Archived Nihonto.ca (Yuhindo.com): Sadakatsu Gassan
Gassan Sadakatsu
| period: | Gendaito |
| designation: | NBTHK Hozon |
| nakago: | ubu, one mekugiana |
| mei: | Osaka Ju Gassan Sadakatsu Kinsaku (Kao) |
| uramei: | Omokige Niju Roku Hyaku Nen Kinen (In Commemoration of the 2,600th Year of Empire’s Founding) [1940] |
| nagasa: | 68.5cm |
| price: | N/A |
Note: This sword was recently sold a month ago, but the owner was unable to complete payment because he was diagnosed with an illness last week which will have high medical costs to him (cancer). I took the sword back at no cost to the buyer, and have re-listed it.
This beautiful katana was found at a garage sale and sold to me by the finder. I had the pleasure of restoring it, the polish was performed by Bob Benson.
This sword was made in 1940, which by the traditional Japanese method of dating was 2,600 years after the founding of the empire. Gassan Sadakatsu made this sword in commemoration of the founding of the empire and remarked so on the nakago.
It was made in ayasugi hada, which has been the trademark style of the Gassan school since the beginning of time. Gassan Sadakatsu was a virtuoso who could work equally well in any style, and because of this we see high quality works of all types. As a result these works in ayasugi hada are not in the majority and locating one like this is always a pleasure. They are the works that retain the distinctive flavor of Gassan.