A JAPANESE SHIN-GUNTO, SHOWA PERIOD (1926-1945), BLADE 1600-1700, SIGNED TAKADA JU FUJIWARA

A JAPANESE SHIN-GUNTO, SHOWA PERIOD (1926-1945), BLADE 1600-1700, SIGNED TAKADA JU FUJIWARA MUNEKAGE sugata (configuration): shinogi-zukuri (longitudinal ridgeline) with shallow torii-zori (even curve), medium kissaki (tip of blade); kitae (forging pattern): faint itame (details obscured by rubbing); hamon (tempering pattern): faint suguha, but mostly obscured by rubbing, copper habaki (collar); nakago (tang): ubu (unshortened) with one mekugi-ana (peg hole), signed Takada ju Fujiwara Munekage; koshirae (mounting): saya (scabbard) steel with leather protective cover, wooden tsuka (handle) wrapped in brown silk over white samegawa (ray skin), standard brass military fuchi (collar) and kabutogane (hilt pommel), other fittings with sakura (cherry blossom) and kiku (chrysanthemums) The signature of this smith is generally signed Hoshu Takada ju Fujiwara Munekage, a swordsmith who worked in the mid to late 1600s. The blade details are obscured by rubbing which makes it difficult to confirm that it is by the same smith, but it is not uncommon to have an old family blade mounted in military style for wear away from the battlefield.