KEIAN NI NEN HACHI GATSU BI (FEBRUARY 8, 1649)
Date c. 1661, FOR BODY TEST, Feb 8, 1649
Nagasa (blade length) 60.64cm (23.875")
Overall length 75.25cm (29.625")
Mihaba (blade body width) 2.86cm (1.125")
Kasane (blade thickness) 0.63cm (0.25")
Sori (curvature) 1.27cm (0.5")
Nakago shortening UBU
Mekugi Ana (nakago holes) TWO
Yasurime (nakago file marks) KIRI
Mune (blade back) IORI
Hada (skin texture) ITAME
Hamon (temper) KO-MIDARE
Boshi (point temper) KO_MARU
Horimono Omote (front carving) NONE
Horimono Ura (back carving) NONE
Habaki (collar) 1 PC. SILVER
Saya (scabard) SHIRASAYA
Saya notes  
General notes (Photo by Ed Marshall, click below for more photos) Katana  by dual makers Sagami no Kami Fujiwara Kunitsuna / Izumi no Kami Fujiwara Kunhiro. It is dated Feb. 08, 1649.  Both of these smith's were of the Echizen Shimosaka Ha, worked c. 1661. Kunitsuna is rated Chusaku. There is also a body test inscription which reads SURITSUKE DOTAN SETSUNYU  and translates as follows: mei: suritsuke dotan setsunyű (摺付土壇切入) Loose translation: “Sword cut through a body across the chest and into the earth below.” Literally: “Cross-chest cut (suritsuke) and entering the mound (dotan).” This sword was authenticated by the NBTHK and has a sayagaki by Kanzan Sato.


Katana, Dual Makers Kunitsuna / Kunihiro

 

Type KATANA
Smith ICHIMONJI
Papers  
Body Test  
Other  
Sugata (shape, form)  SHINOGI ZUKURI
Mei (signature)  
Date  
Nagasa (blade length) 78.74cm (31")
Overall length 96.20cm (37.875")
Mihaba (blade body width) 3.175cm (1.25")
Kasane (blade thickness) 0.63cm (0.25")
Sori (curvature) 3.175cm (1.25")
Nakago shortening SURIAGE
Mekugi Ana (nakago holes) TWO
Yasurime (nakago file marks)  
Mune (blade back) IORI
Hada (skin texture)  
Hamon (temper)  
Boshi (point temper) KO_MARU
Horimono Omote (front carving) NONE
Horimono Ura (back carving) NONE
Habaki (collar)  
Saya (scabard) SHIRASAYA
Saya notes  
General notes (Photo by Ed Marshall, click below for more photos)  


Katana, Ichimonji

 

 



This sword presumably came from a good collection in Sasebo. Lt Gen J. P. Berkeley picked it up when he was
disposing of Japanese munitions there for V Corps.

Top sword: Black lacquer saya with silver han-dachi mounts. Blade is Oei Bizen, mumei, but in excellent polish.

Kanenaga (Watanabe?). Dated 1936, made from "military cast steel," 2 shaku 7 sun 3 bu.

 


Taira Nagamori, saya with Yakumo mon by Hartley

 

 

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