

THE PROPERTY OF AN AMERICAN COLLECTOR
Kitae [forging pattern]: Muji hada
Hamon [tempering pattern]: Midare but based on suguha in ko-nie
Boshi [tip]: Ko-maru with kaeri
Nakogo [tang]: Ubu with 2 mekugi-ana, ha-agari kuri-jiri, mumei
Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 60.8 cm, 24 in.
Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 2 cm, 11/14 in.
Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 3.1 cm, 1 2/9 in.
In koshirae with silver mounts, which include kabuto-gane, ko-jiri, koi-guchi and kurikata all in silver depicting turbulent seas, the menuki are of dragons in gold, both tsuka and saya are in an angled ribbed lacquer in iroe hiramaki-e imitating strips of same, the shakudo tsuba of Iri-mokko-gata form with a dragon carving in kata-kiri, signed Kaei 4 [1851] Doshi Moto Saku, Goto Homyo Ichijo (Kao)
Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Worthy of Preserving] for the tsuba, issued by the Nihon Bijitsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword].