Sugata: Shinogi-Zukuri Iori-mune with shallow tori-zori
Nagasa:. 69.5cm
Motohaba: 3.2cm Sakihaba: 2.5cm Kasane: 8mm
Hada: Appears to be tight ko-itame but much detail obscured
Hamon: Very shallow midare with thick nioi-guchi and covered in ko-nie.
Kissaki: O-kissaki which has had some reshaping boshi obscured
Nakago: Ubu, one mekugi ana, kurijiri, kiri yasurimei. Signed Katana mei Omi Daijo Fujiwara Tadayoshi and dated on the ura but the nengo is unclear, possibly Kyoho 3rd year second month (1721).
Koshirae: dark green ito bound same tsuka (binding unfinished) round iron tsuba inlaid with copper lotus and silver pine needles., menuki squirrel in vines. Modern plain bright copper fuchi kashira. Saya stripped of lacquer and in need of restoration.
Provenance: purchased at a local antique shop in the UK 1956.
Lots 992 - 1009 comprise a collection of Japanese edged weapons assembled by the late Mr MacCormick between 1953 and 1963, with one final addition added in 1998. They were all purchased within the UK at local auctions, antique shops or privately. They have never been submitted for shinsa. Within the Collection there is a Daisho (large and small swords) and a good Gendaito from the Showa period.
All of the works are in largely untouched condition and a professional polish would undoubtedly reveal more detail of hada, hamon and boshi. Equally the koshirae include a number of interesting tsuba and small fittings which are worthy of further study and preservation.
Mellors & Kirk gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Paul Bowman in the cataloguing of this collection
