Katana
Sekishu Naotsuna (NBTHK Juyo-Token)

For sale is a valuable Katana by the blacksmith Sekishu Naotsuna from the Nanbokucho period in the 14th century. The sword is mumei and unsigned with a blade length of 28.6 inches (71.6 cm).

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The form of the sword is a shinogi-zukuri with a chu-kissaki and a double-edged ko-maru-kaeri point hardening with hakikake. The blade curvature is 1.1 inches (2.8 cm) and shows a clear tori-sori despite being shortened. The blade handle is shortened by o-suriage and has 3 nakago-ana holes, one of which is closed.

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The width at the hamachi is 1.3 inches (3.30 cm) and the width at the kissaki is 0.9 inches (2.4 cm). The blade back is iori-mune and the blade thickness at the back is 0.3 inches (0.7 cm). The forging structure is itame with mokume and partially o-hada, with hada standing out on the entire blade and being rather dark with jinie and chickei.

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The hard line is a combined gunome midare-ba with plenty of ashi, many sunagashi and thick nie. A wide bohi with kaki-nagashi is carved on both sides.

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The weight of the sword is 800 g and it has a Juyo (Session) from 1994. The saya-gaki describes the Katana as o-suriage and mumei with a wide mihaba, large point, and tori-zori, which shows the typical form of the middle Nanbokucho period and is considered a special masterpiece with Naotsuna's workmanship.

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The Katana is mounted in a shira-saya and is offered for sale. It is highlighted as a masterpiece and is depicted in "Swords of the Nihonto Club Germany" by Markus Sesko in 2011.

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Naotsuna is one of the "ten disciples of Masamune" and the sword can be attributed to a masterpiece of the middle Nanbokucho period due to its characteristic features.