We have just received an unsigned katana with a long blade that is highly valued for its Tokubetsu Kicho appraisal by the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords.

The condition of the sword is free of rust, dents and chips, but there are some minor forging flaws. The jitetsu has bright mokume beautifully mixed with itame, and yubashiri and chikei are also visible. Hamon has ko-gunome and sharply pointed choji in a relaxed notare. Hataraki such as sunagashi and kinsen can also be seen. This piece is unsigned, but in August 2024 the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords issued a certificate of authenticity to this piece, recognizing it as a katana of the Ko-uda(Old Uda) school and a wonderful piece that should be specially preserved for future generations.

The Uda school is so called because its founder was Kunimitsu, who was active in the late Kamakura period and moved from the Uda school in the Yamato country to various places. The Uda school is characterized by Yamato-Den and also features some styles similar to those of Soshu-Den. The Uda school produced masters such as Kunifusa, Kunimune and Kunitsugu during the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties(Nanbokucho period) and flourished until the end of the Muromachi period. Among these works, those produced from the end of the Kamakura period to the Nanboku-cho period are called Ko-uda.

The koshirae of the Uchigatana is of a martial style befitting this type of sword and exudes the spirit of a samurai. The brown silk tsuka cord is wrapped in the tsumami-maki style. The fuchikashira and menuki are detailed and we assume that they were equipped after the Edo period.

Now you have the opportunity to own an extraordinary katana from a time when cavalry was the main form of warfare, equipped with an Edo period koshirae, plus a special piece authenticated by Tokubetsu Kicho.

You should not miss this masterpiece.

• Blade length: 78.2 cm
• Curvature: 2.9 cm
• Number of Mekugi hole: 1
• Sakihaba: 8.0 mm
• Sakikasane: 4.2 mm
• Motohaba: 31.6 mm
• Motokasane: 7.4 mm
• Signature: No signature
• Era: Koto
• Structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune
• Jitetsu: Itame with Mokume mixed in
• Hamon: Notare with Ko-gunome and Choji
• Boshi: Massugu Haitte Omaru ni Kaeru
• Weight(blade only): 830 g
• Nakago: Ubu
  
• Koshirae: Brown silk Tsuka with black Kuro-ro lacquered Saya, Shirasaya
• Original Registration No.: Tokyo 327741

Please contact us if the katana you are looking for is not listed here.