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Ko Hoki Sadatsuna - Heian Jidai
Juyo Token - 49th Juyo - Heisei 16
JT0015
Attributed to Ko Hoki Sadatsuna, this o-suriage katana has a hawatari 2 shaku 4 sun 2.465 rin (72.8 cm. or 28.66 inches). The width at the machi, not including the mune, is 3.45 cm. (1.437 inches). The jigane appears black and is o-mokume with areas of nagare and has a rough appearance. There is pronounced utsure, especially in the central section of the blade. There are chikei. The hamon is a ko-gunome notare midare in ko nie with many kinsuji and inazuma. The hamon becomes wider toward the front of the blade. The boshi is wide and healthy and has a great deal of activity. The nakago has four mekugi ana, the bottom one likely the original. The nakago has been well cared for, and the yasuri mei is still extant on the omote, the shinogi ji has a diagonal yasuri from upper left to lower right stopping at the shinogi (saka o-sujikai), while the ji area has a vertical file running from the direction of the machi to the nakago jiri (sen suki). The original length was likely about 87 cm. (34.25 inches). Whether the bo hi is original, I can not say, but it would at least appear to have been cut while the sword was still ubu.
The health of this blade is exceptional, and it has been mistaken for an extremely healthy sue koto.
Ko Hoki Sadatsuna was the son of Ohara Sanemori, the son of Ko Hoki Yasutsuna the first recorded master of the Ohara school. The classic date for Yasutsuna is Taido (806 - 810), though Dr. Homma Junji and Nagayama Kokan both felt that he was probably a contemporary of Tomonari and Munechika, which would date his work around Eien (987 - 989). This must remain a matter of speculation. Ohara swords may resemble those of Ko Bizen. I have seen a Masatsuna that is very similar in both dimension and workmanship.
Ko Hoki Sadatsuna
Florid Utsure Juyo Token Nado Zufu Vol. #49
Original mekugiana at far left, original yasurimei starts near the end of the groove.