Muramasa
Unsigned attributed to Sengo Muramasa
NBTHK Hozon
1500s Muromachi period
11 1/8th” Cutting edge length
Here we have a chance to own one of the most famous (infamous) sword makers of all time. Muramasa had a bad reputation as they did not fare well with the Tokugawa family. 3 members including Iyeyasu were either harmed or killed by a Muramasa. There are a few generations of Muramasa, however, the one known as Sengo Muramasa is the first generation and is listed as Saijo saku which is the highest rank. So unsigned examples are common, but much study has been done about Muramasa as he is in fact very interesting. In fact there was a deep discussion about this particular piece as it really resembles a Sadamune. There is a theory that this blade was once misrepresented as a Sadamune and kept as such in a family for a while. We are still examining the kanji that appears on the shirasaya and the tsunagi.
The blade is a beautiful hirazukuri with a soshu style notare hamon. Itame hada which has masame in places. Fine activity lies within the hamon which is the same on both sides which of course is a trait of Muramasa blades. The boshi is extremely healthy and shows that this blade has been cared for in many generations. There is Soshu style ken and bonji carving on both sides of the blade which gives even more influence to think this is a Sadamune.
This blade is accompanied with a beautiful koshirae with the fittings bearing the design in shakudo of bathing crows. The kurikata and kaeri tsuno are iron and the kojiri is a very fine example of Owari kinko at its finest with a sayagata pattern done in gold on shakudo.
The tsuba is papered to kokinko and fits the mount perfectly.
This blade unknowingly at the time actually had a old NBTHK certificate to Muramasa. After I had studied this blade, I sent it to Japan for the NBTHK and Tanobe sensei to view. Judgement came as “Sengo Muramasa”
