Japanese Swords & Asian Arts

Nihonto : Announcement

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 0

This is an authentic Nihonto Naginata Katana Japanese Samurai sword.
A Naginata Katana from the ShinShinto period (ca. 1848-1854) unsigned; Attributed to Kiyomaro school (Minamoto), Jikishinsai KENETORA with NBTHK HOZON and Fujishiro papers in ShiraSaya.
Kanetora is a Jyo-Saku smith (above average good) and made O-Wazamono sharp swords, he was the son and student of SANEO , SANEO or also called Yamaura MASAO was the older brother of KIYOMARA (9 years older) SANEO/MASAO has had a total of 17 students (deceased 1875, age 71), including his own son Kanetora who was apprenticed around 1824. Kiyomaro himself is the most famous swordsmith from the ShinShinto period. After an unsuccessful order (1840) from the Shogun KUBOTA SUGANE, he fled to Nagato province. In 1845 he returned to Edo and changed his name to Kiyomaro and committed suicide in 1854 at the age of 42.
Kanetora worked in the SHINTO TOKADEN, the SOSHU and MINO tradition, this sword is made in the Soshu tradition. The sword has a robust shape and has a diamond shape and the Sori sits right behind the Kissaki. Swords by Kanetora are rarely offered and quite rare, this sword will have been commissioned for a samurai or lord, as the blade is not signed.
This is a robust blade in good polish with 1 Mekugi-ana and Ubu (not shortened), The Hamon lively with a lot of activity in Gunome Midare with a lot of Ji-Nie and Ara-Nie. The Jihada is a close Mokume Itame Hada with Jinie.

A perfect flawless blade in healthy condition with ShiraSaya from a special swordsmith.

Price Euro 8600,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 1

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese Samurai sword.

A very large and powerful mumei Koto period Hirazukuri Wakizashi with NBTHK Hozon token papers. Attributed to ; Mino KANEHARU, Muromachi ca.1532/1555. Mounted in a beautiful Koshirae and very old Shirasaya (without tsunagi),
This Hirazukuri Wakizashi has an exceptionally large and wide size, the blade has a Motohaba of 3.9 cm on the habaki. On the Omote side is a single Bo-Hi and on the Ura side is a double Su-hi.
KANEHARU worked at the end of the Muromachi period and belonged to the Sue-Seki school and had a good reputation with his swords among the Samurai for his sharp and cut-resistant blades.
This was the period at the end of the many battles and great battles of the Muromachi period, when peace came back to Japan and Mino made his swords school outside the mass production period.
Kaneharu belongs to the Jyo Saku class and made O-Wazamono sharp swords, this wakizashi is well polished. The Mino smiths mainly made good sharp swords and did not directly pay attention to the appearance like the Jihada and Hamon which could sometimes look sloppy. This Wakizashi is Suriage, shortened with 2 Mekugi-ana, no forging flaws and well polished. The Habaki is made of copper with patina. The Jigane is a dense Itame-Hada nicely smooth in structure with Jinie.
The Hamon is in Niedeki and Gunome Midare Choji with Nie and some sunagashi.
The koshirae is of good quality, The Saya is lacquered red / brown with horn Kurigata. The very large Tsuka has beautiful Same with large lugs and the Menuki are Ginger root images in Shakudo with golden highlights. the Fuchi & Kashira are signed : MASANAGA & Kao and made of iron and depict plants in gold high-lights. The Tsuba is made of iron with an openwork motif.

As an extra: a certain Mr. Ichikawa who was a student of the well-known polisher Ei Tamada said that the Mino / Sue-Seki blades often have an unclear wild Hamon and are remarkably sharp. While polishing a Mino blade, his polishing cloth was cut in two parts.
A very beautiful Koto period Wakizashi with a good Koshirae.

Price ; € 5350, -

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 2

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese samurai sword.

A Hirazukuri Tanto, made in the late Shinshinto period (ca. 1854-1866), signed: SUKEDADA (58th generation) from the YOKOYAMA school, Bizen Province, with Juho Token Kenkyu Kai papers.
This is a tanto made as a slender Hirazukuri-Tanto in a beautiful gold-Maki lacquer with Kiri-Mons from the Meji / Showa period. . Sukesada is the 58th generation of Tomonari and a direct student of Sukehira.
Bizen is the only province that has experience of continuous sword production from the Heian period to the Shinshinto period. Experienced top-level swordsmiths were at home here. The Bizen province has all the necessary elements and requirements for successful sword production. “BIZEN TETSU” (IRON) was exceptionally pure and of the highest quality. High-quality iron sand was also available, close to the sea. The water supply of the ASAHIGAWA and YOSHIGAWA RIVERS were very clean. And they had produced the highest quality charcoal ever, even today! The other important factor is also the supply route, the SANYODO HIGHWAY goes directly through the province of Bizen. So these were the conditions in Bizen that were absolutely ideal for making good swords. The Bizen Yokoyama school have tried to make their swords in the Ichimonji style with the active Choji Midare Hamon.
The blade has 2 Mekugi ana and is not shortened, so Ubu, and signed with 2 characters or Kanji which is extraordinary, normally signed with Yokoyama school and Province Bizen and Tomonari. The Hamon is the famous and famous Choji Midare Yokoyama hamon, with the typical Yakidashi (straight suguha stripe of approx. 3.5 cm) at the start of the Habaki. The Tanto has no Kizu or Ware and no forging errors and very good polishing.
The Jihada is a beautiful fine Itame Hada with a nice soft shine over the blade. The Habaki is covered with a silver mantle that has a beautiful tree bark motif.

The Koshirae is in good undamaged condition with very fine gold Maki paintwork, which was only made for a Daimyo or Shogun in older periods, with thickly applied Kiri-Mons and a kind of wine ranks on the F&K and Kurigata.
The certificate comes from the JTK society (Juho Token Kenkyu Kai) which is managed by Mr. Kobayashi Yukinobu (also a master at the NBTHK) from Musashiya Co. Osaka.

A very nice Tanto from Sukesada with koshirae from a Chu-Saku blacksmith.

Price; € 4450, -

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 3

This is an authentic Nihonto Wakizashi Japanese Samurai sword.

A signed Kanbun Shinto period Wakizashi, with HBTHK Hozon paper, Signed: ECHIZEN (No) Kami SADAMICHI (Kanbun Shinto ca. 1660-1670) Echizen province, with beautiful and special quality Koshirae and new ShiraSaya with tsunagi.
Fukui, the center of Echizen Province, was then called Kitanosho until 1624, when Matsudaira Tadamasa became the Daimyo of Echizen Province after Oda Nobunaga conquered it. A castle was then built in Fukui and the city was expanded, so that during the Shinto period many schools and swordsmiths settled from Omi, Yamashiro, Mino and other areas. The Yasutsugu and Echizen Seki schools were the mainstream and operated there until the end of the ShinShinto period.

Sadamichi is called as Chu-Jyo saku rank skilled swordsmith and made Wazamono sharp swords. Hawley awards him 15 points (SAD73). This Wakizashi is Ubu, not shortened with 2 Mekugi-ana, the Habaki is solid silver with a famile or clan crest ( Mon ) engraved from the Hitotsuyanagi Clan. The blade is well polished and has no forging flaws, The hamon is Suguha with Nie in the base and flows into Gunome-Midare. The Jihada is a well made lively even Itame with Jinie.

The koshirae from the Edo period is of good quality, De Saya in the base with black lacquer and gold-coloured twisted clouds, the Tsuka is wrapped with black Tsuka-ito with beautiful old Same, the Menuki are a kind of Mon and partly gilded. The Fuchi & Kashira are Shakudo with fine Nanako, with trees with blossom in silver. The Tsuba has broken butterflies and grass with flowers as an image in iron with beautiful patina. The Kozuka has a bridge over water as a representation with gold high-lights, the Ko-katana appears to be a Showa version. The Saya also has a Kurigata and Kojiri that are painted black.

The Wakizashi has an Shakudo Kozuka with Ko-katana, the Kozuka has a motif as a bridge over water with gold high-lights.
A nice blade with a very nice Koshirae including new ShiraSaya with tsunagi.

Price ; Euro 3990,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 4

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai sword.

A Shinto period Shinogi-zukuri Katana, Kanbun Shinto ca. 1640-1650 unsigned, attributed to ISHIDO KOREKAZU (Shodai 1st generation) of Musashi Province by NTHK paper mounted in a neat Koshirae.
According to the NPO-NTHK paper, this is the first generation Korekazu and they have added a date to 1648, as the outcome of the 4 NTHK experts (around the Kanbun Shinto period). The Musashi Province is located north of Edo (now Tokyo)
Korekazu is a Jyo-Saku swordsmith and made Wazamono sharp swords, if you come across a sword from Korekazu it is usually from later generations, there were a total of 7 generations working until the end of the Samurai time.
This is a tight and hard blade of the Ishido school and has no major Ware or forging flaws in neat polishing with 2 Mekugi-ana and shortened (O-sureage), The Hamon is Gunome Midare and Choji Midare with a lot of Ara-Nie (coarse Nie in and above the Hamon) & Nie.
The Jihada is a fairly close Mokume Hada with Jinie.

The Koshirae is in good condition and nice quality, the tsuka is newly wrapped with black Tsuka-Ito strap.
The Saya is painted red/brown, the Tsuba is iron and has a signature of the maker, both openings for a kogai or kozuka are closed, the F&K are soft metal with the image of Shishi temple dogs and the Menuki are roosters in Shakudo with gold.

A neat blade and nice Koshirae in good condition with NTHK Paper.

Price ; € 3800,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 5

This is an authentic Japanese Samurai sword.
A special shape Moroha Zukuri Katana in mountings from the Koto period, unsigned (mumei) and due in the direction of Yamato school. Mounted in a nice Koshirae and ShiraSaya with Tsunagi with own original silver foiled Habaki.
Judging by the shape as a diamond shape the blade looks from the Yamato school, it seems to be difficult to judge in which direction. You will find many of these blade forms in the Yamato tradition, including the 5 schools (Senjuin, Tegai, Taima, Hosho and Shikkake). This blade is made in the Koto period/late Nanbokucho beginning Muromachi period. The blade is polished with 2 Mekugi-ana and shortened (O-sureage). The Hamon is based on a Suguha with a gently wavy Gunome.
The Jihada is an even Itame with Jinie, there is one location with a kind of opening, tata-ware, but it is still closed and looking to the age (more then 600 years) not so serious.
The Koshirae is in good condition, the Habaki is made of copper.
The Saya is beautifully made and has a black lacquered finish with black Laquer parts like the Tensho mountings. The Tsuka is wrapped with black Tsuka-Ito and the Same is also painted black in good condition.
The menuki are Shishi temple dogs and the Tsuba is made of iron with fans with gold inlays, the Fuchi with waves from the Omori school, the Kashira is a black lacquered version with the Tsuka-ito band over it, all in good condition.

A special Koto blade in good original condition and beautiful Koshirae in good condition.

Price ; € 4950,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 6

This is an Antique Japanese Samurai sword.

Shinto Wakizashi with a good Koshirae and signed blade.
A nice Gunome Midare Hamon goes on the entire blade, blade is signed SukeMitsu (we can not guarantee this signature because we sell this blade for a customer), Ubu with 1 mekugi-ana in old polished but no flaws or ware.
The Saya is with black laquer in very good condition, the Habaki is copper, Tsuba is nice quality Iron and with a frog that is looking through a hole.
Mekuki are nice Shakudo with wild boar/pigs as motiv.
The F&K in Shakudo with waves in gold high light.
A really nice blade in old polish and nice Koshirae.

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 7

This is an authentic antique Nihonto Wakizashi Japanese Samurai sword.

A Koto period Shobu-zukuri Wakizashi that is signed: MUNENOBU ( ca 1380-1410 ) from the Yamashiro province with good polishing and a nice good Koshirae.
This Wakizashi has a active Gunome Midare Hamon with good activities in the Ha, the blade is signed Munenobu (we cannot guarantee this signature, this blade is sold on behalf of the customer) and Ubu (not shortened) with 1 mekugi-ana, the blade has no Ware or Kizu or forging holes and well polished. There have been a number of swordsmiths named Munenobu in the Koto period, most of whom were employed in Yamashiro province, with many blades having the typical diamond shape like this Wakizashi which is also very clear.
The Saya is painted dark red and black in a beautiful and unusual pattern and in super good condition. The Kojiri and Kurigata are made of buffalo horn, the Habaki is a 2-piece version of Mokume metal alloy. The Tsuba of iron with a Phonix bird and some gold highlights and good quality, The Menuki are of Shakudo with gold inlay. The Tsuka Ito strap is dark obergine/purple and is new wound in good condition. The F&K are Shakudo with coarsely made Nanako. The Kozuka is shakudo with an image of a No mask / chest and fan (stage attributes) on both sides, the Ko-katana still has the rest of a signature.
A beautiful old Shobu-Zukuri Koto Wakizashi with very nice mounting in good polishing.

Price Euro ; 3550.00

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 8

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai sword.
A signed Koto period Katana (ca. 1515-1530) in a good polish from the middle Muromachi period. Signed ; KANESADA Suke (Kodai) from the Mino school with very special Koshirae.
This very long katana with deep Sori is elegant with a very lively Hamon and Muneyaki with no forging flaws or Ware/Kizu.
There were several Kanesada smiths active in the Koto period, the most famous being the 2nd generation with the title Izumi Kami. After the EISHO period, he got his IZUMI-no-KAMI title, as we see with signatures IZUMI-no-KAMI KANESADA and IZUMI-no-KAMI FUJIWARA KANESADA, all with his NO-SADA character form. Making different styles is his career differs from KANESADA sword style. One is noted in SEKI KANEMOTO style.
The smith Kanesada can be classified into the Chu-Jyosaku class and made O-Wazamono sharp swords. This blade is exceptional long with deep Sori, It can be assumed that this sword has been a Temple gift and has been lying in a Shrine for many years for success and prosperity.
This blade is Ubu , not shortened with 2 Mekugi-ana and has no forging flaws or damage. The katana has an active Gunome Midare Hamon in Nie with Sunagashi and Muneyaki, the Jihada is a Ko-Itame with Jinie. The Habaki is wrapped in high quality silver foil. The Koshirae is of very good quality with an exceptional appearance. The F&K are from Shakudo/Nanako with leaves in gold high-lights. the Saya is red/black Uruchi paint made as a special Inro model. The Tsuka is with a good brown Ito winding, The Menuki from Shakudo and gold with devils as an image, this was to expel the eval bad spirit (also devils were made of clay and placed in the ridge of the house to ward off the bad). The Tsuba is made of iron with a broken motif of a temple and implements/tools.
The Koshirae has a total length of over 130 cm and the Tsuka alone measures a length of about 35 cm. the tsuba is also huge and has a diameter of 11.5 cm.

A very special long Temple blade from Kanesada with a very unique koshirae in good condition.

Price Euro 11250,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 9

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese Samurai sword.
An unsigned, mumei, late Koto period, robust Wakizashi with NBTHK Hozon token papers. Attributed to ; FUJIWARA TAKADA ( Bungo Province ) end of Muromachi ca. 1550-1570 . Mounted in a neat Koshirae.
The Takada smiths worked from the Nanbokucho to the Shinto period in the Kyushu Takada province (early Bungo province) and had a good reputation for the cutting and fighting quality of their blades.
It is said that the founder of the Takada school was Tomoyuki, and the later swordsmiths added their family name "Takada" to the signature. Well-known examples of Takada smiths are Shigeyuki, Yukinaga, Sadahide, Yukihira and Tomomitsu who from various traditions, or schools such as Bizen, Soshu, Yamashiro and Yamato, have incorporated their skills into swordsmithing and were loved by the Samurai for stability and sharpness. The Takada smiths belonged to the Jyo Saku class and made Wazamono sharp swords. This Wakizashi is Ubu , Not shortened with 1 Mekugi-ana, no forging flaws and good polish. The Habaki is made of brass and 2 pieces.
The Jigane is an Itame Mokume-Hada nice and even in structure with Jinie.
The Hamon is in Niedeki and Gunome Midare with Nie.
The koshirae is of good quality, the Saya is black lacquered with Kurigata horn. The Tsuka is wrapped with old dark brown Ito wire with old rayskin underneath. The Menuki are an image of a fish with leaves and gilt. the Fuchi Kashira with Sumurai and leaves motif in shakido with gold highlights. The Tsuba is made of iron and openwork symmetrical motif of the Heijyanjo school with flowers in bras.

A nice powerful Koto period Wakizashi with NBTHK Hozon paper and with a good Koshirae.

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 10

This is an authentic Japanese Samurai sword.
A Mumei ShinShinto Wakizashi with Hitatsura Hamon, with HBTHK Hozon paper, attributed to: Tsunahiro (late shinshinto) with beautiful and good quality Koshirae.
This smith belonged to the Soshu school and lived in the late ShinShinto period (1865-1867).
Soshu Tsunahiro has made many Wakizashi and Katana swords. He belongs to the Jyo-Saku class and made Ryo-Wazamon sharp swords that were loved by the Samurai for their cutting quality.
The first Tsunahiro Generation moved to the Sagami province at the end of the Muromachi period and there the swords were made in the Soshu-den tradition.
Unlike other works, this blade has Masame hada and a Mitsumune that also continues in the Habaki.
The Wakizashi is Ubu, not shortened with 2 Mekugi-ana, the Habaki is a 2-part gold foil wrapped in good quality. The Kling is well polished and has no flaws,
The hamon is Hitatsura / Midare with Niedeki and Nie, with Kinsuji and Sunagashi. The Jihada is a well-made Masame with Jinie and gives a rough impression.
The koshirae is of good quality, the Saya has been restored due to damage and provided with a new layer of lacquer, the Tsuka is wrapped with black Tsuka-Ito and old Same with large cams, the Menuki are Oki or Oni figures. The Fuchi and Kashira are Shakudo with Nanako with gold high-lights with Samurai in a landscape performance in very good quality.
The Tsuba is made of iron and also has a landscape with a man in kimono, inlaid with gold. The Saya also has a Kurigata in iron with insects.

A special blade with a beautiful Koshirae.

Price ; € 3250,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 11

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai sword.

A signed and dated ShinShinto period Katana (ca. 1864) in a good polish with NBTHK HOZON paper. Signed ; Bishu Osafune Junin Yokoyama SUKEMUNE saku , dated : on a lucky day 1864 , of the Yokoyama Bizen school with beautiful Koshirae.
This katana is elegant with a very lively Hamon like an Osaka Shinto Hamon from the Yokoyama school with part Choji Midare and Suguha. He has specially made this sword in which their typical Choji Midare Hamon typifies part of the blade and the Suguha that they mastered well is also part of the sword and therefore shows a nice contrast. This sword also has the typical Yokoyama school Yakidashi (Suguha hamon part for the Hamachi/Habaki).
Sukemune was a swordsmith from late ShinShinto to Bakumatsu-era Yokoyama Bizen School. It is said that he was originally from the province of Ise and that he studied with Yokoyama Sukeharu who was active between Tenpô (1830-1844) and Ansei (1854-1860) and who counted himself among the 56th generation of Tomonari. However, there is also a claim that he studied with Yokoyama Sukenaga. The 1st generation Sukenaga counted itself as 56th, and the 2nd generation as 57th generation Tomonari. However, it is possible that Sukemune learned from all these Yokoyama Bizen masters. There is a Tanto of Sukemune that he made around Keiô (1867) near Tenryûgawa in Shinano Province, present-day Nagano Prefecture. Sukemune counted himself among the 58th generation Tomonari, but also did the Yokoyama Bizen smiths Sukeyoshi and Sukekane.
The smith Sukemune from the Tomonari 58th generation can be classified into the Chu-Jyosaku class (other sources also class him as the Jyojyo saku class) and made Wazamono sharp swords. Sukemune made few swords because it is said that he helped his masters Sukeharu and Sukekane a lot and when he started working more for himself the end of the Samurai period (1876) was over and sword carrying and sword fighting were forbidden.
This blade is Ubu , not shortened with 1 Mekugi-ana and has no forging flaws or damage. The katana has a Suguha and Choji Midare with Nioi, the Jihada is a Ko-Itame with Jinie as Jigane. The Habaki is made of copper. The Koshirae is of very good quality and the Saya is made of black Uruchi lacquer. The Tsuka is with a good dark green single wire winding (luxury winding) of which the Fuchi and Kashira Samurai or Fudal Lord with gold high-lights. The Menuki from Shakudo and gilded with flower motif. The Tsuba is made of iron with a Mokko-gata shape with relief.

A particularly well-forged blade by Sukemune who made few swords with a koshirae in good condition. This Sword also has ShiraSaya where the glue has partly come loose and NO Tsunagi.

Price Euro 6850,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 12

A very special Gendai NO-DACHI with Shirasaya and orginal polish , it comes with NBTHK Hozon papers on the blade, Signed and dated : Hizen no Kuni Mitsuhiro , Showa 27 nen 8 gatsu Kichijitsu (August 1952). The blade has also a HOTSTAMP from the smith Mitsuhiro. This is a very rare blade, because in WW-2 smiths were producing swords and after the WW-2 it was strictly forbidden by the US-Army to produce weapons. He must be special ordered by the Japanese government (under supervision by the Us-Army) to produce this sword for the Minatogawa Shrine. Mitsuhiro worked in the Saga Province and his name was in that period before he became a Jumei-Tosho of the Japanese Navy , Yamaguchi Fukutaro. The habaki is a 2 piece one with silver and the Mon (Chrysantheum on water) from the Minatogawa Shrine engraved on it. The Hamon is Niedeki Notare with small Choji, Yo & Ashi and a Chu-Kissaki. The Jihada is Ko-itame Hada with Jinie and chkei. The Blade is Ubu and has 2 Mekugi-ana. A very nice healthy powerfull blade by 99.42 cm long in good original polish.

price Euro 14.900,=

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 13

This is not an authentic Japanese samurai sword. , but made for a Japanese film.
A slender Jumonji Yari in mount.
this Yari was made to work with the players and weapons in a Japanese film.
I think that the blade is not forged, he has no visible Jihada and Hamon, nor is the Yari the real sharp cutting edges as forged.
the Jumonji Yari is well made and has the correct symmetrical dimensions and a neat Gendai mount.
Total length of the Yari with mounting is 113 cm. Total length with Nakago of the Yari is 37.4 cm.
A nice piece for display.

Price Euro 650, -

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 14

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai sword.
A signed and dated robust ShinShinto Hirazukuri Wakizashi in ShiraSaya, signed: Mutsu Shirakawa Ju Koyama MUNETOSHI. Dated: Kaei Shichinen Sangatsu Hi (Bunkyu 1861).
This blade is from the late ShinShinto period (1861-1864) when Munetoshi was most active and he was the older brother of Koyama Munetsugu.
Munetoshi lived in Mutsu in the Shirakawa province and died in Meiji 3rd year at the age of 76 years (the year 1870). He is classified as a Chu-Jo Saku class smith. Munetoshi made his work in the Bizen Ichimonji style, his blades are checked and well made with dense forging.
The Wakizashi is Ubu, not shortened with 1 Mekugi-ana, the Habaki is made of good quality copper with inlaid a sun and moon in silver under a cloud in Shakudo and on the other side a Sankrit symbol in Shakudo. The blade is well polished but has a few spots where flash rust has been cleaned and has no forging errors.
The hamon is Gunome Midare with Niedeki and Nie. The Jihada is a well made smooth and beautiful Itame with Jinie.
A healthy blade with a nice Habaki and ShiraSaya.

Price ; € 3250,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 15

This is an authentic NIHONTO Japanese Samurai sword.
A signed Shinto Wakizashi: signed; Hizen no kuni Tadayoshi (1st Generation). Period is Shinto ca.1600 / 1615. Mounted in a nice Edo period Koshirae,
Sadayoshi the first generation, born Hashimoto Shinzaemon, was a swordsmith from Hizen Province, HASHIMOTO SHINZAEMON. SAGA JU NAGASE School. The current Saga prefecture on Kyushu Island. Both his father and grandfather died when Tadayoshi was 13 years old. Tadayoshi taught under Dotanuki Zenbei in Higo Province, present-day Kumamoto pref. Tadayoshi and Munenaga went to Kyoto to learn under the Umetada School in 1596. Tadayoshi learned forging good and sharp swords from Munenaga. Tadayoshi returned to Hizen in 1598. Tadayoshi worked as a hired swordsmith of the Nabeshima family in the domain of Saga. Tadayoshi’s first sword with the date was forged in 1600 at the age of 29. He changed the name to Tadahiro on the occasion of its approval as Title Musashi-Daijo in February 1624. Tadahiro (Tadayoshi) died in 1632 at the age of 61.
His swords are arranged as a Saijyo-saku and O-wazamono sharp in the Shinto period. The Hizen School had an extremely important place in the history of this period.
The Habaki is a 2 piece brass / gold plated and with solid silver. The blade is well polished and has no forging errors,
The Jigane is Ko Itame Hada also called the Hizen Konuga Hada with a typical blueish glow in the steel, nicely even in structure with Jinie. The Nakago has the horizontal file strokes (Yoko-yasurime) and the typical Hizen Tadayoshi round Kutijiri tip. Unfortunately, in the past the nakago was once cleaned by a non-expert owner with presumably sandpaper or steel wool and thereby removed some of the patina and sanded the signature.
Then the Hamon is the typical Hizen Nie deki Suguha hamon.
The koshirae is of reasonably good quality and simple, The Saya is covered with orange / brown Same. The Tsuka is wrapped with dark blue Ito cord and the Menuki are from Shakudo with as the image, a house and hay barn. the Fuchi & Kashira are made of iron with pine trees. The Tsuba is made of iron with brass edge from the Nanban school.

A nice beautiful Wakizashi with a lot of sori and a beautiful Edo period Koshirae.

Price ; € 3900, -

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 16

This is an authentic antique Wakizashi NIHONTO Japanese Samurai sword.
A Keicho Shinto (ca. 1620-1640) Wakizashi, signed DAIDO or OMICHI, (2 character signature) of the MICHINA school from the Mino province. In special ShiraSaya montage, in good polish, Hamon is Gunome / O-Choji with Nie . The Jihada is Mokume with Masame with Jinie. The blade has 2 Mekugi-ana. In the photo a kind of lamination opening can be seen, but this is very much enlarged by the photo and not so present in real life and it also follows the Masame forging structure. The mounting is exceptional, it is a beautifully made ShiraSaya with the tiger motif in the wood and finished with buffalo horn parts. The Habaki is a 2-piece version. Omichi was a Jo-Saku rank swordsmith.
Daido, also read as Omichi, is the founder of the Mishina school together with 4 brothers (it is also said to have been 4 sons) and was founded sometime in the early 1500s. He worked in the Mino tradition and followed the style of Shizu Saburo Kaneuji. He was the personal swordsmith of Oda Nobunaga, one of the three rulers of Japan, the other two being Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Iyeyasu. He later moved to Kyoto, where he and his brothers/sons became known as Kyoto Gokaji. It seems likely that the Mishina group was favored by the Tokugawa clan, and they were given the title Mutsu No Kami, because Umetada had been Myoju's and Horikawa Kunihiro's loyalty to the Toyotomi clan.

A special blade with a beautiful lively Hamon from the Keicho-Shinto period.

price Euro 2350,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 17

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai sword.

A signed Kanbun Shinto period Katana (ca. 1644-1672) in very good polish with NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON paper. Signed; Harima No Kami Fujiwara KUNIKIYO from the Echizen province with very nice Koshirae.
This long katana is elegant with a very lively Hamon like an Osaka Shinto Hamon with many activities, Kunikiyo was working around Kan-ei / Kanbun (1640-1672).
The smith Kunikiyo can be classified to the Chu-Jyosaku class and made Wazamono sharp swords.
Kunikiyo received the title of no-kami during the reign of Oda Nobunaga who then ruled the Echizen province, among other provinces. The Echizen province is located on the coast in the center of the main island of Honshu.
This blade is Ubu, not shortened with 1 Mekugi-ana and has no Kizu or flaws. The katana has an active Gunome Yahazu Midare / Choji Midare in Nioikuchi with Nioi and Nie Sunagashi, the Jihada is a Ko-Itame with Jinie as the Osaka Shinto Jigane. The Habaki and Seppas are wrapped in high quality gold foil. The Koshirae is of very good quality with Shakudo and horses and buffalos in gold highlights. the Saya is black Uruchi paint made as an Inro model. The Tsuka is with a good black wrap, with buffalo like Menuki from Shakudo and gilded and the Fuchi is full signed . The Tsuba is made of iron with a broken image of arrowheads.

A particularly well forged blade from Kunikiyo with a koshirae in very good condition.
Sword comes with new ShiraSaya and Tsunagi

Price Euro 10250, -

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 18

This is an authentic Nihonto antique Japanese Samurai sword.

A signed Wakizashi in good polishing and Signed; SUKESADA, in ShiraSaya.
The sword is made slim with an even Sori. The Jigane as Ko-itame with Jinie who is well made with a small lamination opening (ware) in the center of the sword, but not to be called serious. The Hamon is based suguha/Midare with Nie and Ara-Nie. The blade is Ubu (not shortened) and has 1 mukugi-ana. The Habaki is made of copper.
Over the centuries there have been many, many dozen Sukesada smiths in Japan and almost all from the Bizen province/school, this blade has a 2 character signature which is remarkable considering the Bizen Sukesada smiths all signed with Osafune and their title, I cannot trace this wakizashi back to this and therefore I cannot guarantee the signature. Given the Nakago, Jihada and Hamon and Sori, the blade seems to be early Shinto period.

A nice and also good blade in Shirasaya for a low price.

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 19

This is an authentic Nihonto Japanese Samurai sword.
A signed and dated Koto Katana (Muromachi) period (Dai-ei period 1521-1528) in good polishing with NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON paper. Signed ; Bishú ju Osafune SUKESADA , Eiroku 10 Nen 2 Gatsu Hi, (1525 , August 20) from the Bizen province, Osafune school with beautiful Koshirae and Shira Saya.
This katana is a beautiful slender blade with a very lively Jihada with a nice deep, typical Koto Sori, which is typical for the Koto period, Sukesada worked in the Bizen province (Osafune school) where many schools and swordsmiths were active in the Koto period. With its Nagasa or cutting length of 64 cm, it is typical for this period because the fighting technique changed to the rapid drawing of the sword and often fought with one hand.
The smith Sukesada of the Osafune school can be classified into the Chu-Jyosaku class and made Wazamono sharp swords, this is a very well forged sword and not a mass production sword, hence the NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON paper.
In the Bizen province during the Muromachi period, Harima and Mimasaka along with Bizen were under the protection of the Akamatsu family / Clan and around this time the emperor Go-Nara was in power.
This blade is Ubu, not shortened with 1 Mekugi-ana and has no forging flaws or damage in a beautiful and good polishing. The katana has an active Suguha Hamon in Nie-Deki with Ko-Ashi, the Jihada is a Ko-Itame with Mokume and Jinie , and Utsuri can also be seen. The Habaki is made of copper and of good quality. The Koshirae is of good quality with Shakudo F&K and Dragon menuki, the Tsuba is a Sukashi openwork model made of iron. The Saya is in good condition with red/brown and gold lacquer prints. The Tsuka is with a good older green winding.

A special blade from the koto period in original length by Sukesada with a koshirae in good condition.

Price Euro 6650,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 20

This is an authentic Japanese Samurai sword.
A flawless Shinogi-zukuri Katana in mountings from the Muromachi Koto period, unsigned (mumei) and attributed to the : Mino Senjuin school. By NBTHK Hozon certificate Mounted in a beautiful Uchigatana Koshirae with Kutsuwa (horse-bit) Family Mons from the Shimazu Yoshihiro family. With HBTHK Hozon Certificate on the Fuchi-Kashira, attributed to the Satsuma school. The Tsuba has a mon as Hishi (diamond shape) in the tsuba itself.

Despite its age of around 500 years, this blade is Ubu (not shortened) and therefore still has its original length and shape.
The Mino Senjuin school is the important school of the Mino tradition and can be traced back to the Yamato Senjuin school in the Heian period (ca. 794-1185).
Experts think that at the end of the Kamakura period (around 1300) the smith Sensui in Yamato came to Akasaka city in Mino by invitation to get there for Oui-no-sho of the Todai-ji temple.
Kuninaga, the son of Sensui working in the Nanbokucho period as Mino Senjuin or as the Akasaka Senjuin school, is seen as the founder of this school.
This Katana is from a later date in the Muromachi period around 1394-1430.
There have been a large number of Senjuin smiths over a long period and have produced many swords, this is because there was a period in which there were many wars and the demand for swords was extremely high. This katana is made for the method with one hand fighting as shorter katana the uchi-katana. This Katana is with the typical and beautiful sori from the Koto period and was mentioned in a Japanese magazine, see the description picture.

This is an elegant blade and is flawless in Japanese polishing with 1 Mekugi-ana and not shortened (Ubu), The Hamon is based on Suguha Midare and Ko-Choji Midare Ba with Ko-nie Deki.
The Jihada is Itame / mokume Hada with Jinie.
The Koshirae is in good condition in a special Topei Saya with excellent paintwork which is made in Japan in a traditional way by a number of very experienced artists. The label with name and description of the paintwork is on the Saya, the Habaki is with a gold foil wrapped.
The Saya features a number of beautifully made gold-maki images and has a deep red base color. The Tsuka is wrapped in dark brown Tsuka-Ito leather in good condition.
The menuki are Shakudo mons and the Tsuba is, I think, from the Higo school, in iron and gold inlaid Key-fret design with a mon and blossom.

A great Koto blade of around 500 years old in good original condition and beautiful high-quality Koshirae in good condition.

Price ; € 11,750,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 21

This is an authentic Japanese Samurai sword.
A Mumei Shinto Wakizashi, attributable to the: Echizen or Chikuzen School (shinto ca. 1700/1750) with beautiful and special Koshirae, probably made and used by the Rebel Samurai (after 1876).
This Wakizashi looks like Ubu, not shortened with 1 Mekugi-ana, but when I see the Hamon behind the habaki on the Nakago, it runs through what may still indicate a shortened blade. The Habaki is made of brass. The Kling is well polished and has no forging errors.
The hamon is a very wild large Gunome Choji with outliers above the Shinogi with a lot of Nie and Noi.
The koshirae is of good quality, the Saya is wrapped with a kind of thread and the relief is inlaid with red color and black finished, the Tsuka is wrapped with coarse thread and the Menuki are fans. the Fuchi & Kashira are decorated with large spiders with gold-plated high-lights. The Tsuba is made of iron with a spider in the web in gold and shakudo and still has an edge of Shakudo. Then there is a Kozuka with Ko-katana. The Kozuka is from Yamagane with a spider in Shakudo and some gold waves.
The Saya also has a Kurigata from horn.
Given the winding on the Tsuka ,the coarse F&K and Menuki and also the wire-wrapped Saya, I think this is a montage from the rebellious days of Samurai who were fighting towards the end of the Samurai era. (satsuma rebellions)

A very active blade with a special Koshirae.

Price ; € 3600,-

Nihonto - Samurai sword nr.: ZC 22

This is an authentic Japanese Samurai sword.
A Mumei ShinShinto Wakizashi with Gunome Hamon with beautiful and good quality Koshirae.
This blade is from the late ShinShinto period (1865-1867).
The Wakizashi is Ubu, not shortened with 2 Mekugi-ana, the Habaki is a 2-part and good quality gold-plated. The Kling is well polished and has no forging errors.
The hamon is Gunome with Niedeki and Nie. The Jihada is a well-made fine and beautiful Itame with Jinie.
The koshirae is of good quality, The Saya has been restored and provided with a new lacquer layer with inlays of mother of pearl, the Tsuka is wrapped with light green Tsuka-Ito and old Same with large cams, the Menuki are dragons. The Fuchi and Kashira are made of iron with gold high-lights as blossoms of the Higo school.
The Tsuba is made of iron and has baskets and agricultural equipment inlaid with gold. The Saya also has a Kurigata and Kaeshizuno from buffalo horn.

A healthy blade with a beautiful Koshirae.