Vermithrax16

Whenever I see a thread with Kanesada in the title I usually skip it as there seems to be a million Kanesada swords going around at any one time. The sword in this thread has a mei reading Noda Goro Fujiwara Kanesada. A web search turned up no papered examples from this signature. I found a couple of examples: 1. From an old auction via catawiki: https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/16092193-wakizashi-Japanese-sabre-classed-as-shinto-1603-1800-with-edo-period-kochirae 2. From an old sale at Nihonto Antiques: http://www.nihontoantiques.com/archive/g76.htm Mei comparison below. No comparables in Sesko's book or my other mei references and none of these examples are shinsa verified, so take from it what you will.

Must have been a very tiny chisel to sign that menuki!

I would imagine the OP has more info, but seems reluctant to discuss. Aoi should take the sword back.

Aoi gave a Hozon guarantee, so did it not pass Tokubetsu Hozon? Please clarify.

Incredible deal right here. Wow.

Oh my! Joe!!!! Super big congratulations! This is very exciting to hear. Glad you gave it the shot.

The sword bag this one came with had what looks like an old shirasaya wood piece as a tag. I can't make it out, may only say Norikatsu as a label. Also the shirasaya seems brand new, and has burned on marks, I imagine this is from the maker as his type of signature?:

Now that is pretty!! Congrats sir.

I would add, ask before you buy.

I had fun Matt, so don't worry. Thanks for the post!

Glad to finally be able to contribute. Suifu Ju Katsumura Norikatsu.

Thanks my man. Miss you.

Got your message, thanks.

Thanks Ray, there were a few that were hard to pass on (Ippo, Den Shizu, and your Tomohide about had me sold) so it's very hard indeed.

It's been a long way to get here. I am sure I have bugged many members here with my posts/questions/PM's about masame hada swords. Thanks to all for being so kind and helpful, it's appreciated. For 8 months I have worked on finding a masame hada sword that would teach me things and be worth the wait and cost. As few of these works are usually available at any one time, there is not a large body of items to compare or choose from. Nihonto is a SLOW hobby and patience can be hard to maintain at times. When I went away on vacation in early May, I made a deal with myself; 4 candidate swords in final list and I would make a decision when I returned. New sword is a katana by the Shinshinto era Mito smith Suifu Ju Katsumura Norikatsu. If you have the "Art and the Sword" books there is a nice write up in volumes 5+6 about Norikatsu works. This is another article that has some cool info about half way down on this page: https://archive.is/hFQfB Dimensions: Nagasa: 70cm Width at hamachi: 3.08cm Width at kissaki: 2.16cm Kasane: 0.77cm Sori: 1.4cm Boshi: hakikake work that I have not been good at photographing, but the masame lines finish through the "beard" and curve back. Nie is speckled throughout Polish: high grade polish in my opinion Tokubetsu Hozon by NBTHK 1998 I have had a hard time capturing the masame hada using my phone which I did not think was going to be the case. The masame "runs" through the sword, and under light in hand you can follow the undulating lines from start to finish. There is nie all over the blade (looks like someone cracked pepper all over it) and the nie concentrates in some areas forming dark islands. It's a stunner in hand. The hamon is a gently moving suguha, with thick sungashi throughout that looks like it was painted on, it's that heavy in places. Gold foiled double habaki and new shirasaya finish the package. I am very pleased and have already blown 3+ hours with the lighted magnifying glass on this sword in study. Please forgive my picture work. I have included a section of the contrast scan and a suguta photo as well.

I LOVE this thank you Peter! Check your DM's!

My guess as well but I am about the worst at this sort of thing

Cat General painting should be well bid.

Guessing from the responses there is some issue.

Catsharks are a small shark family, and I think this is a spotted catshark in the piece Ray posted. Ah, Ray already updated.

Fred has a real stunner up for sale, and it's well worth a stop to see the pictures. Buy lotto tickets and hope! Wonderful: http://www.nihonto.com/05-07-18/

New tsuba in nihonto display section. I returned all my books/references back to the table and cleaned everything up.

Thanks for the write up Eric, sounds like a great time.

Sounds like an excellent day to have Peter. Really glad you put fresh eyes on your collection, nihonto always has a tale to tell if you keep asking.

Not likely.