Koto katana with Murai Saburōsaemon cutting test

Koto katana with Murai Saburōsaemon cutting test

• Status: Hold

This is something quite rare to encounter, a koto blade of Nanbokucho or earlier with a saidan-mei two-body cutting test inscription inset with red lacquer. The blade appears to be a Yamashiro-den work and I feel there is an argument for Higo Enju. The blade is in new polish (or just a years old) from Takeo Seki. The jihada is a wet looking ko-itame tightly forged and covered thickly with ji-nie. The hamon is suguha-based in ko-nie. The cutting test is of two bodies and is signed by Murai Saburōsaemon with kao. This is a very rare and high quality katana, and not something that would be easy to find again in the future.