S139. Shinsakuto (new made sword) signed Toto (Tokyo) Ju Yakuwa Takezo Saku and dated Heisei Ju Shichi Nen Hachi Gatsu Hi (a day in August of 2005).

Nagasa: 28 1/4″ 71.6 cm.

Sori: 1.5 cm.

Moto haba: 3.3 cm.

Moto kasane: .7 cm.

Saki haba: 2.75 cm.

Saki kasane: .6 cm.

Nakago nagasa: 8 5/8″ 22 cm.

Overall in koshirae: 41 3/4″ 105.5 cm.

Shinogi zukuri, iore mune, tori sori, chu kissaki, ubu, one mekugi-ana. There is a bo-hi on each side of the sword. A notare hamon, bright nioi guchi with ko-nie, becomes a gently undulating boshi ending in ko-maru and a medium kaeri. There is a flawless ko-itame hada. The sword is in polish and mounted with a quite fine solid silver habaki. The koshirae is modern: the tsuba, fuchi & kashira, and menuki date about the same as the blade, I believe. The tsuka-ito is leather and nicely done. The saya is textured black lacquer with horn koi guchi, kurikata, & kojiri and is 100% intact. Everything about this sword is in excellent, like new condition.

Takezo’s given name is Yakuwa Tadao. He is the son of the Yasukuni tosho Yakuwa Yasutake. Yasutake didn’t make many swords at the Yasukuni Jinja during the war but he was possibly the most successful Yasukuni smith after the war; he won many awards for his work. Takezo isn’t as famous as his father but, doubtless, he was very well trained.

This sword was sent as a gift to an American business associate of someone in Japan. I’m guessing the American wasn’t a serious collector of Nihonto because the sword wasn’t given a quality polish before it arrived in The Staes. As said, the blade is in polish but the polish leaves much to be desired. The lines are true and the surface is without undulations; the ground work was done right. But the finish work does not show the sword to much advantage; I think there is a lot of hataraki that can’t be seen. The sword could be given a better polish or, as is, it would make a first class blade for martial art.

3 pounds, 11 ounces. $2,475.