A COMPOSED DAISHO WITH NBTHK HOZON PAPERS TO SHIGETSUGU AND ECHIZEN SHIMOSAKA.

Literally "long and short" the daisho was the pair of swords worn by samurai, mandated in 1629 and restricted to samurai in 1683. Daisho are the quintessential samurai item. Daisho mounts with forest green lacquered saya, sayajiri, koiguchi, fuchi, kashira, and menuki are made of silver. Menuki are three petal mon, on katana they are overlaid on a lozenge. Tsuka-ito of leather. (A) The katana in shinogi zukuri form with chu kissaki, iori mune, and iriyamagata nakagojiri. Signed katanamei Shigetsugu, and NBTHK papers for Tenwa period Shigetsugu; Sesko's Index lists a 1st generation Shigetsugu circa Tenna, civilian name Nakazawa Hio-emon, who studied under 1st generation Kunimasu and worked for the Yamanouchi family, the daimyo of the Kochi fief. Sword with a largely suguha based hamon with some gunome bumps and an area closer to gunome on the omote, approximately 7" up from hamachi, and more active about the monouchi. Tobiyaki and sunagashi are visible, and the forging pattern is a masame, itame, mokume mix. Boshi is hakikake. Silver foiled habaki. (B) Tanto, ubu, mumei with NBTHK Hozon to Echizen Shimosaka. Hira zukuri configuration with irori mune and iriyamagata nakagojiri. Itame mixed with masame jihada, with abundant chikei, suguha hamon with sunagashi. Horimono with Bonji, bohi and soebi (shorter closer to the mune), goma hashi, and rendai. Boshi comes to a peak then has a long drop, similar to a mishina boshi. Two piece gilt habaki, bottom piece with catscratch. Tanto koshirae with a kozuka that has three petal mon over lozenge, duplicating the menuki on katana koshirae. CONDITION: Overall very good, with virtually all of the forest green lacquer remaining, with some handling marks and a few cracks and chips. Silver is very good, tarnishing, but easily cleaned if desired. Tssuka are good, leather distressed somewhat at edges. Blades are in good polish with some spots of ware. Katana tsuba with heavily craquelure to lacquer and some controlled deterioration under seppa. In matching koshirae bags. A good example of the classic Samurai armament. Blade Length: (A) 63.5cm (B) 27.8cm Overall Length: (A) 38 - 3/4" (B) 18" Paperwork: NBTHK Hozon Papers