Early Shinto Katana in Handachi Mounts

Signature:  Mumei.
Year Made:  Early Shinto
Forging Pattern: Mokume, 
Tempering Pattern: Active Suguha Midare.
Dimensions:  Blade Length:  26.75 inchesNakago: 6.75 inches 5 mm thick and 34 mm wide at Hamachi
Mountings:  Black lacquer saya with copper kojiri and band at koiguchi, shibabiki missing. Blackened iron tsuba with clouds. Plain shakudo fuchi and kabutogane with copper menuki of turtles and a braided string sarute. Ito is in good shape over samé that has been pieced together on one side. Copper two piece habaki. Possibly Showa era mounts.
Overall Condition:  Good, some staining and old fingerprint rust, small ware and nicks with some red rust in the kissaki. Also quite a few scratches here and there. Very active hamon in nie with nijuba, kinsuji and temper in the mune and shinogi-ji that runs almost the length of the sword. Sword is also maru mune and the nakago has a Bizen look to it. Also has a well balanced feel to it. Very interesting workmanship with a prominent hada (under the scratches) that would be beautiful in full polish.

SwordsElliott Tan