Tachi : Masatsune
2017/01/28
Tachi in Shirasaya (49th NBTHK Juyo Paper)
Signature : Masatsune
The blade was polished.
Blade length : 72.5 cm or 28.55 inches.
Sori : 2.3 cm or 0.9 inches.
Mekugi : 3
Width at the hamachi : 2.63 cm or 1.04 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 1.59 cm or 0.63 inches.
Kasane : 0.49 cm or 0.19 inches.
Era : Late Heian Era Kenkyuu Period Year 1190
Shape : It is Ubu nakago(original tang that is not cut shorten) with strong curve seen. Ait is graceful looking shape.
Jitetsu : Itame had with mixture of nashime mix. There is delicate jinie seen. Utsuri is attached clearly.
Hamon : Konie base with rather deep nioiguchi which gradually become shoji mixture.
There are delicate sunagashi, kinsuji work is seen. There is mixture of sunagashi and kinsuji seen. Boushi is round ended.Mizukage utsuri, which appears much in Kobizen and Koaoe, appears in the ha.
Special feature : This piece is attributed as Ko-Aoe but it is identical to Ko-Bizen blade.
As a Jyuyo sword, it looks classical and graceful. On the kitae, there are delicate jinie and chikei attached with utsuri of jihan style.
The hamon is suguha with mixture of komidare. At first glance, it is very similar o Kobizen Masatsune from the activeness of sunagashi,
kinsuji, ha and ash. However, there is also the feeling of Bichuu Imoo character due to the mokume mixture and Oosujichigai yasurime pattern.
This piece is in fine condition. It is rare to see such blade with signature. In much of the pieces,
tachi mei is engraved. Yet, for Masatsune there are signature engraved in Hakiomote and Hakiura.
The Masatsune,Aoe and Bizen school both are same jigane and hamon which is difficult to distinguish excelt Yasurime.
This sword is slightly different file so NBTHK decided to judge as Koaoe Matsune.
The reason why the blade is precious is that the blade is Ubu nakago and left clear file on the tang even if the blade has passed more than 800 years Heian period.
The signature is very clear unbeliabavle condition.
Probably the Okoshimono kakari(taking care of master's swords in good condition without making Kozu and flow.) succeeded from generation to generation.
We fall down our heads against their philosophy. We hope you will keep the sword in good condition for another 1000 years from now.
49th NBTHK Juyo Paper
Aoi Art estimation paper : Whole Oshigata.
Price : JPY 6,600,000-.
