Wonderful Koto Fujishima Katakiriba Katana In Koshirae

[Ray Singer]

This is a wonderful and unusual katakiriba katana attributed to the Fujishima smith Yukimitsu. There were several generations of this lineage from late Nambokucho through the mid 1400s. It is exceptionally rare to find a koto daito in katakiriba zukuri (hirazukuri on one side and shinogi zukuri on the reverse). The sword is ubu with one mekugi-ana and there appears to be a remnant of a mei which was removed. The blade measures 67.25cm with a very healthy 7mm kasane. I believe that the photos will show how outstanding the jitetsu is in this sword, with bright ji-nie and chikei. The hamon is a gonome midare with profuse activity, kinsuji and sunagashi throughout. This is a really great piece. This sword is in polish, with a silver foil habaki and high quality shirasaya. There is also a lovely and original koshirae which I believe dates to late Edo.

SOLD

[Toryu2020]

Love it Ray, the whole package.

[Vermithrax16]

Love all the activity in the hamon, nice offer Ray.

[obiwanknabbe]

thats just coooool

[Ray Singer]

Thanks for the kind words guys. Whoever buys this one is going to be very, very pleased...

 

Best regards,

Ray

[Brian]

It is very often a good idea to buy something unusual and eye catching when 'investing' in a Japanese sword. Something like this, out of the ordinary and well done is a really good catch at a good price.
Buyers like something that you don't see every day. If I had the cash, I would grab this.

[Ray Singer]

Thanks Brian. While I have had a couple of katakiriba shinto daito over the years (from the Echizen group), this is the first koto example I have either owned or consigned. Aside from the tsukuri-komi though, the health is very unusual. Like the shodai Korekazu I sold early this year, this sword appears to have lost very little material through polish over the years. When Andrew Ickeringill viewed the Korekazu, he felt it had only 1-2 polishes in its lifetime. I feel the same applies here. Like a shinshinto (or better). The collector who has given this one to me is very fond of swords that remain with their original/unmodified koshirae, and is the same individual who owned the sword in Satsuma koshirae on my site below.

http://swordsofjapan.com/project/katana-in-satsuma-koshirae/

[Ray Singer]

A few additional detail photos.

[Ray Singer]

Correction to my measurements above, the kasane is 8mm.

 

[Ray Singer]

The Fujishima is on a 48-hour hold for an offline collector who is checking on funds. Will update this post if it becomes available again on Friday.

 

Best regards,

Ray

[Ray Singer]

The Fujishima has gone to a good home and is now sold. Thanks all who expressed an interest. 

[TheGermanBastard]

Was a nice piece!

[Brian]

From what I hear, it has an excellent home. Thanks to buyer and seller for the generous donation