ANCIENT BLADE**1661-1673 Shinto Period Kan Bun Era Japanese Uchigatana Single Handed Sword Blade Smith Signed ‘BITCHU KAMI TACHIBANA SADA SHIGE SAKU’ With Re-Furbished Hilt Fittings & Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 21347 Swords

**ANCIENT BLADE**1661-1673 Shinto Period Kan Bun Era Japanese Uchigatana Single Handed Sword Blade Smith Signed ‘BITCHU KAMI TACHIBANA SADA SHIGE SAKU’ With Re-Furbished Hilt Fittings & Scabbard With Expert Assessment. Sn 21347 - 21347

This is a Japanese Uchigatana with ancient blade. The sword has been examined by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg and a copy of his assessment notes accompany the sword. In extracts of his notes he states “Uchigatana Single Handed Sword dating to Shinto period Kan Bun era 1661-1673. Big wide powerful looking with shallow curvature, a typical shape for this time in Japanese history. Been polished in recent times, bright hamon visible & grain. Had a good high temperature quench lots of nie crystals. Good quality blade signed ‘BITCHU KAMI TACHIBANA SADA SHIGE SAKU’. This man working around Kan Bun era originally came from Taijima Hojoji school to Musashi. Saya is restored Honoki wood finished in black paint? with Buffalo horn mounts. Tsuba looks cast iron late Edo period. Tsuka is modern refurbishment with new fish skin (shrunk), black cotton ito wrapwith good quality fuchi kashira look Soten school, warriors in a forest in shakudo / nanoko (faded) & a good pair of gilt menuki Dragons (mint). Would look better with a professional hilt re-build. A powerful looking sword”. In his illustrations of the blade he describes the cutting edge of blade as 57 cms. Total length 73 cms. He also describes other blade characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price includes UK delivery. Sn 21347

£1,645.00