NBTHK Hozon Katana: Kinoshita Kanetoyo 1872

[Sukaira]

Type (Tachi, Katana, Wakizashi, Tanto, Naginata, Other) : Katana
Ubu, Suriage or O-Suriage : Ubu
Mei : (Mumei, Signature) :  Signature + "Made to order for the Imperial Household Ministry"
Papered or not and by whom? : NBTHK Hozon
Era/Age : Meiji - 1872
Shirasaya, Koshirae or Bare Blade? : Shirasaya
Nagasa/Blade Length : 69.3cm
Sori : 1.6cm
Hamon Type : Combination notare with hakoba "box" and bamboo node "fushi"  
Jihada : mokume and masame
Other Hataraki Visible : Intentional ara-nie covers the entire habuchi along the blade, inner hamon nioi with sungashi nie in several places, some chikei as well
Flaws : 1 small kizu near the habaki (pictured below)
Sword Location : USA
Will ship to :  Anywhere
Payment Methods Accepted : PayPal
Price and Currency :  $4000 USD (includes shipping)
Other Info and Full Description : Commissioned by the Imperial Ministry during the short period where the Imperial Household re-established a sword body right after the banning of swords.

Full inscription:  [Kaga-koku Kanazawa-junin] 加賀国金沢住人 then family name [Kinoshita] 木下 the smith name [KANETOYO-saku] 兼豊作 and the reverse side is the date [Forged in the 8th month, Sheep, the 9th calendar sign, Meiji 4th] and then [Made to order for the Imperial Household Ministry] 宮内省御用ニ付.

 

 The Katsukuni 勝国 lineage of the Darani school 陀羅尼 served the Maeda clan, feudal lords of Kaga Province. The lineage continued from the 2nd Katsukuni 勝国 to Yasuhira 泰平(originally Katsuie 勝家), then to Kanehisa 兼久, and finally to Kinoshita Jinnosuke Kaneshige 木下甚之丞兼重 and Kinoshita Jin’go 木下甚吾 (this sword)