Blade length 51.5cm, thickness at the base 8mm, width 3.0cm
Steel is fine, and it has compact wood grain layer pattern.
Hamon is made of bright particles. And it makes active patterns.
The polishing is the modern style. The work is very good in the meaning of both shaping work and finishing work. The hadori work is so soft that it is not an obstruction to study hamon.
We found a signature of the polisher at the shinogi-ji under habaki. It can read "... Matsunaga". So the polisher is Mr. Matsunaga. Unortunately, we don't know who he is.
Tang
Signature "Cho-shu ju Minamoto (no) Masauji saku" (live in Nagato province, Minamoto Masauji made) Cho-shu = Nagato province
Date "Kyoho 5 nen 8 gatsu kichijitsu" (1720 August lucky day)
This blade is not only very beautiful, but also very healthy and good quality. The smith Masauji in Nagato province is not very famous, but we believe he was a real master, since he made this blade. Back then, Kyoho era (1716 - 1736) was not a good age for sword smiths, because it was a very peaceful time in Japan. Samurais lost their intention to their sword.