A 16th Century Japanese Civilian Katana Sword

~ A Circa 1550’s Japanese Civilian Katana Sword ~

This is a Sengoku period piece, which was a near-constant civil war and social upheaval lasting from 1467 to 1615.
The Sengoku period was initiated by the Ōnin War in 1467 which collapsed the feudal system of Japan under the Ashikaga Shogunate. Various samurai warlords and clans fought for control over Japan in the power vacuum.
This is the period of the “Great Unifiers” Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Even it it lost some of its shine, this is undoubtedly a valuable historical piece with its original fittings.

The tsuba (guard) is circular and decorated inside with cherry flowers.
The fuchi (collar of the grip) bears some embossed marine life. The Kabuto-Gane (pommel cap) bears the same elements.
Only one of the menuki (ornaments) is present on the black silk binded, ray skin lined, two-hand grip.
The blade is fullered and the straight hammon is still visible.
Also, some ayasugi (undulating grainage) is visible in places.

The tang has been shortened but it seems to be a Kiri style anyway, as seen in the pictures.

The piece comes with its black striped scabbard.

~ Condition ~

Overall it is a nice piece with signs of usage and some minor amount of nicks on the edge.
The silk binding on the grip is worn.
The peg is missing.

~ Dimensions ~

The cutting blade is 65 cm with an overall length of the blade including the tang of 78 cm.

MLB000