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Hizen no kuni ju omi daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro

Nidai (2nd Generation)

Circa 1641-1662 AD. Mitsu dou saidan (3 Body Cutting Test)

with Fine Horimono & Koshirae

NBTHK Hozon

Kinzogan (gold inlay) translation:

Cut test by- Yamano Nagahisa

Dated- 1662, November 16^th

Mitsu dou saidan- 3 body cut test

Tang translation:

Hizen no kuni ju omi daijo fujiwara tadahiro (Nidai - 2nd Generation)

Measurements:

Nagasa (cutting edge length) 75.2 cm, Motohaba (width) 3.3 cm,  Sori (Curvature) 1 cm

This is a nidai (2nd generation) Tadahiro signed Hizen no kuni ju omi daijo fujiwara tadahiro (Nidai - 2nd Generation) with 3 body cutting test and fine horimono. Nidai Tadahiro was born in Saga, Hizen 1614. His given name was Hashimoto Heishiro. A renowned swordsmith second generation (Nidai) Tadahiro began working with his father, Shodai (first generation) Tadayoshi at the young age of ten. Working by the side of his father and other great smiths such as Shodai Masahiro and Yoshinobu, Tadahiro took over leadership of the school at the age of nineteen when his father died in 1632. He then changed his name from Hashimoto Heishiro to Hashimoto Shinsaemon. It is said that his new name appears on a family document pledging to the Shogunate that the Hashimoto family would not sell swords for export to foreign countries. As head of the Tadayoshi School, second generation Tadahiro always signed his name Tadahiro and never Tadayoshi. In July of 1641, after only nine years after taking over the Tadayoshi School, he was given the honorific title of "Omi Daijo". He was only 28. Nidai Tadahiro died at the age of 81 in the sixth year of Genroku or 1693. His works span an incredible 60 years. The high quality of his work makes him one of the most prized artisans, legendary among Hizen smiths. The NBTHK stated on Hozon origami that the Horimono was done later, this is common. The Horimono is very finely done but not by Tadahiro himself.

This is the most common region cut for multiple body cutting tests.

This shows example how two bodies were stacked before the cutting test - a third body would be added in the same manner.

And the above image depicts the result.

You may also view our CUTTING TEST BLADES SOLD IN THE PAST by clicking here

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