Bryce

G'day Guys, Am I missing something here or are these estimates a little optimistic? This blade by Gassan Sadakatsu is a little longer than average, but isn't anything special, unless the Inoue Shiro family are especially famous? Also they have described the hada as ayasugi, when it is clearly masame, as backed up by the Tanobe sayagaki. A katana | Signed Osaka ju Gassan Sadakatsu kinsaku (respectfully made by Gassan Sadakatsu, a resident of Osaka) and kao [cursive monogram] | Taisho period, dated Taisho hachinen juichigatsu kichijutsu, Omi no kuni Inoue Shiro ke judai no tame (an auspicious day in November 1919, for the successive generations of the Inoue Shiro family from Omi Province) | Art of Japan | 2024 | Sotheby's Cheers, Bryce

Thanks for your help Steve. Cheers, Bryce

Thanks for your help John. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, This is on the tsuka of an early type 98 shin gunto, with a Bizen Yokoyama Sukenaga blade. Any ideas? Cheers, Bryce

G'day Hamish, A similar thing happened to me last year, but it wasn't Jauce. I think you just have to be patient some times. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Kirill, Thank you for that comparison. I agree that generally a Gassan Sadakatsu will exhibit uniform ko-nie and clean, well defined forging lines. Below is a comparison of a Gassan Sadakatsu in my collection done in masame on the right, with the Masamune photo you supplied on the left. It would be nice to be able to compare them in the same light. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, I think that Japanese dealer was spot on. I think the Ishida Masamune had a massive influence on Gassan Sadakatsu. The earliest mention I have come across of Soshu Masamune Den on a Gassan blade was the blade that started this thread. It is a Sadakazu daisaku by Sadakatsu dated Meiji 30 (1897). What I first noticed about this blade is that it is a dead ringer for Sadakatsu's usual Showa period blades. The sugata is very different to the usual Gassan blades being produced up to this point, but almost identical to the Ishida Masamune. I don't think that can be a coincidence? Here is a comparison photo of the Ishida Masamune (top) and the blade signed Sadakazu Meiji 30 (below). Cheers, Bryce

G'day Khalid, Check out the Gassan thread. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, Just came across this video of these two guys showcasing a Gassan Sadakazu blade dated 1888. Unfortunately for me it is all in Japanese, but the ayasugi hada and hamon is very similar to the 1920 dated Sadakatsu I posted above. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, Here is another Gassan from the internet. This one was signed Sadakazu, but was probably done by Sadakatsu. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, A Japanese dealer made the comment that he thought one of these blades by Sadakatsu resembled the Ishida Masamune sword. After tracking down a description of this blade on the internet I have to agree. Sadakatsu's Showa era blades closely match this sword, both in sugata, hada and hamon. e-Museum - Sword with no sign, by Masamune (celebrated Ishida Masamune) (nich.go.jp) Cheers, Bryce

G'day, I have only been to the Tokyo National Museum, but thought the nihonto display there was excellent. My only criticism would be the relatively small number of blades on display, but the lighting was excellent. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Neil, I have 9 different examples in my files including yours. I don't know if that includes the DTI or Gassan Sadatoshi examples. No doubt there are more that I haven't seen yet. I haven't documented all of the tanto examples yet, but there are a lot of them, at least ten. Cheers, Bryce

Fantastic contributions guys. There is some beautiful work on display on this thread now, but there must be plenty more out there. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Brian, That pic came from a Christie's auction. I am afraid there is nothing legit about that Sadakazu. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Peter, Has that been polished down a bit? Cheers, Bryce

Thanks guys. Come on there must be more out there? Cheers, Bryce

G'day guys, Dragons are common subjects for horimono. There are many different styles out there. They pop up on this forum from time to time and people will often comment that this example is good, this example not so good and so on. If you are doing research on them it is difficult to find many examples in one place. I have discovered that it is also very difficult to take a good photo of one. I thought it might be a good idea to dedicate a thread to them. I will start it with this example by Gassan Sadakatsu dated 1920. Cheers, Bryce

Another interesting detail about this blade is that the hamon is gunome and follows the ayasugi hada. Normally Sadakatsu put a suguha or notare hamon on his ayasugi blades. Cheers, Bryce

It is interesting to compare this subtle ayasugi, with the high contrast variety Gassan Sadakatsu also produced using mixed steels. High contrast from a 1943 dated blade left and 1920 subtle variety right. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, Some better photos of the 1920 dated 67cm katana by Gassan Sadakatsu done in ayasugi. Cheers, Bryce

Thanks Jan, So they represent two of the five great wisdom kings, Fudo Myoo and Daiitoku Myoo. Both are protective entities. Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, I am wondering if someone can help me with the significance of these bonji on a katana by Gassan Sadakatsu. I think the top one represents Fudo Myo, the next Amida and lastly a stylised lotus throne. Loosely I think these equate to strength and kindness/wisdom. Am I on the right track? Cheers, Bryce

Yeah it definitely still had the tassel when it was surrendered. Couple of other interesting things, the tsuka was covered with the less common laced up leather wrap, which is still with the sword and General Uno was wearing spurs. Did he have a cavalry connection or was that standard dress for generals? Cheers, Bryce

G'day Guys, I visited the Jezzine Barracks Military Museum in Townsville yesterday. On display they have the sword of Major General Uno which was surrendered to Lt Col Ewan Robson in Banjarmasin, Kalimantan. Cheers, Bryce