Japanese Swords Over $2000

Antique Swords $3,000 and Up

Hold	Minamoto YoshiChika
Click to see Images	Signature: NiDai Minamoto YoshiChika Kore (2nd gen.) Year Made: 1940s Forging Pattern: Mokume Tempering Pattern: Choji Midare. Difficult to photograph due to old polish but it is a nice active temper. Dimensions: Nagasa: 26 1/16", Nakago: 7 1/2", Mihaba: 1 3/16", Sakihaba: 7/8", Kasane: 9/32", Sori: 13/16" Mountings: 1934 Pattern shin-gunto mounts of good quality (sukashi tsuba and gold washed habaki), the wear and tear of combat shows but everything matches and is in good shape. Overall Condition: Very good. The sword is nicely made and with the length and hi would make a fine sword for iai or an unusual shape for the collector of gendaito or WW II militaria. YoshiChika was famous for making swords that cut extremely well. Many of the Imperial Guards used swords made by him. This is a very rare signature for the Nidai Smith and this sword was likely custom ordered, most YoshiChikas I have seen are made with Ikubi boshi, bohi and gunome midare hamon. Yoshichika swords are quite hard to come by and in high demand, especially one that is this configuration. Read more about this smith.
$5,750	608kat1

Available

Signed Naoiye Sword in Shirasaya with Fujishiro paper

Click to see Images

Signature: Oite Nanki Naoiye zo no
Year Made: 1716
Forging Pattern: Ko Itame with Jinie
Tempering Pattern:   Suguha-deki with Ashi and deep nioikuchi in places
Dimensions:   Nagasa: 31 1/32", Nakago: 8 5/8", Mihaba: 1 1/4", Sakihaba: ", Kasane: 5/16", Sori: 3/4"
Mountings:   Shirasaya.
Overall Condition: The polish is very fine and the shirasaya is very nice with only minor dents. The habaki is a one piece with gold foil and in excellent condition.

$7,750

811kat2

Available	Shinshinto Blade in WW II Mounts
Click to see Images	Signature: Mumei Year Made: Shinshinto Forging Pattern: Ko-Itame Tempering Pattern: Notare with ashi Dimensions: Nagasa: 27 3/8", Nakago: 8", Mihaba: 1 9/32", Sakihaba: 27/32", Kasane: 1/4", Sori: 5/8" Mountings: WW II Guntowith foiled habaki Overall Condition: This blade is very health and may never have been repolished. It does have some chips in the edge most of which are about 1 mm, a couple about 2 mm. There is also what looks like a sword cut in the mune (see picture). This sword looks like it was in one good battle. There are other scraps, scratches and scuff marks. All the damage except the sword cut will come out in a good polish and this will still be a very health nice looking sword. The koshirae is all very good quality and in excellent condition. There is a family mon in the fuchi. The habaki is foiled and appears to be shibuichi. It is in very serviceable condition and has superb balance.
$4,750	608KAT6

Available	Koto Katana in Higo Koshirae
Click to see Images	Signature: Mitsukane Year Made: Koto Forging Pattern: Masame Tempering Pattern: Suguha Dimensions: Nagasa: 27 ", Nakago: 8 1/4 ", Mihaba: 1 1/32", Sakihaba: 5/8", Kasane: 3/16", Sori: 3/4" Condition: The blade is in old polish with minor openings but there are no notable defects. Given the age of the polish, there are the typical scratches, some signs of old, light surface rust that have been cleaned away, and some newer rust areas near the kissaki. Nice Higo mountings are in very good condition. The leather wrap in very nice and solid. The fuchi-kashira and kojiri are shibuichi. The saya shows signs of cracking along the seems and there are areas of minor denting and one spot of missing lacquer at the kojiri, which could be easily restored.
$4,750	508KAT2

Available	Shinshinto Blade in Original Period Mounts
Click to see Images	Signature: Mumei Year Made: Shinshinto Forging Pattern: Ko-Itame Tempering Pattern: Choji Midare Dimensions: Nagasa: 27 1/8", Nakago: 7 1/4", Mihaba: 1 3/8", Sakihaba: 1", Kasane: 9/32", Sori: 11/16" Mountings: Stone finish saya. period mounts, iron tsuba and one piece copper habaki Overall Condition: The blade has no forging flaws, is very wide and health. There are scuff marks and some rub marks but the blade can still be easily enjoyed as is. The fittings are all matching and in very good condition. The lacquered ito is deteriorating, very easily restored for a few hundred dollars to a color of your choice. Very nice same and menuki. The tsuba is iron and habaki is a one piece copper some of the original gold plating left. Overall a nice original and complete package.
$5,750	909kat2

Available	Long ShinShinto Katana by Hiroshige with NTHK Papers
Click to see Images	Signature: Echigo Hiroshige Year Made: 1800s Forging Pattern: Itame Tempering Pattern: Suguha with waves of nie and nioi Dimensions: Blade Length: 27.9", Nakago: 9.6", Mihaba: 1 3/16", Sakihaba: 3/4", Kasane: 5/16", Sori: 3/8" Mountings: There is a gunto tsuba, sepa and tsuka, no saya. There is a one piece copper habaki in good condition that appears to have had a silver wash at one time. Overall Condition: The blade is in good, solid condition with no flaws except for light scratches that run the length of the blade. A good polish would make this blade a nice addition to anyone's collection. Or leave it as is, all the activity is visible in this condition.
$4,000	306KAT25	SALE $3500

Sold	Showa Yoshimune Katana
Click to see Images	Signature: Takahashi Yoshimune Year Made: Made in September 1941 Forging Pattern: Masame Tempering Pattern: Choji Dimensions: Blade Length: 38", Negasa: 29 1/2", Mihaba: 1 5/16", Sakihaba: 7/8", Kasane: 1/4", Sori: 3/4 Mountings: WW II Navy Koshirae with Mon, Shirasaya with one gold washed Habaki Condition: The blade is in excellent condition with a very nice fresh polish. There is one small area with wari which can be seen in the pictures. The shirasaya is well made and in fine condition. The seem has opened at the koiguchi probably from temperature and humidity changes. The gunto koshirae is also in excellent condition for its age. There are only a few small rub marks near the kogiri also visible in the pictures.
$10,000	807kat6

Available	Katana with NTHK Papers in Gunto Mounts
Click to see Images	Signature: Morioka Masayoshi Year Made: Meiji Forging Pattern: Ko-Itame Tempering Pattern: Gonome with ashi Dimensions: Blade Length: 31 7/8", Negasa: 24 13/16", Mihaba: 1 1/16", Sakihaba: 11/16", Kasane: 1/4", Sori: 1/2" Mountings: WW II Koshirae and Shirasaya with one piece gold wash Habaki. The wash is mostly worn away (see pic). Condition: The blade and the shirasaya are both in fine condition. The gunto koshirae is in very nice condition. There are a couple of very small chips and one small bump down near the kogiri. The ito has a few spots where it is starting to fray. These are visible in the pictures.
$8,200	807kat9

Available	Hirazukuri Tanto by MasaTsugu with NTHK Papers
Click to see Images	Signature: Arisugawa Miya Maiko Niwa MasaTsugu Saku. Year Made: Meiji 43, August Forging Pattern: Itame Tempering Pattern: O-Gunome Notara Dimensions: Blade Length: 14.25", Nakago: 4.25", Mihaba: 1 1/4", Kasane: 7/32" Mountings: Comes in shirasaya with a one piece silver habaki Overall Condition: The blade is in very nice condition with no forging problems.
$5,000	807tanto1

Available	Wakizashi by First Generation Toshinaga
Click to see Images	Signature: Toshinaga Year Made: Forging Pattern: Itame Tempering Pattern: Notare-Midara Dimensions: Blade Length: 20.5 ", Nakago: 6", Mihaba: 1 3/16", Sakihaba: 7/8", Kasane: 5/16", Sori: " Mountings: Shirasaya with one piece gold foiled habaki, both in very nice condition Overall Condition: blade is in excellent condition with a beautifull polish. There are a few grain openings up in the shinogu-ji just under the mune.
$6,000	1106wak1

Sold	Gendai Katana by ToshiHide
Click to see Images	Signature: Horii ToshiHide, Showa 16 8th month. Year Made: 1941 Forging Pattern: Tight Itame Tempering Pattern: Gunome Dimensions: Blade Length: 26.2 34", Nakago: 8.5", Mihaba: 1 1/4", Sakihaba: 7/8", Kasane: 5/16", Sori: 9/16" Mountings: Shirasaya with one piece silver foil Habaki Condition: Excellent. Recently restored. He was born in Shiga Prefecture in 1886, ToshiHide was one of the pre-eminent smiths of his time and was also know as KaneAki or HideAki. When the crown prince was born in 1933, he changed his name to ToshiHide, concerned that his name contained the same Aki character as the prince. He is listed as a High to Superior Grade Gendai smith and was awarded a Special Honor Noted Seat in the 1941 Exhibition. Please see 807kat4 for another sword by this smith signed HideAki
$7,500		Item: 807kat5

Available	Ikkansai Shigetsugu Gendai Katana
Click to see Images	Signature: Ikkansai Shigetsugu Year Made: A Day in May 4th Year of Taishi (1915) Forging Pattern: Masame Tempering Pattern: Suguha with abundant gonomi ashi Dimensions: Blade Length: 26.25 ", Nakago: 7.25", Mihaba: 1 1/4", Sakihaba: 7/8", Kasane: 1/4", Sori: 1/2" Mountings: Shirasaya with one piece gold foil Habaki Condition: Excellent. Recently restored. His birth name is Kasama Yoshikazu, born on April 1st 1886 in Shizuoka. He studied under his uncle Miyaguchi Shigetoshi and continued his training under Morioka Masayoshi. Shigetsugu was Nihonto Tarne Denshusho's Master Swordsmith. His work is highly regarded and coveted by advanced gendaito collectors.
$7,500		Item: 807kat3

Available	Gendaito by SadaSugu
Click to see Images	Signature: Seki Noshu ju Takai SadaSugu Kore Wo Forging Pattern: Itame Tempering Pattern: Midare in nie with sunagashi Dimensions: Blade Length: 25.4 inches Nakago: 8.5 inches 7 mm thick 30 mm wide Mountings: Shirasaya. Overall Condition: Excellent. Recent polish and shirasaya. Nice active hamon and hada on this nicely restored sword.
$4375		Item: 104kat12

Sold	Gassan Sadakazu in Beautiful Imperial Court Koshirae
Click to see Images	Signature: Teishitsu Gigeiin (Imperial Court Artist) Gassan SadaKazu Year Made: Taisho 2 (1913), October Forging Pattern: Ko-Itame Tempering Pattern: Suguha Dimensions: Blade Length: 25", Nakago: 6", Mihaba: 1", Sakihaba: 5/8", Kasane: 3/16", Sori: 3/4" Mountings: Gassan Sadakazu (1836-1918) was awarded the title of Teishitsu Gigeiin (Imperial Arts and Crafts Expert) by Emporer Meiji in 1890. He was one of the first seven arts to receive this title. Sadakazu is responsible for keeping the Gassan school in existence during to early-mid Meiji period when most sword smiths were forced to give up their trade because of lack of demand for swords. The full court koshirae and shirasaya in mint condition, the lacquer work is very good quality. The habaki is a one piece gold washed. Condition: The sword and koshirae are excellent in condition and quality. The lacquer work is very high quality. The shirasaya is a little older but in very fine condition. This is a very beautifull show piece.
		Item: 807kat2

Sold	Gendai Katana by SukeHiro
Click to see Images	Signature: Sukehiro Year Made: Showa 17, 1941. Forging Pattern: Masame mixed with Itame Tempering Pattern: Gunome Midari with Ashi Dimensions: Blade Length: 25.75 ", Nakago: 8.25", Mihaba: 1 1/4", Sakihaba: 7/8", Kasane: 1/4", Sori: 1/2" Mountings: Gunto and Shirasaya with one piece silver wash Habaki Condition: Very Good. Recently restored with original gunto mounts. SukeHiro is a Rikugun Jumei Tosho during WW2 producing high grade gendaitos. This is a very nice sword with an active hamon and well forged hada.
		Item: 807kat11

Sold	Koto Katana in Naval Mounts with Large Node Same Saya
Click to see Images	Signature: Mumei Year Made: Koto Forging Pattern: Ko-Itame Tempering Pattern: Suguha Dimensions: Nagasa: 26 5/16", Nakago: 7 3/8", Mihaba: 1 1/16", Sakihaba: 23/32", Kasane: 7/32", Sori: 3/8" Mountings: WW II Naval Gunto mounts with same saya and silver wash habaki with a custom fitted old tsuba and original tassle. Overall Condition: The temper is very sleepy but there are no forging flaws. The same on the saya is 98% solid with only a few spots of missing lacquer that are difficult to see. The tsuka is solid and the ito is in very good condition. The fittings are also in very good condition.
	608KAT8

Sold	Wakizashi by Takamichi
Click to see Images	Signature: Takamichi Year Made: Shinto Forging Pattern: Ko-Itame Tempering Pattern: Gonome with nioi Dimensions: Nagasa: 17 3/4", Nakago: 8", Mihaba: 1 1/8", Sakihaba: 7/8", Kasane: 1/4", Sori: 7/16" Mountings: New shirasaya in fine condition. The habaki is a two pice gold foil with carved mon. The is a little bit of foil sepparation at the munemachi. Overall Condition: The blade is in excellent condition with recent polish. There are no problems with the blade. It is a very fine collector's piece.
	1106wak6

Sold	Shinshinto Gassan Katana with Horimono with NBTHK Green Papers
Click to see Images	Signature: Setsuyo Ju Gassan Sadayoshi tsukuru. Year Made: 1830-1860 Forging Pattern: Ko-Itame Tempering Pattern: Suguha with Niedeki and fine activity above the hamon Dimensions: Blade Length: 28 7/8", Nakago: 9.5" Mihaba: 1 3/8", Sakihaba: 7/8", Kasane: 5/16", Sori: 1/2", Kissaki: 2 3/8" Condition: This blade is in excellent condition, bright fresh polish. Gassan Sadayoshi (1800-1870) is the Osaka Gassan school founder, one of the most popular Shin-Shinto schools, and he was known for his fine horimono. The horimono of the dragon is superb! and is in excellent condition with only the very slightest of loss from polishing. The Niedeki is quite attractive and strong. This is a very health blade, pleasing to hold and examine. There are two shirasaya, one older with a sayagaki (first four pictures) and the second (next two pictures) is very fresh and well made. The shirasaya with the sayagaki is splitting along the seems. The wood is repairable. The habaki is a one piece gold foil.
		Item: 807kat1

Sold	Gendaito by Well Known Showa Smith Yoshihara Kuniie
Click to see Images	Signature: Yoshihara Kuniie ___ ___. Year Made: Show 17th year, 10th moon, lucky day (October, 1942) Forging Pattern: Tight mokume and itame mix Tempering Pattern: Chogi/toran midare mix in copious nie Dimensions: Blade Length: 26.5 inches Nakago: 8.75 inches 7 mm thick and 32 mm wide at Hamachi Mountings: '34 pattern shin-gunto mounts of high quality with all matching parts and a silver family mon on the kabutogane, lacquer on saya and same/ito are in poor condition but the fittings themselves are in good shape. Koshirae is held together by a tsunagi or wooden copy of the sword. Also included is a shirasaya with a sayagaki by Tanobe-san of the NBTHK. We have not translated the sayagaki and if we do will post the translation at a later date. Overall Condition: The sword is in fresh polish and shows the beautiful formations of nie and ko-nie. It is very well worked and is flawless except for a small ware near the front on the ura side. An excellent addition for the collector of Showa swords and having the original mounts as well is a plus.
		Item: 1206gendai3

Sold	Gendai Katana by Hideaki
Click to see Images	Signature: ZuiSen MinaMoto HideAki, with a custom ordered signature Year Made: Showa 7 1933. Forging Pattern: Itame Tempering Pattern: Gunome with midare Dimensions: Blade Length: 30", Nakago: 8.25", Mihaba: 1 5/16", Sakihaba: 7/8", Kasane: .5/16", Sori: 13/16" Mountings: Shirasaya with one piece silver Habaki Condition: Excellent. More commonly known as ToshiHide, HideAki was one of the pre-eminent smiths of his time. When the crown prince was born in 1933, he changed his name to ToshiHide, concerned that his name contained the same Aki character as the prince. This is perhaps one of his last HideAki signed swords. He is listed as a High to Superior Grade Gendai smith and was awarded a Special Honor Noted Seat in the 1941 Exhibition.
		Item: 807kat4

Sold	Koto Rai Katana with NBTHK Papers attributed to ChioTsuru
Click to see Images	Signature: Mumei, attributed to Chiotsuru Year Made: Koto/Muromachi Jidai Forging Pattern: Itame with Chikei and Ji Nie Tempering Pattern: Midare Dimensions: Nagasa: 25 7/16", Nakago: 6 1/4", Mihaba: 1 1/4", Sakihaba: 3/4", Kasane: 1/4", Sori: 13/16" Mountings: Blade Only. I will leave it up to the buyer to decide how to mount up this sword and price accordingly. Overall Condition: This is a very nice Koto sword from the Rai school, papered to ChioTsuru by the NBTHK. The polish is a old but good that the blade can be left as is. Lots of great activity in the hada and hamon in typical Rai style. Priced well below market before habaki and shirasaya are made for sale to someone that might want to mount it differently. This is an exceptionally nice Yamashiro den sword. The ChioTsuru school was founded by Rai KuniYasu, they signed their works Chiotsuru (Thousand Generation Crane), existing works are quite rare.
	507KAT3

Sold ML	Long Katana by Masachika with NTHK papers
Click to see Images	Signature: Hosokawa Masachika Year Made: 1800s Forging Pattern: Itame-Masame Tempering Pattern: Suguba with nie and nioi Dimensions: Blade Length: 28.6", Nakago: 9.4", Mihaba: 1 5/16", Sakihaba: 15/16", Kasane: 9/32", Sori: 1" Mountings: The World War II gunto mounts are good quality with a sukashi tsuba and silver washed detail on the rest of the kodogu. The paint on the saya is chipping off and it appears to have been repainted. There is one dent just above the kogiri. Overall Condition: The blade is in good condition with only minor scratches and some stains. It is in its original pre war polish which has seen action, this sword will restore very nicely.
	1206kat1

Sold	ToshiNaga Wakizashi
Click to see Images	Signature: Mutsu no Kami Toshinaga Year Made: Shinto Forging Pattern: Mokume Tempering Pattern: Notare Dimensions: Nagasa: 20 3/8", Nakago: 6 1/8", Mihaba: 1 1/4", Sakihaba: 7/8", Kasane: 1/4", Sori: 1/2" Mountings: New shirasaya with a gold foiled habaki. Overall Condition: The blade is in perfect, new polish. Toshinaga is the brother of Yamashiro no Kami Toshinaga, he lived in Rakuy� and Hany�, and later moved to Ise. His style resembles that of Yamashiro no Kami (Toshinaga) and swords are rated wazamono (extremely sharp).
	1106WAK2

Sold	NTHK Papered Edo Ishido MitsuHira Katana
	Signature: Mumei, Attributed to Dewa no Kami Minamoto Mitsuhira. Tsuba signed and papered to Shoami Oshu Nanbu Tsuba. Forging Pattern: Mokume with O-hada and masame Tempering Pattern: Choji with Utsuri Dimensions: Blade Length: 27.3 inches Nakago: 8.1 inches 6.5 mm thick 30 mm wide Mountings: Ribbed red lacquer saya with restored leather wrapped handle with period iron fittings and papered tsuba. Solid silver habaki. Overall Condition: Excellent. In fresh polish. This is an exceptional katana from one of the most sought after schools of the Shinto Period. The Edo Ishido school was founded by Korekazu and Mitsuhira was one of its most imminent smiths. This is a Jo-saku rated smith that have numerous Juyo papered swords. This is a classic example of this smith's work in Ichimonji style with an excellent choji hamon and utsuri. His swords are rated Ryo-Wazamono for very good cutting ability.
	Item: 704kat11

Sold DD	NBTHK Papered Sue Koto Mihara Masaie in Papered Edo Period Mounts
Click to see Images	Signature: Mihara Masaie (circa 1500s) Forging Pattern: Itame and masame Tempering Pattern: Midare Dimensions: Blade Length: 14.3 inches Nakago: 4.2 inches 6 mm thick 27 mm wide Mountings: Full period mounts. NBTHK papered (circa 1800s) Overall Condition: Excellent. In fresh polish. This is a Sue Mihara tanto has great forging in difficult to find original Edo period mounts in excellent condition. Both the blade and the mounts are papered on this sword.
	Item: 806tanto1