Elegant Early Edo era (17th Century) Katana by Toshi

(Signed: Mutsunokami Fujiwara Toshi)

This elegant Katana comes with an NBTHK Hozon paper attesting to its authenticity and quality.

Early Edo period (Enpo era about 330 years ago) Yamashiro-Ise
Length of cutting edge 66.5cm Curvature 1.4cm Thickness of base 6.6mm Width of base 29.2mm Width of Yokote 19.5mm

Sugata (configuration) : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. There is SUGIAGE cut off the Nakago about 9cm.

Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae-hada is itame hada wooden grain mark generally mixing in with sparkling glitter so called Ni-nie activity throughout Hiraji-surface that generates conspicuous Chikei scene (thick and darkish Nie hard metal lines).

Hamon (tempering pattern) : Hamon is large gunome Nie based, tall in temper some gunome almost reaches to the shinogi-ji ridge. Deep in whitish Nioi activity and the interior works with frequent/long Ashi and Sunagashi indication stands out vividly and clearly.

Boshi (tip): The temper of the tip is wide in straight into KOMARU small circle.

Nakago(tang) : SURIAGE cut the tang off, slanted left (o-sujikai) filemarks and horizontal (kiri). V-shape heel. The signature in hakiomote is located lower in front that reads Mutsunokami (title), Fijiwara(clan) and smith name TOSHI (NAGA is cut off).

The subject katana is a representative work of the smith TOSHINAGA worked for Toudo clan in Tsu, Ise province, possibly with a special demand from a Bushi in Ise province. The subject smith TOSHINAGA with Musunokami title had moved from Awa province to Kyoto with his elder brother TOSHINAGA with Yamashironokami title and younger brother TOSHINAGA with Musashinokami title, three brothers. All of them called themselves descendants of HASEBE KUNISHIGE.
The subject smith TOSHINAGA then moved to Ise province to work for Toudo feudal lord in Tsu, Ise province exclusively.
Another highlight of this Katana is an old original Brown Stone finish Lacquered Double Oak leaves KASHIWA/Four Chestnut HISHI crest Uchigatana Koshirae fitting that consists of Shakudo ground nanako-ji surfqace phoenix design takabori gold inlay Fuchi and kashira, Suaka copper Sanko design Menuki gold and silver inlay, Iron openwork tsuba Jakushi style double dragon design gold inlay.

Both katana and koshirae remains almost original shape when the blade was equipped with this koshirae fitting, holding a histrical value of a couple of hundreds years since Edo period as well. Newly polished, New shira-saya mounting included. Gold foil habaki collar.