Antique Japanese Katana Saber Signed Settsuju Yoshikuni, Edo Period

Antique Japanese Katana Saber Signed Settsuju Yoshikuni, Edo Period

The antique Japanese Katana sword signed Settsuju Yoshikuni, dating from the early Edo period, is an object of rare beauty and great value. This remarkable katana features stunning hamon and is in excellent condition. It is a testimony to the exceptional know-how of Japanese blacksmiths of the time.

Antique Japanese Katana Saber Signed Settsuju Yoshikuni, Edo Period: A Jewel from the Edo Period

The antique Japanese Katana sword signed Settsuju Yoshikuni is a jewel of the Edo period, characterized by its blade of 71.7 cm in length, its curvature of 1.0 cm and its width at the base of 3.11 cm. It is also equipped with a thick blade of 0.65 cm at the base and 0.42 cm at the tip, weighing 670 g. This katana is a rare and precious collector’s item, which evokes the glorious era of Japanese sword making.

• Blade length (刃長): 71.7cm
• Curvature (反り): 1.0cm
• Width at the base (元巾): 3.11 cm
• Thickness at the base (元重): 0.65cm
• Width at the tip (先巾): 2.35cm
• Thickness at the tip (先重): 0.42cm
• Weight (刀身重さ): 670 g (blade only)

• Period : Early Edo period
• Signature : Settsuju Yoshikuni

Blade Features:

The blade is made in the shinogi-zukuri style, with a hon-zukuri tsukuri and a komaru ni kaeru boshi (small round tip). The hada is jifu-tsuki with masamehashiri (straight grain), and the mokume hada (wood grain) is compactly forged. The hamon is a magnificent gunome tsuranaru midareba (continuous undulating pattern), demonstrating the exceptional craftsmanship of the period.

Blacksmith Background:

Settsuju Yoshikuni, also known as Ueno Daijo Yoshikuni, was born Morishita Magobei, the eldest son of Harima no Kami Yoshinari, in Nakamura, Sōma District, Ōshū. He then moved to Osaka with his father and became a disciple of the first Yamato no Kami Yoshimichi. Settsuju Yoshikuni also signed his works as Ueno no Kami Yoshikuni.

Settsuju Yoshikuni is the older brother of Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki, the famous blacksmith known for making Sakamoto Ryoma’s beloved sword.