16th Century Bizen Katana with WWII Bullet Hole Repair
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Japanese long sword (Katana): 69.2 cm clean blade with lt pitting to scuffed surface, long point 4.4 cm, irregular temper line, centre of curvature 3.5 cm from mid-point toward back notch, a characteristic of Bizen swords; 19.1 cm tang with signature Bishu Osafune Sukesada Saku & dated Eiroku Ju Nen Hachi Gatsu (August 1567); solid silver blade collar (habaki); tang end is damaged with a bullet hole from World War II & filed to smooth off rough edges; the World War II Australian soldier who owned this sword sent the damaged handle to Japan in 1967 for repair & rebinding; exc refurbished handle with fine quality gilt & shakudo enuki, with non-matching but g. Quality fuchi kashira; antique, solid iron guard with 2 high-relief dragons chiseled on both sides, signed Bushu Ju and Masa(Nao?) VG leather covered wooden scabbard. A letter from the Japan sword Co. Tokyo, dated July 10th 1967 detailing the repairs & cost is part of this lot. A fine 16th C. Blade with history.
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- Shakudo - Japanese shakudo is a traditional alloy that has been used in Japan for centuries. It is primarily composed of copper and gold, with the copper serving as the base metal and the gold adding a yellowish hue to the alloy. Shakudo is known for its beautiful dark blue-black or black colour, which is achieved through the addition of a small amount of a patina-inducing element like silver or arsenic.
The word "shakudo" itself can be translated as "red copper" in Japanese, referring to the reddish-brown color of the pure copper base metal before it is patinated. The gold content in shakudo is usually around 4-10%, but this can vary depending on the specific purpose or desired appearance.
Shakudo has been traditionally used in various forms of decorative arts and crafts in Japan. It is particularly associated with metalwork, including sword fittings (such as tsuba, menuki, and kashira), jewelry, and small ornamental objects. The alloy's dark color provides a striking contrast to other metals like silver or gold, making it ideal for intricate inlay work or as a background for other decorative elements.
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