Tan-116 Yoshiaki Aoe Utsushimono

$6,750

2002

Rare Top Tanto Maker With Utsuri.

Rare excellent example of a shinsakuto maker who is the most famous for making utsuri. Utsuri is a very difficult feature to create in a sword, and only top makers from the older period could achieve this effect. Sugita Yoshiaki was so intrigued by utsuri, that he made it a special quest in his study of creating top blades in this modern age by traditional techniques. Unknown to many beginners, the Aoe School from the Koto period was very famous for their slanted choji midare with very strong utsuri.

Click on picture for a more detailed look and description.

 

Tan-115 Kanetsune Tanto

$8,500

1500’s

Excellent Koto Tanto Signed

Very nice excellent condition Kanetsune tanto. In very top level polish, this blade is very healthy, especially for its age. From the late koto period, this blade was obviously well cared for by all of its previous owners. Very similar to the famous swordsmith Muramasa, the use of notare for the hamon which is identical on both sides is a Muramasa trait.. There is the theory that Muramasa learned from top makers from the Mino Seki School, thus the similarities in shape and workmanship.

Click on picture for a more detailed look and description.

 

Kat-103 Kawachi no Kami Kunisuke

$9,500

1600's

Wakizashi by Kawachi no Kami Kunisuke

Rare blade by the 1st generation Kunisuke. In this famous school, the first 2 generations are the most sought after as their work and quality is among the best in Osaka Shinto blades. The 1st generation Kunisuke was a student of Horikawa kunitomo and his works are very similar to those of the 1st Izumi no Kami Kunisada. He originally was a samurai, but when his liege lord lost his position, he vowed to become a master swordsmith. This blade is very well made,, showing all of the key points of a quality Osaka Shinto blade. Thick nie deki hamon with ashi, Osaka styled yakidashi make this a very textbook blade. Nice ko itame hada with lots of fine chikei and ji nie. Boshi is extremely healthy, and is almost ichimai. It almost seems as if this blade might be a copy of a “Go Yoshihiro” , same of which that Kunisada and Shinkai also made. There are No flaws, and the blade is in very excellent polish. In a new shirasaya, silver habaki.

 

Click on picture for a more detailed look

 

Kat-102 Nobutomo

HOLD

1600's

One of the most famous blades made by Kashu Nobutomo. Nobutomo was a smith that worked in the 1600’s and made many swords for those under the Maeda Daimyo. Kaga blades were very famous for their exquisite sharpness, and their reputation was so well known, that there are many blades from the Kaga Schools that have test cut signatures on their tangs. This blade in particular is most likely the rarest and most famous Nobutomo. Not only has the blade been tested twice, but is also published in the Kaga Taikan.

Click on picture for a more detailed look and description

 

Tan-1 Tegai Kanetoshi

1400's

Beautiful tanto attributed to Tegai Kanetoshi. Very nice healthy piece with very strong utsuri. Kanetoshi was a representative smith from the famous Yamato Tegai School. Who worked around the mid 1400’s. He specialized in making tanto, and is rated wazamono (very sharp). This tanto is very healthy, the temper of nie deki suguha is very bright and has fine kinsuji running in the hamon. The jigane is a very beautiful o itame mokume mix with shirake utsuri.ji nie and chikei are present. The blade is also very thick (7.6mm) and would qualify as a yoroi doshi. In very good polish and condition, this is a very nice piece for both study and enjoyment.

Click on picture for a more detailed look and description