Gassan School

[David Flynn]

Hi, following on from John's Sadakazu thread, I thought, why not expand it to encompass all Gassan School,  from Ko Gassan on.

I will begin with a Gassan Sadakatsu, made for the Minotagawa Jinja in 1933

 

 

[IJASWORDS]

Wow David, nice Sadakazu. I add as my contribution, my 1936 Sadakatsu. It ticked many of my boxes, being made by Sadakatsu himself before his son started making and signing swords under the Sadakatsu name, and having the Ayasugi hada, for which he is known.  

By the way David, is that a Gassan style habaki? 

[David Flynn]

Hi Neil, yes it's a Gassan Habaki.   I had it made whilst the sword was being polished.

[Oshy]

My contribution, a recent Enomoto Sadayoshi acquisition thats currently in route to Tirado for shirasaya.

Unique specs and characteristics, which happen to align with my personal taste, were requested by Iaido/Kendo master Mr. Sekiguchi who originally commissioned the piece to celebrate his 6th Dan back in the 80s.

 

http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as18465-%E5%88%80%EF%BC%9A%E6%98%AD%E5%92%8C%E4%B8%99%E5%AF%85%E7%A7%8B%E6%B9%A7%E6%B0%B4%E5%BF%83%E8%B2%9E%E5%90%89%E4%BD%9C%E7%84%A1%E9%91%91%E6%9F%BB-katanashowa-hinoe-tora-yusuishin-sadayoshi-sakumukansa

 

[Surfson]

I wish I had a sword with a great video like that.  Looks like a real beauty Mike.  

[Oshy]

Thanks for the kind words, can't wait to get it in hand ????

[lonely panet]

Could some kind soal explain the gassen style habaki.

 

I only new of 3 styles

[Tanto54]

Gassan habaki is this style of "cat scratches"

 

 

Here's my Sadakatsu - made for the Royal Family.

 

[Brano]

My Gassan Sadakatsu, TH, Showa 15. Purchased last year with many scratches. The blade remained in Japan for new polishing

It will be a small surprise, I hope the result will be good

[Alex A]

Another Enomoto Sadayoshi, made towards the end of his long career. I like its clean simple elegant lines.

 

In Soshu tradition with Mitsu-mune

[vajo]

Gassan habaki is this style of "cat scratches"

 

Habaki.jpeg

 

Here's my Sadakatsu - made for the Royal Family.

 

Sadakatsu.png

Wow George.

A Kogarasu maru utushi. Never seen it. Thanks for showing.

[vajo]

You guys make me crazy    such fine swords!

 

 

Showa22 is selling a Gassan for 20k 

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-WWll-Army-officers-sword-in-mountings-Gassan-Sadakatsu-mon-mint/233572581405?hash=item366202c01d:g:LP4AAOSwwz9ep4bl

[Brano]

Gassan is not completely cheap, but 20k is enough

[CSM101]

The little brother for Kogarasu maru.

 

Uwe G.

[Surfson]

That's a sho-Kogarasumaru Uwe!

[CSM101]

It would be interesting to see if there is a matching dai.

 

Uwe G.

[Jamie]

I have a sadahito tanto done in Soshu style and it’s fantastic. It’s off getting shirasaya as it was just bare blade.

I’ll update once I get it back.

[Bruce Pennington]

Here's another Sadayoshi, found on a link by SteveM, at the Hattori Samurai Art Shop

 

http://www.katana-hattori.com/katana/gassan.html

[Tanto54]

I hope my friend, Subaku Samurai, will stop in and post some of his Sadakatsu & Gassan swords.  He has some great ones with very interesting background stories.

[Bob M.]

Sadakatsu blades

 

Couple of quick scans - 

 

The kogarasu maru style is in full ayasugi hada - made to commemorate 2600 years of Japanese empire, 1940  ( Hozon papers )

 

 

The shinogi-zukuri also shows ayasugi particularly at opposite ends - made in july 1942 as a commission for the Sumitomo Banking Corporation ( Tokubetsu Hozon  papers )

 

 

Both still in original polish ,both with Gassan habaki.

 

Sorry for poor quality.

[Alex A]

Just seen another, with the habaki.

 

https://www.aoijapan.com/tanto-osaka-ju-gassan-sadakatsu-saku-kigen-2600-nen/

 

and another

https://www.aoijapan.com/tanto-osaka-ju-gassan-sadakatsu-kinsakukao/

[Bugyotsuji]

I have a yoroidoshi tanto by (Gassan) Sadahide.

 

https://www.nihonto.com/the-dewa-gassan-school-%E5%87%BA%E7%BE%BD%E6%9C%88%E5%B1%B1%E7%B3%BB/

For further Dewa Gassan info, with Sadahide katana photo (copied below) see link.

Quote: The blade shown above is a beautiful katana by Gassan Sadahide (月山貞秀).  Sadahide (貞秀) was a student of Gassan Sadayoshi (月山貞吉) and a contemporary of Gassan Sadakazu (月山貞一).  His works are much scarcer that those of his contemporary, Sadakazu (貞一).  This blade bears the typical characteristics taught to Sadahide (貞秀) by his teacher Gassan Sadayoshi (月山貞吉).  His given name was Sugimoto Kônoshin (杉本廣之進) and his original kuni was Dewa (出羽). This sword bears a sayagaki by Tanobe sensei that reads as follows:

Sesshu Amasaki Ju Unzen-shi Sadahide in a six-character signature and dated Ansei 2 nen (1856). Sword was custom ordered by Konishi Yukiya.  Sadahide was a student of Gassan Sadayoshi.  This sword has a magnificent appearance because of its shape and dimensions.  It exhibits a thick suguha with kinsuji. The deki is highly dignified.  Length is 2 shaku 3 sun 8 bu.

Sayagaki signed by Tanzan Hendo (pseudonym or art name of Tanobe Michihiro) in the year of the horse 2014.

The actual signature on the sword is Unzenshi Sadahide Tsukuru (雲仙子貞秀作).  The ura is dated Ansei Ni Nen Ni Gatsu Kichi Nichi (安政二年二月吉日) (Made on a lucky day in February of 1856).  Tame Yukiya Konishi Kun Kitaeru Kore (為雪屋小西君鍛之) (This was forged for Mr. Yukiya Konishi).

This sword is an excellent example of the Dewa Gassan school.  As noted, the nagasa is 72.2 cm or 28 7/16 inches.  It has a shallow tori sori and an extended kissaki.  Overall it is a grand sugata as was typical of Sadayoshi (貞吉) and his students.  The hamon is a hoso-suguha with a bright nioi guchi that is covered in nie.  There are kinsuji and other hataraki within the hamon.  The hada is a vibrant mokume and there are areas of what can only be called a form of ayasugi.  The nakago is beautifully finished and elegantly signed.

It is interesting to know that the person who ordered this blade was a merchant from the Konishi family.  Certainly, before the waning of the Samurai era no one except a member of the Samurai class could have owned and carried a blade of this length.  The Konishi family was well established as merchants who moved from Kyoto to Osaka around this time (Ansei). The Konishi family business began with pharmaceuticals and expanded into alcohol.  The family business still exists today.  Some of their early buildings have been preserved as historically significant buildings.

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Here are some experimental overall shots of the tanto.

[Bugyotsuji]

The little brother for Kogarasu maru.

 

Uwe G.

What are the dimensions on this, Uwe?

[Alex A]

Nice blade Piers, looks very thick, koshirae nice too.

[Oshy]

https://www.aoijapan.com/katanaosaka-ju-gassan-sadakatsu-kin-hori-dosaku/

[reeder]

Gassan Sadakatsu x2

Imai Sadashige - couldn’t find nakago pics

Kawano Sadashige

[Ankh]

Can someone help me explain this case? It is ken

Sorry for my foolishness!

[Stephen]

Was your foolishness taking a wire brush and making the nakago look all bright?

[Ankh]

7 hours ago, Stephen said:

Was your foolishness taking a wire brush and making the nakago look all bright?

Its previous owner did so! because of his ignorance! and I have suggested repurchasing it in this condition! It is on its way to me now! The above photos were taken from previous owners