Echizen Yasutsugu Shodai Mumei Katana Utsushi of the Ataki Sadamune with NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Certificate and NTHK NPO Certificate
Here we have an excellent Rare example of the Shodai master Yasutsugu workmanship made circa Keicho period 1596 – 1615, An amazingly forged blade made in the style of the Ataki Sadamune made in the Katakiriba Zukuri style.Very well forged blade with dense Itame hada.Hamon is Bright Suguha that is mixed with Ko Gunome with Ashi and Kuichigai Ba boshi is Sugu with pointed Kaeri
Omote is Hira zukuri with Ura side forged in Kiriba Zukuri, Iori-Mune. Blade has excellent Horimono for which Yasutsugu is famous on the Omote a Bohi that ends in Marudome above the Machi which is followed by a Suken and a Bonji on the Ura a Bohi with a thin Hoso Hi and followed by a Bonji, a Rendai, and a Kuwagata,The Blade is mounted in a Shirasaya.
Nagasa 63.0 cm
Yasutsugu originally came from Omi prefecture village of Shimosaka, his early works are signed Shimosaka he later moved to Echizen .Yasutsugu was the the personal sword smith of the Tokugawa
In Keicho year 12, 1607, The year Tokugawa Hideyasu died at age 33, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu
summoned his sons favourite swordmaker Shimosaka and awarded him the character from his own name “Yasu”
, The same character which had also been shared by his departed son, Hideyasu, From then Shimosaka was known as Yasutsugu. Tokugawa Ieyasu
also awarded him the right to use Tokugawa Aoi Mon .Yasutsugu was required to attend
the Bakufu in Edo every other year so travelled back and forth between Echizen
and Edo. Yasutsugu also made many excellent swords for the Honda clan . Yasutsugu was well known for his Utsushi of many great koto blades including Tanto by Munechika and also blades of the great Sadamune and Yoshimitsu. He also retempered many famous blades which were damaged in the fire of Osaka Castle.Yasutsugu also introduced the use of Western steel (Nanban Tetsu) many of his swords have this inscribed in his mei, many of his blades also have extremely skillfully carved horimono he is ranked Jojo saku by Fujishiro. Yasutsugu is one of the great makers of the Era there are many Juyo and Tokubetsu Juyo swords made by Yasutsugu.
Yasutsugu died at 68 years in 1621 the 9th of September.
