May 13-15, 2025 Firearms and Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/13/2025
Masatsugu worked in the 1500s during the time of the Great Civil War. Many swords during this period were mass-produced and basically used by low-level warriors who had no skill, making quality pieces from the time scarce. The Kanabo school, also known as Kinbo, made blades of good quality. Masatsugu is the primary smith from this school and there are Juyo Token by him. Fujishiro rates Masatsugu as a Chusaku smith, and his cutting ability is ranked as wazamono. He was also greatly skilled at making yari, especially jumonji yari. The temperline on this particular blade is nioi deki midare, which resembles the work of the older Yamashiro tradition. The shape of the sword is classic from this time period with a slightly extended point and sakizori. The hada is coarse, but since the blade has a good old polish, the roughness is tamed. Original tang, thus keeping the classic shape of an all original katana from the Muromachi period. With a set of rustic koshirae, saya with a textured lacquer not dissimilar from wood grain and a blue sageo. Tsuba a soft chocolate with incised and gilt designs of florals and hitsu-ana plugged with shakudo. Fuchi and kashira with designs of clouds accented in gold, and menuki in the form of florals. CONDITION: Blade is in a good older polish, with a spot or two of looseness from age, that shows off the features well. Koshirae with some handling marks and impressions, tsuba and fuchi-kashira more heavily rubbed with much of the gilding lifted off the tsuba, giving the set a lovely lived-in appearance. Very top of tsuka-ito is unravelled and needs conservation. A good example of a true working sword for a time when your sword was a life-and-death companion, from a good maker, already packaged and papered.
Accessories
Koshirae, sword bag x2