Long Gendaito by Nidai YoshiChika with Hakudo Cutting Test

Signature:  Ni Dai Minamoto YoshiChika HakuDo Tameshi Mei Stamp
Year Made:  1940s
Forging Pattern: Tight Mokume
Tempering Pattern: Gunome Choji
Dimensions:  Blade Length:  27.6 inchesNakago: 7.4 inches 7 mm thick and 29 mm wide at Hamachi
Mountings: 39 Pattern ShinGunto with Mon Kashira
Overall Condition:  Very Good.  Original polish is hazed over.  Some staining but no rust.  YoshiChika was famous for making swords that cut extremely well.  Many of the Imperial Guards used swords made by him.  This is a very rare signature for the Nidai Smith.  The test cut was performed by Nakayama Hakudo, a very prominent swordsman in the Showa era; a picture of him could be found in page 255 of Slough's book.  These swords are quite hard to come by and in high demand, especially one that is this long.Read more about this smith.