Ordering Number:23410
Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token)
inscription:
Homeito Kotani Takenori 報命刀 小谷武憲
2604 Nen 4 Gatsu Kichijitsu 紀元二千六百四年四月吉日
Blade length: 67.0cm U26.4in)
Sori: 1.8cm (0.7in)
Width at the hamachi: 3.3cm (1.3in)
Width at the yokote: 2.3cm (0.9in)
Era: 1944
Shape:wide and thick blade with deep curvature.
Jitetsu: Extremely fine small itame-hada looks like plain.
Hamon: Niedeki, Gunomemidare of uniform size.
Features: Kotani Takenori, the real name is Kotani Kenzo was a Yasukuni swordsmith born in 1869. He received the swordsmith name "Yasunori 靖憲" in 1935 and made swords in Yasukuni shrine. He opened a forge in his home in 1938 and made swords for his relatives and friends. Unlike the ones he made at Yasukuni Shrine, he put a different signature, Takenori "武憲", on the swords he made there.