Antique Japanese & World Weapons AUG. 29th
Lot 51:
Superb Showa era Japanese KATANA Sword ~ Massive Blade by ICHIHARA NAGAMITSU. This beautiful Gendito Katana holds a Showa era blade made by famed sword maker Ichihara Nagamitsu and bearing his Early two-character signature on the tang. This beautiful blade is unusually thick and is the thickest Ichihara Nagamitsu blade that has ever been seen in the USA. The blade was remounted in 1998, as it was acquired without any mountings. Because of the unusually thick blade, the correct military mounts could not be obtained. The koshari, tsuka and saya are a mixture of matching old and new parts. The large Tsuba, Fuchi, Kashira and Menuki are antique. The Tsuka, Same, wrap, Saya, Kojiri and Kurigata were newly made in 1998 when the sword was remounted. The stippled brass Kurigata and Kojiri were made to match the metal & motif of the Fuchi-Kashira and Hitsu-ana. The beautiful lacquered Saya is a rich hand rubbed coffee colored brown that lightens and darkens based on the lighting conditions. This is a short, but powerful Katana, with a big massive Tsuka. ~~~~~Nagamitsu is one of the most famous names in the history of Japanese swords. There have been various sword-smiths named Nagamitsu who worked from the mid 1200’s through the 1940’s. The most famous of them worked in Bizen, although sword-smiths by this name are recorded as having worked in Satsuma, Yamato, Yamashiro and other locations. Ichihara Ichiryushi Nagamitsu worked during the Showa Era in the 1930’s and 1940’s. ~~~~~ It has been established that Nagamitsu was a participant in the first Army Shinsakuto Exhibition held in 1944, in which he entered under the name of Ichihara Nagamitsu. Nagamitsu resided in Okayama and is mentioned in the Tosho Zensho by Shimizu which lists him as a Rikugun Jumei Tosho (Army approved sword-smith) and as a member of the Rikugun Gunto Gijutsu Tenrankai. He was awarded the Kaicho-sho prize at a sword competition held by Riku-gun Gunto Sho-rei Kai before the war. ~~~~~ On May 20, 1984, a Nagamitsu blade was awarded Shinteisho origami by the NTHK. Nagamitsu blades have also received Hozon origami from the NBTHK in Japan. This attests to the high regard that these blades are currently getting in Japan and the fact that they are judged to be true Gendaito. ~~~~~ Swordsman Saruta Mitsuhiro, head of the Musashi Dojo Ryuseika of Osaka, used a blade made by Ishiryushi Nagamitsu to perform kabutowari (helmet cutting). The blade successfully cut several centimeters into the iron plate helmet without sustaining significant damage, thus demonstrating the excellent quality and resilience of Nagamitsu swords. ~~~~~ Ichihara Ichiryushi Nagamitsu often carved mei using an unusual style of Kanji for the "naga" character. "Naga" is usually written with three horizontal strokes to the right of the top vertical stroke. On many Ichihara Nagamitsu blades the "naga" Kanji is written with only two horizontal strokes. It is my belief that this is a "trademark" of Ichihara Nagamitsu and an important kantei point in distinquishing his blades from those of other sword-smiths who signed Nagamitsu during this period. However, there are several Nagamitsu blades known signed with a standard "naga" Kanji which may be a variant and from the same forge as the others, and perhaps carved by a student or assistant. Much has yet to be learned about the blades of from the forge of Nagamitsu. ~~~~~ Given the number of variations of signatures (mei) found on Nagamitsu blades, combined with the quantity of blades known, it seems unlikely that they are all the work of one lone sword-smith. It is likely that Nagamitsu had a number of students and assistants who also produced blades at his forge and who signed sword blades on his behalf. Therefore each blade must be judged on its own merits and not simply on its signature. ~~~~~ There is no doubt that this most powerful blade of Outstanding quality was made by the Master Nagamitsu himself and was most definitely a special order for an important Army figure of significant status and rank, or possibly even a One-of-a-Kind Exhibition example. ~~~~~Total Length in Scabbard – 38 7/8" Blade Length (along the spine, from Habaki notch to the tip) – 24 1/4"
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