Bryce

Thanks Dave, Just a quick note that I disagree with a couple of points raised in the article. The tanto in figure 9 that the author says is gimei is actually shoshin. The NBTHK paper these to Sadakazu. I have no explanation for why these mei look so different, but Sadakazu did use a number of different stamps throughout his career and the work in these blades does look like Sadakazu's. Also while I agree the katana blade in figures 12-15 was probably made by Sadakatsu, it was also signed by Sadakatsu for his father, rather than being signed by Sadakazu. Cheers, Bryce

Here are some more of the beautiful photos that AOIJapan posted of the kissaki of that blade. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, Here is an example together with what I think is the original koshirae and blade. The tsuba and blade are signed by Gassan Sadakazu. The tsuba isn't dated, but the blade is dated 1866. Cheers, Bryce

I find the stamps he used on the tsuba interesting. It suggests that he may have sometimes used different stamps to the few that I have seen marking his blades. Below is a shot of the koshirae that was with the sword. Tsuruta San of AOIJapan thinks that Sadakazu may have made all of the metal work for the koshirae. The fact that he isn't absolutely sure suggests that only the tsuba must be signed. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, One of the reasons why I am fascinated with the Gassan smiths, is that they are the complete package. Not only are they excellent swordsmiths, but they also carve beautiful horimono, make their own habaki and from time to time make their own tsuba. AOIJapan recently had a magnificent example of this by Gassan Sadakazu. The sturdy blade which is forged in masame, is dated 1866 and has beautiful Fudo Myo horimono. The original koshirae includes a tsuba signed by Sadakazu. A similar tsuba is shown in the "Gassan Sadaichi Kaiko Ten" book. Cheers, Bryce

Thanks Bazza, Do you think that by including this stamp, Sadakazu was further reinforcing the fact that he made this tsuba? I have never seen this stamp on any of his blades. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, AOIJapan recently had a Gassan Sadakazu katana for sale dated 1866 with what looks like it's original koshirae. The koshirae includes a tsuba signed by Sadakazu. The tsuba is decorated with hot stamps including Sadakazu's familiar "sada" kokuin and another stamp which I think may be the Japanese kanji for kanshudo or manufacture in English? Am I right? Cheers, Bryce

AOIJapan currently have two fantastic Gassan blades with horimono for sale. A katana by Sadakazu and a wakizashi by his son Sadakatsu. The Sadakazu horimono (top) is entirely contained within the bohi, so is only about half the size of the Sadakatsu example below. Cheers, Bryce

Thanks Alex, There doesn't seem to be any consistency with the "open/closed mouth" and tail type. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, I have heard people talk about male and female dragons in horimono and have noticed that some dragons have a spiky tail and some have a ken tail. Can anyone shed some light on this? Cheers, Bryce

Looks like most of the blades didn't sell. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, The description for the Norikatsu has now been changed to masame hada. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Neil, My favourite smith Gassan Sadakatsu almost always finished his mei with a kao, but occasionally he left it off. I don't really know why. His father Sadakazu on the other hand often didn't sign with a kao. Sometimes he did include one, sometimes he used a kokuin instead and sometimes he included a kokuin and a kao. No real pattern to this I can discern. Also, when students signed for their master, they also incuded the kao. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, I see they have dropped the opening bid for the Sadakatsu down to 16,000. Bargain. I also noticed they have the hada description for Lot 58 the Norikatsu, as "pronounced flowing itame", when it is actually masame again. Let's see if the description changes this time? Cheers, Bryce

Yeah, they have changed the description to masame. Someone must have pointed it out. Maybe they follow the NMB? Cheers, Bryce