TSUGUHIRO WAKIZASHI (with cutting test) ~ www.samuraisword.com

A TSUGUHIRO WAKIZASHI (with cutting test)

signed & dated, 3rd year of shoho era (august 1647)

With Rare provenance...

Swordsmith: Echizen ju Shimosaka Omi no Kami TSUGUHIRO Kao Location: Echizen province (Fukui prefecture)

Length: 54.2cm Curvature: 2.0cm

Jihada: Itame

Hamon: Gunome midare, sophisticated ashi in hachu with konie

Horimono: Soebi, marudome (rounded grooves)

Nakago: Ubu-nakago, iriyamagata, sujikai yasuri, kakumune, one Mekugi-ana

Certificate: NBTHK Hozon (a sword Worthy of Conservation by the Society for the Preservation of the Japan Art Sword)

Included: Shirasaya, koshirae and silk bag

Clients often ask us if we know the history of past ownership of the antique swords we carry. In nearly all cases, we don’t know…such records rarely exist.

However…with this particular sword, not only do we know the name of the person who first owned the sword, we also know who commissioned the sword (ie. who paid for it), when it was crafted AND that the sword passed a tameshigiri test by cutting a human body several times! All this information is written on the nakago. Needless to say, this is incredibly rare.

A translation of all the information contained on the nakago (tang) is as follows:

“This sword was crafted by Fujiwara no Tsuguhiro, who lived in Echizen (province). Under the protection of Marishisonten (a Buddhist diety), this sword was used for Tameshigiri (cutting test), cutting a human body several times. Mr. Ohara Matajuro Minamoto no Masahisa worked for his master, Mr. Fuji. Mr. Ohara, as a gift, purchased this sword for Mr. Iki as Judai (a treasure). Dated the 8th month in the 3rd year of Shoho (August, 1647) on a very beautiful day.”

Swordsmith Tsuguhiro apprenticed under third generation Yasutsugu and was ranked as a Wazamono smith (maker of sharp swords). This long, curvy and formidable wakizashi certainly demonstrates his skill. The hamon is bursting with activity in gunome midare with ashi.

Note the numerous characters on the nakago. A custom koshirae was especially crafted with modern fittings in a Samurai theme.

If you wish to purchase a Japanese Sword please view our Nihon To for sale page or contact us directly via e-mail, please include specifics of what you seek, i.e.: Katana, maker, era, price range etc.