A katana | Signed Soshu ju Hirotsugu saku (made by Hirotsugu from Soshu Province) | Muromachi period, 15th century

The Property from an English Collection Formed from the 1960s Onwards

A katana

Signed Soshu ju Hirotsugu saku (made by Hirotsugu from Soshu Province)

Muromachi period, 15^th century

Sugata [configuration]: Hira-zukuri, iori-mune, tori-zori

Kitae [forging pattern]: Itame with some mokume

Hamon [tempering pattern]: O-midare with strong hitatsura

Boshi [tip]: Omaru-boshi with long kaeri becoming mune-yaki

Nakago [tang]: Ubu, machi okuri, funa-gata with two mekugi-ana, signed Soshu ju Hirotsugu saku (made by Hirotsugu from Soshu Province)

Habaki [collar]: Bamboo

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 48.3 cm., 19 in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 3 cm., 1⅛ in.

Sori [maximum curvature along the mune]: ???