An incredible piece of of Japanese history from the famed Suishinshi Line in this rare style Kenukigata Koshirae. One of the only examples of this style customly made and signed Suishinshi Masatsugu, son of the 2nd generation Suishinshi Masahide, technically he would have been 3rd gen Masahide but he changed his name as he finished his apprenticeship under Taikei Naotane due to the early passing of his father. This set was a magnificent effort from various artists, 3 signatures in total. This is the first time I’ve seen the NBTHK paper a blade and koshirae in the same certificate.
The first signature is that of Masatsugu with a gold inlay Kao, and the seppa/tsuba are signed Miura Yoshiharu, and the Habaki signed TsuneYoshi. It was specially created for someone important especially bearing the imperial family seal. This style tachi is a solid unmountable design, the nakago is made of solid steel and incredibly heavy. The tsuba, habaki and seppa are slide down from the kissaki all the way to the machi and if you look carefully two small nails are put in place to stop it from moving. Traditionally we attach these hardware via the nakago but in the case it is installed from the opposite end as the nakago represents the tsuka so it is much too wide. This is the first time I’ve seen the NBTHK paper a blade and koshirae in the same certificate. With reason as the pieces cannot be unmounted.
The pictures were taken in short time and certainly do not do this set justice.