Katana かたな Awataguchi ōmi no kami Tadatsuna 粟田口近江守忠綱

Double Horimono 二倍彫刻 (one engraved on each blade side)

Katana blade

Measures:

Nagasa: 69,1 cm.
Sori: 0.9 cm.
Moto-haba: 3.05 cm.
Saki-haba: 2.15 cm.
Moto-gasane: 0.7 cm.
Saki-gasane: 0.5 cm.

Nakago hole :Two

Mei: Awataguchi ōmi no kami Tadatsuna 粟田口近江守忠綱

Estimated as 2nd generation smith of real name Asai Mandayu 浅井万太夫 who was the first son of 1st generation Tadatsuna

Age: Edo 江戸時代 (Early-Late 17th century) Estimated: Genraoku also called Genroku 元禄 period lasted 1688 to 1704

Polishing and condition:

Quite recent polishing work of a Japanese Togishi master. Perfect razor edge.
Blade surface shows some points and lines of the forging that the successive polishing over the years have left exposed on Mune and near of the two Horimono.
The two Horimono show wear in approximately the initial third part in the direction at the Kissaki (something common in any old Horimono) and signs of polishing or recovery from inknown time (sure because of a ancient polishing).
The blade remains strong and solid showing all its original forms.

Please watch detailed pictures (I could send more) and if you want can ask for more info, of course

Habaki 鎺: High grade work Sterling Silver and Gold

Composed of four pieces forming two parts covered of pure Gold and Sterling Silver (internal ring copper). Very old possibly from the Honoki wood Shirasaya time. Habaki completely restored by a expert master goldsmith craftsman now is in very excellent condition. The Habaki is of high quality and old but it does not seem original from the blade.

Shirasaya (白鞘) white sheath:

Composed of Honoki wood (Hinoki 檜 Japanese Cypress) pieces assembled. A quality traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Due to the signs of aging and natural drying of the wood in adition its satin product of time more details show that this work may be from the time of the blade, but it is not totally certainmost likely it is later, as usual, in any case it is an old piece. With external signs of use without any damage worth mentioning, its general conservation condition is good.

Bukuro 袋 :

Bukuro also called Fukuro: Katana bag traditionally made with dyed fabric silk lined inside with natural raw cotton.

AWATAGUCHI ÔMI NO KAMI TADATSUNA　粟田口近江守忠綱
This Katana blade according to expert consultations was forged by the second-gen Awataguchi ōmi no kami Tadatsuna (粟田口近江守忠綱) in the early Edo period based on the characteristic and the Nakago signature 署名 (Mei). The expert could not ensure that the two Horimono were made by the same swordsmith or maybe it was, I do not can say, they were often made, as we know, by other artisans and frequently later, which does not detract from the value of these very rare and beautiful blade.
The second-gen Tadatsuna is one of Osaka’s most skilled and popular swordsmiths in the early Edo period, following Tsuda Sukehiro and Inoue Shinkai. These three sword makers are called Sanketsu of Osaka Shinto.
The second-gen Tadatsuna’s real name is Asai Mandayu. The swordsmith’s name Tadatsuna lasted three generations, and the second-gen is said to have been the most famous and skilled one. And he was not only excellent at forging swords with different kinds of Hamon 波紋 (tempering lines).
The second-gen Tadatsuna was born in 1644 as the first son of the first-gen Tadatsuna, who called himself the descendant of Awataguchi Kunitsuna, a famous swordsmith in the early Kamakura period.

THE TADATSUNA SCHOOL 忠綱系
Asai ōmi no Kami Tadatsuna (浅井近江守忠綱) moved from Himeji in Harima province to Osaka around 1648. He then became one of the prominent smiths of what we call the Osaka Shinto tradition. He professed to be a descendant of Awataguchi Kunitsuna (粟田口國綱), but this has not been proven. He taught many disciples, the foremost of which was his son the nidai Tadatsuna (忠綱) who many feel surpassed his father in skill. The first generation Tadatsuna (忠綱) is sometimes called Oya Tadatsuna (親忠綱) as a way to differentiate him from the nidai who is called Ikkanshi Tadatsuna (一竿子忠綱).
Tadatsuna (忠綱) had many students in his kei including Munetsuna (宗綱), Tadamitsu (忠光), Masatsuna (正綱), Tadayuki (忠行), Nagatsuna (長綱), Kanetsuna (包綱), HIrotsuna (広綱), Yoshitsuna (吉綱), and many others. Of these, the most well known are Nagatsuna (長綱) and Tadayuki (忠行). Nagatsuna (長綱) was also known as Tsunbo Nagatsuna (聾長綱), meaning deaf Nagatsuna (長綱). Tadayuki (忠行) is known to have been the younger brother of the first generation Tadatsuna (忠綱).

Katana documentation:

- Kyoiku-inkai - Japanese official documentation (paper previously called Daimyo) the document card that testifies to the sword ownership :

This is a laminated sealed copy (as usual) of Prefectural (Kyoiku-inkai) Registration Card In order to legally own a original sword in Japan it has to be registered in accordance with the Ju-to-ho 銃刀法 it is the original card including inscription in equivalent characters of the Katana Nakago Mei (Awataguchi ōmi no kami Tadatsuna 粟田口近江守忠綱 signature) in order at inequivocal blade identification. Many times, as in this case, the original is returned to the prefecture upon of the Katana sale, forsooth this is the normative, of course.

The Board of Education prefecture issued a registration paper for this sword . In order to obtain this paper, the sword needs to be traditionally hand forged and signature verification. With this paper, its owner can legally own an authentic Japanese sword in Japan. This paper was be returned to the board of education when the Katana was shipped many years ago abroad but you will receive a sealed and protected copy of it.

Daimyo Registered: This sword was registered in current sword registration system started in Japan in modern era. Such swords, which were registered in a few years after the system started, are known among collectors as "Daimyo" (feudal lord) registration swords as it was Daimyo or other Daimyo-like wealthy families who owned many precious swords and were asked by the Japanese government to register their swords in the early stage of the newly introduced registration system to familiarize it to the society but it is not the official name of course what is Kyoiku-inkai (Prefectural Registration Card)

and

- Sealed printed paper 認証 from a Ju ho token Kenkyu kai member Japanese expert.

Katanacenter certification added::
Our own Kantei 鑑定 attested identification of this Katana blade and condition.

Ref.: Katana 120

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