A Hizen katana | Signed Hizen kuni ju Omi no Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro (Omi no Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro [2nd generation], a resident of Hizen Province) | Edo period, 17th century

The Property of a Gentleman

A Hizen katana

Signed Hizen kuni ju Omi no Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro (Omi no Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro [2nd generation], a resident of Hizen Province)

Edo period, 17^th century

Sugata [configuration]: shinogi zukuri, iori-mune, shallow tori-zori, almost muzori, chu-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: ko-nuka hada, plenty ji-nie

Hamon [tempering pattern]: wide suguha in nie-deki, some hotsure in places

Boshi [tip]: rounded maru-boshi with turnback

Nakago [tang]: ubu, kengyo, one mekugi-ana, signed Hizen kuni ju Omi no Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro (Omi no Daijo Fujiwara Tadahiro [2nd generation], a resident of Hizen Province)

Habaki [collar]: carved, chased and engraved copper-gilt, with parallel deep and narrow groove, single clad

In shirasaya plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: the saya decorated overall on a vermillion lacquer ground, shakudo and gilt fittings carved in relief with stylised paulownia crests (kiri mon) before waves, the circular shakudo tsuba similarly decorated, the gilt menuki in the form of three-clawed dragons, leather-wrapped tsuka, Showa period, 20th century

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 73 cm., 28¾ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 1.9 cm., ¾ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 3 cm., 1⅛ in.

The blade accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], no. 154955 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 23 (2011).

The tsuba accompanied by a certificate of registration as Hozon Tosogu [Sword Fitting Worthy of Preservation], no. 454998 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 20 (2008).