KATANA, TOMITA SUKeHIRO / $3800
SUKEHIRO, TOMITA
SUGATA: SHINOGI ZUKURI
MEI: SUKEHIRO SAKU
DATE: KOKI NI SEN ROPPYAKU NI NENNI GATSU (1942)
NAGASA: 68.58cm (27″)
OVERALL: 90.49cm (35.625″)
MIHABA: 3.175cm (1.25″)
KASANE: 0.123cm (0.3125″)
SORI: 1.27cm (0.5″)
NAKAGO: UBU
MEKUGI ANA: TWO
YASURIME: KESHO
MUNE: IORI
HADA: MUJI (TIGHT KO-ITAME)
HAMON: CHOJI
BOSHI: KO-MARU
HORIMONO OMOTE: NONE
HORIMONO URA: NONE
HABAKI: ONE PIECE COPPER/SILVER FOIL
SHIRASAYA
Gendaito by the smith Tomita Sukehiro, real name Tomita Shotaro. I found conflicting information as to Sukehiro’s DOB. One reference lists his birth date as 1/29/1891, another states 1901. He began to study sword making with his grandfather Kato Sanekuni in 1912. He later worked during WW II as rikugun jumei tosho, kihin-joi (Akihide). He won the special honor seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihonto Denrankai in 1941.
Sukehiro made High-Grade Gendaito and was rated at 1 million yen. He is listed in the Toko Taikan (TK-339), Hawley’s (SUK-689 & SUK-742), Nihonto Meikan (NMK-496), and the Gendai Toko-Meikan (GTM-78). Additionally, his work is featured in Slough’s, Modern Japanese Swordsmiths 1868-1945.
This sword is dated using the Imperial dating system known as Koki (皇紀): the imperial calendar
Koki is based upon the timeline of the imperial lineage since the legendary founding date of Japan (660 BCE) by the first emperor Jimmu. The Koki dating system was implemented in 1873 and is often seen inscribed on swords made during the World War II. This dating system was abandoned after the war.
Want to mention that this sword looks 10 times better in hand than the photos depict.
Price: $3800 plus S/H
REDUCED: $3500 plus S/H
If you are interested in owning this sword, contact me via the website or directly at yakiba.com@gmail.com