Antique Nihonto Katana Signed by Munetsugu NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN Certificate

The first-generation Iyo no Jo Munetsugu, known as Sakai Sannyoemon, is said to have been from a family that served as priests at the Tenmangu Shrine in Nagase Village (the birthplace of the first Tadakuni). He later moved to Nagase Town under Saga Castle, where he forged swords, and it is said that he eventually moved to Hizen Isahaya. According to an old document handed down in the Sakai family, descendants of Munetsugu, the "Genealogy of Iyo no Jo Munetsugu," he received the title of Iyo no Jo in Keicho 11 (1606), which is corroborated by a sword with the inscription Iyo no Jo dated Keicho 12.

His style is unique among the Hizen swordsmiths, characterized by a blade with well-defined nie and active midare mixed with pointed elements, kin-suji, and sunagashi, reflecting the Soshu-den, particularly the Shizu style. Unlike typical Hizen swords that have straight boshi ending in ko-maru, most of Munetsugu's works feature midare-komi boshi. His tangs often have a "tanago-bara" shape with reduced thickness on the blade side, and he commonly inscribed his distinctive signature on the omote.

This sword has a balanced width from base to tip, with an extended kissaki. The bluish steel is a mix of ko-itame and mokume, with ji-nie and a straight grain along the blade edge, featuring large areas of hada and jifu, with prominent utsuri, especially towards the lower part. The hamon is an unusual suguha for Munetsugu, who often made midareba, with bright nioi-guchi and ko-nie, fine ashi throughout, transitioning to a small midare with prominent sunagashi towards the tip, reminiscent of a mountain stream, demonstrating the activity within the blade, akin to old Shizu works influenced by Yamato. The boshi is straight with a rounded tip.

The accompanying han-dachi koshirae is austere and suitable for a warrior, with black fittings. The fuchi-kashira and tsuba are decorated with low-relief carvings of wild geese flying through a storm, a style resistant to wear. The tsuba is signed Umetada and features a simple design with a shakudo rim, indicating high status.

This rare suguha blade by the first-generation Iyo no Jo Munetsugu, known for his midareba, comes from the collection of a late collector who specialized in Hizen and Bizen swords. It has not been on the market before and represents a hidden treasure from this esteemed collection. Don't miss the opportunity to acquire this masterpiece.

Bare weight: 829 grams. Weight with koshirae: 1,126 grams.