Gassan Sadakatsu

[Peeti]

I saw this blade at Aoi Art.

 

http://www.aoijapan.com/katana-osaka-gassan-sadakatsu-kouki-2600-nen-kinen

 

I thought it is really nice, but I an just a beginner. I am wandering what of more experienced collectors think of it?

 

Cheers,

Peeti

[Greg F]

Hello Peeti, I am not one of the more experienced collectors but this is a nice sword made by a respected smith from a famous sword making Family. I have never owned one but I personally love Gassan blades.

 

Greg

[w.y.chan]

The winning bid reached 2.5 million yen a bit too much for a Sadakatsu. This is one of the better ones though the horimono is not his elaborate best and the smith omitted the use of "hori do saku".  It is said that many of Sadakatsu's swords during the war were made by his students. Event hough it has the trade mark ayasugi I find not all ayasugi looks the same that were signed by him, some were better than others. Some of the best Sadakatsu blades I saw were not ayasugi but that may just be personal preference.

 

 

Wah

[Shugyosha]

Hi Peeti,

 

I agree with Wah in that I prefer the non-ayasugi hada blades. This one is a bit overstated for my taste in terms of horimono and the hada which really does jump off the blade which some people will like. 

 

There's another example here which is much more toned down than the Aoi one, though still ayasugi and which I prefer of the two:

 

http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/A195_S830_E.html

 

Have a look at this one that was for sale at Yakiba a while ago which is more in the Yamato tradition and I find absolutely gorgeous:

 

http://yakiba.com/Kat_Sadakatsu.htm

 

But whichever you prefer, there are plenty of high quality swords available by this smith and, as he was the premier smith of his generation, they are very desirable.

[Peeti]

Thanks guys, for the insight. The one at Yakiba is very nice and classy. But overall, I really like the Aoi one the best though.

 

Peeti

[Tanto54]

Dear Peeti,

 

You can't go wrong with Sadakatsu - he really was one of the very best of that time period.