September 15, 16, & 17, 2026 Firearms & Militaria
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
Lot #1404:
SUE-HOSHO KATANA IN TACHI MOUNTS WITH MATSUDAIRA MON AND NBTHK PAPERS.
The Hosho school is one the most celebrated schools under the Yamato sword making tradition. They were especially well known for their mastery of masame hada, a straight flowing jihada that is noted for being extremely difficult to forge. This example measures 2 shaku 1 sun (approximately 63.6cm or just over 25") in the classic shinogi zukuri form with an iori mune and chu kissaki. Jigane is masame throughout in the Hosho style, with a hoso-suguha hamon with nie actvity throughout including sunagashi, and heavier strands on nie at the monouchi and near the hamaci. Maru boshi with a kaen head, and carved with a bo-hi and soe-hi. With NBTHK Hozon papers confirming the attribution of the blade as Sue-Hosho, and the artistic merit of the blade. It is mounted in a set of tachi mounts, with mounts made of copper with a nanako ground and gilded edges, with a ishimei surface and blue-and-gold brocade under the ashi. The cloth are seagreen and make the tsuka,ito, while sageo is a mixed purple and silver. The ashi and fuchi, and menuki are emblazoned with a family mon of depicting three fans, traditionally used by one of the branches of the Matsudaira clan. CONDITION: Very good, the blade is a little tired as they are wont to be with some shintetsu near monouchi, and some areas of fine oxidation, primarily at the hi, and some looseness. Masame still clearly visible throughout. Mounts are very good with some handling marks and rubs, but present extremely well.