Very nice top grade gendaito made by the famous Kasama Shigetsugu. Known as one of the top gendaito smiths during the 2nd world war, he was very highly regarded by the top echelon of the military. He was especially noticed by the head of the Black Dragon Society Toyama Mitsuru and was often commissioned to make swords on his estate. Because of his association with the military and the Black Dragon Society, Shigetsugu was not allowed to be recognized well after the war. But according to many bits of information from that period, we can see that he was one of the highest ranked smiths, as well as a recognized teacher of nihonto. He is also listed as Yoshihara Kuniiye’s teacher who is the grandfather of Yoshindo Yoshihara the present day Tokyo Living National treasure.
This is a very finely made blade, because of the early date (1937), the quality is usually considered better for gendaito made in the 1930’s, rather than in the later part of the war. What is extremely rare is the combination of the excellent engraved dragons with a special poem on the tang. This blade must have been ordered by a very special clientele as the carving was done by Shigetsugu himself as stated on the tang. Blade is a very nice ko choji midare hamon with lots of ashi. Small fine activity shows throughout the hamon. The grain is a well knit itame with chikei. Boshi is very healthy and was probably never reshaped or broken. Horimono of dragons is done extremely fine and the detail is very nice. Horimono of blades during the time period of WW2 are very rare. Only when very important and special blades were made was time for carving allowed. Also what is interesting, is that the poem inscribed could either have been selected by either Shigetsugu OR Toyama Mitsuru for the patron Mr. Miyagi. Rated at 2.8 million yen, top rating. In shirasaya and with a very nice two piece silver habaki. |
