ANCIENT BLADE**Kanbon Period 17th Century Japanese Gendaito Uchi Gatana One Handed Sword Blade Smith Signed ‘GASHU JU MINAMOTO KIYO HIRA’ In Antique Protective Honoki Wood Shira Saya Resting Mounts & Expert Assessment. Sn 21504 Swords

**ANCIENT BLADE**Kanbon Period 17th Century Japanese Gendaito Uchi Gatana One Handed Sword Blade Smith Signed ‘GASHU JU MINAMOTO KIYO HIRA’ In Antique Protective Honoki Wood Shira Saya Resting Mounts & Expert Assessment. Sn 21504 - 21504

This is an ancient Japanese Uchi Gatana One Handed Sword blade which has been assessed by UK Japanese sword expert Bill Tagg. A copy of his hand written assessment notes accompany this blade. Extracts from the assessment and notes include “Uchi Gatana One Handed Sword Blade blade in antique Shira Saya. A typical kanbun period, short, big strong blade, large point. Lots of them used as town swords, look like a katana when mounted. Inscribed ‘GASHU JU MINAMOTO KIYO HIRA’. This man made sharp & above average blades. Used a lot of different name & place combinations, but I cannot find him using the clan name Minamoto, he usually used Fujiwara as a clan name. Nees more research to clarify. This right for period around 1661-1673, shape, style forging & wear to tang consistent with its age. In old faded original polish, hamon shows well. Some odd finger marks and staining & a couple of folding flaws & one tiny blister otherwise good condition, lots of polish”. In his illustrations of the blade he adds “cutting edge is 53 cms, total length is just 67 cms. He also describes other blade and tang characteristics and dimensions which can be seen in the images. The price for this ancient blade with original expert assessment includes UK delivery. Sn 21504

£1,200.00