Late Shinto Japanese Samurai Sword Katana Signed Hizen Tadahiro Circa 1685

An Extremely Attractive Late Shinto Japanese Samurai Sword Katana Signed Hizen Tadahiro Circa 1685.

27 and 1/8th inch long blade. Active choji midare hamon with ashi and yakadashi. Nashiji hada. This lovely shinogi tsukuri blade is in nearly full older sashikomi polish. No discernible kizu. The nakago is ubu with one mekugi ana is signed katana mei rendering the signature a very fine gimei of the famous Hizen master possibly a school or student signing.

The nakago patina is fine and untouched. Fine cat scratched silver foil wrapped copper habaki. The koshirae comprises a large lobate iron tsuba decorated with dragonflies with gold eyes. The dragonfly is one of the most cherished symbols of the samurai.

The tsuka with lovely shibuchi fuchi kashira decorated with relief dragonflies and gold trim. The menuki are shakudo and gold kiri mon. The same is of presentation quality with extra large nodules. Very fine red roiro lacquer saya with black kurikata and koiguchi. The kojiri of fine shibuichi is decorated with dragonflies ensuite with the fuchi kashira and the whole in exemplary condition throughout.

This is a genuine Shin Shinto or Meiji period samurai mounted katana and not a recent composite mounted sword.