Tachi: Shoji Mino Suke Fujiwara Naotane (Kao)

Tachi in Shirasaya with Koshirae

Signature : 73 years old, Shoji Mino Suke Fujiwara Naotane (Kao)
Kaei 4nen 8gatsu Kichijitsu Ko Echizen Hasebe Shi.(August 1851)

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku
Jyo saku and regular saki)This sword belongs to Jyojyo saku ranking.

The blade was polished.
Habaki : gold foiled single habaki.
Blade length :　　70.7cm or 27.83 inches.
Sori : 1.7cm or 0.66 inches.
Mekugi : 　1
Width at the hamachi :2.82 cm or 1.11 inches.
Width at the Kissaki: 1.93 cm or 0.70 inches
Kasane : 0.56 cm or 0.22 inches.
Era : Late Edo Period 1851
Shape : It is regular width and thickness with deep sori. It is elegant shape.
Jitetsu: Itame Hada and Mokume Hada mixed with Jinie attach.
There are spiral Chikei and Utsuri.
Hamon: Nie deki suguha style with mixture of koashi. The hamon is consisted of deep nioiguchi.
Habuchi edge is soft feelign. Boshi is curved and round turnback.

Special feature : Naotane, born Shoji Minobei in 1778 or 1779 at Yamagata in Dewa province,
considering from his title Taikei used at a later date, his birthday is possibly 15th July,
went to Edo and become a pupil of Suishinshi Masahide. The Akimoto family in Yamagata province
retained Naotane around 1812. Naotane got the title Chikuzen-Daijo in 1821and stepped up
to the Mino (No) Kami in 1848. As building up a solid reputation,
he got many invitations to forge sword in various places.
He added the name of place to inscribe the signature. Naotane passed away in 1857, aged 79.
Naotane could make a variety of styles: Bizen-den, Soshu-den, Yamashiro-den and Yamato-den.
He was good at Bizen-den and Soshu-den in particular. His swords are ranked
at the highest rank called Saijo-saku in the last days of the Tokugawa shogunate.
Especially his swords forged in the Tempo era (1830 to 1844) called Tempo-uchi are highly appreciated
as his best examples attained maturity.
This sword was made as reminding Koto blade like Rai Kunitoshi.
The blade is forged circle itame hada and mokume mixed with utsuri on the Ji.
The blade looks Kamakura period nice sword.
He passed away Ansei 4th May 27th age 79 years.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Round shape iron Tsuba, leaves are engraved.
Fushikashira: Shibuichi, bee and mantis are engraved.
Saya: reddish brown color.

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

Price : 1,650,000 JPY-

-Katana