Original Item: Only One Available. The Japanese Katana (刀 or かたな) is a sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. The design is iconic, and probably one of the best known sword styles in the world, easily identifiable even in silhouette. The official term for katana in Japan is uchigatana (打刀) and the term katana (刀) often refers to single-edged swords from around the world. Developed later than the tachi, it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge facing upward.

After the Meiji Restoration, its used became much less widespread, however when Imperial Japan developed large ambitions, the Katana once again returned as a sign of prestige and rank. After the war, many were brought home by returning U.S. servicemen, which how most that we see ended up in the United States.

This example dates from the late Muromachi period (室町時代 Muromachi jidai) of 1336 to 1573, most likely the earlier portion. This is part of the period of Japanese swordmaking known as Kotō (古刀"old swords"), the the type of swords that later smiths treated as the goal they needed to achieve. It is around the middle of the blade length range, and has a Shinogi Zukuri (鎬造) shape, the standard for the Katana.

This example has been remounted several times, as was common for Japanese blades. This combined with age and oxidation has made the YASURIME (鑢目 - file marks) on the tang faint, and given it a lovely patina from oxidation and rust scaling. The blade is signed, however the TAGANE (chisel marks) are very faint and the TAGANE MAKURA (raised area around the mei) are completely removed.

The tang of the blade is signed by the maker (mei) with 備州 長船 久光 - BISHU OSAFUNE HISAMITSU, which basically means that the smith named Hisamitsu of the Osafune School made this sword in Bishu, or Bizen Province. This is a province with a long history of legendary schools of Japanese swordsmithing. Those who forged swords in the Bizen province, today known as Okayama prefecture, at the end of the Muromachi Period (1492-1569 A.D) are called Matsu Bizen. There were multiple generations of smiths in the Osafune school using the Hisamitsu name, and it is a name that many highly rated smiths have used, with 7 notable examples.

As with other blades from this period from the Osafune school, the other side of the blade is marked with a date of 1522. It is written in the standard long form indicating years into the current era of Japanese history: 大 永 二 年 八 月 日. This would be read: Dai-Ei ( Japanese Era Name) Ni Nen (2nd year of era - 1522) Hachi-Gatsu (8th Month). With this date, we can securely attribute this blade to 五代 久光 (GODAI HISAMITSU), or the 5th Generation Hisamitsu. This smith is rated 15 by Hawley in their work Japanese Swordsmiths, and began working during the Eishō (永正) Era of 1504-1521, and worked through the Daiei (大永) era of 1521-1527 into the Kyōroku (享禄) era of 1528-1532. Definitely some great potential for further research with this blade!

The blade has the following period correct features:

- Folded steel blade (fold lines are evident on the spine and body of the blade)
- hole (mekugi-ana) in the tang is punched and not drilled
- blade is signed on the tang by the maker on both sides
- blade has a vibrant visible temper line (hamon)
- Blade wounds (kizu) or lamination artifacts are present on the blade. Both ware (lamination lines) and fukure (carbon pits) are visible.
- blade has a BO HI (棒樋 - large or wide groove) fuller on both sides.

The this example has an overall length of 38 inches, and the blade is 27 ¾ inches long. The polish is in excellent condition, showing no oxidation or staining that we can see. The aspects of the blade are still easily visible in the light, and the blade crystallization has some lovely chatoyancy. The edge is still quite sharp, so it should be handled with care. We checked the edge and there are no dents or other issues we can see. This blade looks to have a FURISODE shaped NAKAGO (tang) with a HAAGARI (asymmetrically rounded) nakago-jiri (Tang tip). This shape has less of a taper and is a bit angled backwards compared to the regular (futsu) type.

The blade has a proper geometric KISSAKI (切先 - tip of blade) with a clear YOKOTE (横手 - transition to the tip) and BOSHI (帽子 -tip temper line). The main edge Temper line (HAMON - 刃文) is fully visible, and is a very attractive CHŌJI MIDARE (丁子乱れ - irregular clove tree flower) shape, with lots of internal activity. It almost looks like little bunches of grapes at some points. Along the transition there are clear NIE crystals visible, with cloudy areas of NIOI in the body of the hamon, which show chatoyancy. The body of the blade (JI) shows faint hada (肌 - grain), which is the AYASUGI (綾杉 - large wavy) shape. We can also see KIZU (blade wounds) including WARE lamination lines and FUKURI carbon pits, only possible on real traditionally forged blades.

The blade also has a somewhat rarely seen BO HI (棒樋) or fuller in the blade on both sides, which lightens the blade while making it a bit more stiff. We usually only see these are very high end blades. The tip temper line (boshi) is of visible, and is of the Ō-MARU (大丸 - large round turnback) shape, with some great internal activity. With the long delay for traditional togishi polishing, blades like this that are ready to display are definitely in demand.

The magnificent perforated TSUBA (cross guard) is made of iron and is of the MARU GATA (round) shape, with two HITSU-ANA accessory slots, one for the kogatana handle (KOZUKA), and the other for the hair ornament (KOGAI). Both sides have some lovely gilt brass designs present, which look to be flowers and other designs. Definitely a very old TSUBA with some great history to it. There are two brass SEPPA (spacers) around the cross guard to keep the fit tight, though due to the handle shrinking it is still a bit loose even when they are fitted. The HABAKI is made made from silver with a brass outer layer, and looks to be quite old, probably from the mid edo period.

The FUCHI (collar) and KASHIRA (end cap) for the TSUKA (handle) are a matched set made from blacked embossed copper. These fantastic examples have gilt GOSAN KIRI, or "3-5 Paulownia Flower" embossed decorations. This symbol is closely associated with the to the Imperial Family and Tokugawa shogunate, being a famous emblem even today.

There are two gold highlighted non-magnetic MENUKI grip ornaments, one of which shows a tachi with armor pieces, and the other looks to show a spear with a helmet, so this is a set intended to show the equipment of a samurai of high standing. The stingray (Sa-Me) grip is in very good condition, and definitely looks to be real ray skin, which was coated with black urushi lacquer and sanded down a bit, giving it a great look. The black grip wrapping (ITO) shows wear and staining, and is definitely of great age. There is some fraying as well as a tear around the MEKUGI-ANA peg hole, and the wrapping looks to have been coated to protect it and hold it in place. The single wooden MEKUGI peg looks to be later edo period.

The sword comes in a well fitting wooden scabbard (SAYA), which has a very attractive textured black URUSHI lacquer finish. It looks to have been refinished at some point during the 20th century, as the finish is quite good, while the interior definitely shows great age, probably from the late Edo period. The side has the KURIKATA knob on the side for a SAGEO sword cord, and there is a lovely modern black SAGEO sword cord wrapped around the scabbard, which is threaded through the kurikata. Really a fantastic scabbard that fits the blade like a glove.

A fantastic Muromachi Period Katana by a known maker from the legendary Osafune school of Bizen Province. Complete with scabbard and some lovely fittings, this sword is ready to research and display!

Specifications:
Blade Length: 27 ¾"
Blade Shape: Shinogi-Zukuri (鎬造)
Overall length: 38“
Scabbard Length: 29 ¼"

It has been over one thousand years ago that the art of making swords appeared in Japan. The swordsmiths of the time may not have known it but they were creating a legendary sword. The Samurai sword has seen combat in many battlefields. From the early days of the Samurai warrior to the fierce battles in the South Pacific during WWII.

Each hand-made Japanese blade (日本刀 - Nihonto) is unique because it is forged from multiple pieces of folded steel stock. A tremendous amount of work is dedicated to creating these pieces. They were an instrument of war as much as a beautiful artifact to adorn a room.

The traditional Japanese blade and mountings have grown to be one of the most highly desired military antiques.