Japan, 16th-17th century, late Muromachi period (1336-1573) to early Edo period (1615-1868)

The slender curved blade with shinogi-zukuri and iori mune. The hamon is sugu with slight notare, the hada is mokume. The copper habaki with diagonal file marks and dew drops. The nakago with two mekugi-ana, mumei, and kiri jiri.

With an NBTHK Kicho Token ('Precious Token') certificate, issued to a Mr. Takeda on 13 October 1979 (Showa 54), no. 377441, attributing the blade to the Uda school, noting a nagasa of 6-sun 1-bu 5-ri, in the original envelope.

NAGASA 48.8 cm, LENGTH 70.7 cm (total)

Condition: Good condition with some wear, minor fukure and ware, the mune with a small nick.
Provenance: Hungarian collection.

The founder of the Uda school is considered to have been Kunimitsu. He was originally from the Uda district of Yamato Province. He worked around the Bunpo era (1317-1319) at the end of the Kamakura period. All of the succeeding smiths of this school used the kanji character Kuni in their signatures. Since remaining works by Kunimitsu are non-existent, his students Kunifusa and Kunimune are generally thought to be the true founders of this school. Both of these smiths studied under Norishige of the Etchu Province and they were active around the Koan era (1361-1362).