Katana no-signature (O-suriage)
Blade length 67.8cm, thickness at the base 6.5mm, width 2.8cm
This is a katana blade shortened from a long tachi blade. The age of the blade may be the end of 14th century (late Namboku-cho period) or older. It is a wild taste sword.
To study the shape, it doesn't have big fumbari. It suggests the proper shape of shortened blade. O-suriage blades
Steel has a large wood grain layer pattern. And the steel particles are large. It doesn't look well homogenized. So it brings us some kind of wild feeling. Such a steel is found on a blade in 14th century or older. Very interesting.
Hamon is made of large particles. It is rather bright. And it runs into the tang and vanishing.
The hamon particle band (or temper line) looks coarse. It also is influenced by the coarse steel. This appearance is difficult to explain with words. You can learn it by studying it in your hand.
Of course, it is impossible to know the smith who made this. If we try to suggest you the appearance of this blade with some smiths' name, Norishige, ko-Uda, ko-Mihara, or so. The steel looks like Hoju, but their hamon is usually choji or komidare. Ko-Hoki smiths also is possible, but again their hamon is usually choji or komidare.
Tang. The shortening work is very proper. The original tang has completely filed over and cut off the original tang hole.
Habaki is silver foiled. It is from Edo period.
Shirasaya and bag
This is not a masterpiece, of course. But it shows the interesting appearance of old blade probably 14th century or older. It was not made as art craft, but a simple weapon. But that is the reason why it shows interesting phenomenons of ancient steel and simple tempering reactions. This blade could bring you the other point of view of "art sword". Some sword lovers say, such a simple sword as weapon is more beautiful than "Art Sword".