First Akihide?

[Jim Manley]

I thought this blade might be of some interest to collectors of Gunto and Showato. It is a 43" (Nagasa!) O-tachi by Hikosaburo Akihide. It must be among his first swords made when he was only 18 years old. He made it to comerate his brothers safe return from the war.  Akihide was a pivotal figure in the Japanese Sword world leading up to and including the war years. He trained many smiths, and facilitated the production of many of the swords we have in our collections.  Anyway,  this beast is now in the capable hands of Mr. Benson (It should give him a good workout). If possible I'll bring it to Chicago and /or post photos when I get it back. 

Jim M. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Wow! That is extraordinary, thanks for sharing Jim. 

[reeder]

Very nice. Extremely jealous!

[BANGBANGSAN]

家兄定吉君征清役凱旋紀念   Commemorate to my brother Sadakichi's triumphant return from the Sino-Japanese War(campaign of Qing Dynasty).
Akihide was born in 1879, the Sino-Japanese War is from 1894-1895, he should be 16 years old when the war over，maybe this sword took him one year to finish?

 

[Brian]

Pretty sure when a war ends, you aren't back home the next day
May take many months

[BANGBANGSAN]

昭秀 starts as an assistant of 笠間繁繼 in his teenage year, makes this long sword need be very skillful, it seems hard to believe it's the very first sword he made.Just my 2 cents.

[Jim Manley]

I totally agree that it's  unlikely this is his first sword. I was thinking it might be among the first he signed. It's an ambitious undertaking for a smith so young and he likely had a lot of assistance from his teacher(s) and others at the forge. 

[reeder]

Jim, you really hit this forum with a bang with your first 2 sword posts!  Very nice examples and I imagine everyone here would love to have this Akihide in their collections, I know I want it!

[vajo]

Me too. Stunning blade!