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Gassan Sadakatzu

Jacques
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IanB Veteran

IanB

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Posted

Jaques,

The Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds has a blade by Sadakatsu dated 193? (memory going here) to honour the birth of the Crown Prince. The details are exactly like the sword you refer too.

 

Ian Bottomley

Jacques Grand Master

Jacques

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Posted

Hi,

 

Just a month before passing away i just find that a little strange. but why not?

 

Also, according the "Gassan Tradition" book, suguha hamon does not match with itame hada, we should find ayasugi.

Bob M. Experienced

Bob M.

Posted
Posted

Hi Jacques,

 

A large number of Sadakatsu swords were produced without Ayasugi hada and whilst this in no way makes them inferior to swords showing the renowned 'Gassan Pattern' , the fact is that most collectors will pay a higher price for blades featuring ayasugi.

From what I have seen of this blade , it looks fine ,if a bit over-priced for the current market . A figure of around $8000.00 would be more realistic - a sword showing good Ayasugi could be +50% or more depending on papers etc.

Jacques Grand Master

Jacques

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Posted

Hi,

I know that, but Sadakatsu worked essentially for the imperial family and the imperial house ministry. I think that these blades were preciously conserved by the owner's families.

 

Concerning his work, he worked in Bizen style and Soshu one with their respective features

 

Ayasugi hada + suguha hamon is the "trade" mark of the Gassan tradition, there is an exception with a blade from Gassan Sadayoshi which was in the Yamato Hosho style (dated from 1867); these blade was done in masame hada with the suguha hamon.

 

Also i really find strange to see a Gassan Sadakastu on E-bay I've only one exemple to check the mei it is not sufficient.

bdgrange Collaborator

bdgrange

Posted
Posted

For what it is worth. I have owned three Gassan Sadakatsu katana.

He was capable of working in all styles, I am told. None of mine were done with Ayasugi hada, although that is much desired. He produced blades with the Minatogawa mon and included patriotic kanji on the blade as well. Mine read "felial piety". Or honor your family. These were offered and sold through a major department store in Tokyo before the beginning of WW2, or the greater Pacific War. This made them available to the general public for reasonable price and to be patriotic. They were dated

1933.

The last I owned was done Soshu style and very beautifull. I had it restored in Japan and sold it at the S.F. Taikai in 2005 for $15,000.00

I had invested that much of my own money in it but could not

refuse the cash offer. I do miss it.

bdgrange

Jacques Grand Master

Jacques

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  • Author
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Hi,

 

 

Thanks Stephen (the tanto is from Sadakazu)

 

this blade seems gimei. Note the yasurime which are not well done (specially kesho), note the difference in the way of handling and applying the tagane.

gassanpj3.th.jpg

w.y.chan Proficient

w.y.chan

Posted
Posted
Hi,

 

 

Look at this

 

It seems to me that Gassan Sadakatsu died in 1943.

 

Jacques,

That Gassan look like a gimei. Contrary to the hype while he is highly respected as a senior smith Sadakatsu does make swords for the military many made by his students and quite possibly signed by them too. While it is possible that this sword in question is one of those student's work I somehow doubt it because smiths of the Gassan mon are all equally capable of the same finishing of the nakago and signing of mei like those of Sadakatsu and hard to distinguish if they are signing their teacher's mei.

Tokaido Collaborator

Tokaido

Posted
Posted

Hi Jacques,

this board is for education, so please tell us why you think it is gimei.

 

(Let aside the NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kanteisho, dated 1976)

 

Greetings

Andreas B.

Nobody Grand Master

Nobody

Posted
Posted
Hi,

here is another Sadakatsu, dated Showa 18th year, 5th month

http://www.esnips.com/web/sadakatsu

No ayasugi hada. Unusual shape (Kiriha-tsukuri)

Stupid to punch the mekugi-ana through the SAN-Kanji, isn't it?

Any comments about the placement of the mekugi-ana?

 

Kind regards

Andreas B.

Hi,

 

I do not say that the mei is not genuine. However, the Ryu (龍: dragon) horimono looks rather strange to me. Even if the blade is genuine, the horimono might be added later.

AFAIK, a Ryu is usually facing Kissaki (but I know at least one exception for this rule). Then its back faces Mune-side and its belly faces Ha-side. I think that is a general rule of horimono. However, Ryu on your blade is upside-down. It looks very unstable to me.

 

The attached photo shows a comparison between your horimono and that of Kurihara Nobuhide (栗原信秀).

post-20-14196743251415_thumb.jpg

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