Ko Gassan Katana

Mid Muromachi Period (circa 1500)

length: 74 cm, 291/8"

Curve: 1.6 cm, 5/8"

Motohaba: 2.9cm 1 1/8", Sakihaba: 1.8cm  11/16"

    This is a nicely mounted Ko Gassan katana. The shape is long and slender reminiscent of the early tachi of the Kamakura period. This shape was common during the early to mid Muromachi period. The hamon on this sword is a ko gunome midare. There are nice ashi scattered through the hamon. The boshi is healthy and done in hakikaki. Overall one of the nicest yakiba I have seen on a Ko Gassan blade.. The jigane is a classic ayasugi hada with a prounounced grain. There are only three very small loose spots in the jigane which are each about 10 mm long (3/16"). Usually the blades of this school exhibit some loose hada on the blade and this one is much better than most. The nakago appears ubu and in conjunction with the yakidashi I would say the machi is also in its original position. There are four mekugi ana. The polish is in about 90% condition with just a few light scratches.

    The mounts consist of a namban tsuba in a flower motif with a shibuichi rim. The fuchi kashira are shakudo with gold flowers and appear to be good quality. The handle has recent tsuka ito with shakudo and gold menuki over a high quality same. The saya is smooth black lacquer. Overall this is a very nice long example of a unique school of sword smiths. The Ko Gassan school blades were produced during the Sengoku Jidai (100yrs of war) and they were used in battle so most of the examples we have seen are very worn down with lots of ware and usually machi okuri or suriage. It is rare to see a 500yr old sword in such good condition.

This blade should get Tokubetsu Hozon papers if submitted

Sale Price $7,600.00  

The small flaws can be seen in the picture above in the middle of the ji to the left of the bright spot. (They look like scratches)

The hada really stands out under the right light.