Also known as the Edo Period, circa 1670. This lovely 26.5” Katana blade has a straight line or Sugu type Hamon (temper line), and still quite sharp Ha-saki (cutting edge) with the Nakago (tang) marked on both sides with the left having the Aoi-mon (hollyhock crest) of the Tokugawa Shognate, followed by the swordsmiths signature, which appears to be from one of the earlier generations of the Yasutsugu school of Echizen & Edo. The right face has and the inscription Nambam Tetsu Saku (made with southern barbarian iron or foreign steel). The Nakago has a single Mekugi-ana (hilt mount pin hole), total length including Nakago (tang) is 35”, less hilt mounts. The Tsuka (hilt) mounts is missing its Menuki (family crest), as the Tsukamaki (silk wrap) has broken but the white Same’ (ray skin) is still intact and there are traces of paper under the Tsukamaki and above the Same’, likely an inscribed blessing or prayer. The Habaki (blade collar) is in brass and has three Japanese characters on its left face. The Tsuba (guard) is made of finely wrought iron or steel with ocean waves and plants with both a Kozuka hitsu ana, and Kogai hitsu ana, (knife and pick holes) with gold faced brass liners in each, and is flanked by two copper Seppa (spacers). The Fushi (front collar) is patinated bronze with sculpted tree and flowers in silver, copper and two different colors of gold overlay. The Kashira (butt cap) is matching patinated bronze with sculpted figure of a kneeling Shinto priest with silver overlaid face and copper and gold overlaid tools and clothing. Total length of blade with hilt is 37”. The Saya (scabbard) is black lacquered wood with a single brass carrying ring and slots for the missing Kozuka and Kogai, total length 30”.

Blade shows some scuffing, but no edge nicks and no oxidation, Tsuka, as above and Saya has chips to lacquer and an added brass collar at Koighuchi (scabbard mouth).