Antique Japanese Daisho Katana and Wakizashi set Signed Mei blades from the early Edo period Dragon Koshirae Kodogu pure gold covered

Daisho大小 Nihonto 美術日本刀

(Katana 刀, かたな and Wakizashi 脇差 set)

Signed Mei blades: Fujiwara Kuniyuki / Yamato Ju

Dragon Koshirae

Kodogu Solid Gold covered 純金で覆われた with Kozuka 小柄 and Kogatana

Katana blade:

Very rare, extremely thin and narrow blade.

Nagasa: 62,4.0 cm.
Moto-haba: 2,4 cm.
Saki-haba: 1,8 cm.
Moto-gasane: 0,4 cm.
Saki-gasane: 0,35 cm.
Sori: 1.2 cm.
Total Blade length: 78,2 cm.

Mei: Signed Yamato Ju (last part somewhat deleted seems to read as: naga preceded of hiro or hira) Hironaga or perhaps Hiranaga

Age: Estimated Nanbokuchō Period 南北朝時代 with Edo period 江戸時代 modification

School: Yamato

Hamon: Suguha/Notare

Japanese swords were forged according to the height of the first owner. In very old pieces, they are sometimes found modified by cutting from the same blade or in the Nakago to adapt to the appropriate size of the new owner, but it is rare to find them.

This Katana blade has another very rare feature, the initial part of the blade was transformed into Nakago, to shorten but also to modify the curvature (Sori). Hence the unusual shape of the current Nakago.

Wakizashi blade:

Nagasa: 38.3 cm.
Moto-haba: 2,5 cm.
Saki-haba: 1,7 cm.
Moto-gasane: 0,55 cm.
Saki-gasane: 0,38 cm.
Sori: 1.1 cm.
Total Blade length: 48,9 cm.

Mei: Signed Kuniyuki estimated as a Fujiwara Kuniyuki work.

School: Bungo

Hamon: Midare

Age: Circa Kanbun (寛文頃 1661 at 1672) in Edo period 江戸時代 the “藤原高田”(Fujiwara Takada) from the BUNGO 豊後 (Bungo Takada School) some of their swordsmith had been named “行”(YUKI) at last kanji character.

Blades material: Tamahagane high grade Japanese traditional forged work.

Katana and Wakizashi condition:

Blades condition is as can be seen in the detailed pictures.
Both blades have undergone a professional cleaning process (not polishing) this action allows them to be kept in their authentic condition of conservation.
The Wakizashi blade shows some superficial and very light stains from old oxidation that has already been stopped and removed.
The same in the Katana blade that also presents a minimum close to invisible defect in the tip. A lack of about 2 cm on the surface and a very tiny chip on the edge. A fold of the old edge that is now under the Habaki so it is not visible.

The edge of both blades is the antique original one and is preserved with the usual razor cut typical of good Japanese swords.

Daisho Koshirae:

Both mounts are restored in a great craftsmanship (work of a Koshiraeshi master)

Kodogu parts (Fuchi/Kashira, Menuki couple and Kojiri of each): Restored. Covered with pure Gold (plate in the highest quality)

Tsuka:

Honoki wood.

Same: Genuine Rayskin

Ito: Two colors natural Silk

Saya:

Honoki wood.

Kurikata and Koiguchi: Buffalo horn

Koiguchi Shitodome: Golden