Please see below for information on the sword that was photographed for this specific print. Price reflects purchase of the print, rather than the sword itself.

越前国下坂貞次
Katana by Echizen Shimosaka Sadatsugu
NBTHK Jūyō-tōken at the 67th Jūyō shinsa held on October 29th, 2022
Circa 1630 AD

Measurements
Nagasa 73.65 cm
Sori  1.9 cm
Motohaba 3.15 cm
Sakihaba 2.15 cm
Kissaki-nagasa 3.6 cm
Nakago-nagasa 18.6 cm
Nakago-sori 0.15 cm

The Echizen-Seki group of sword smiths was quite large, and Sadatsugu stood prominently among them. It is thought that he was student of the first generation Yasutsugu, and at the very least was greatly influenced by Yasutsugu as there are similarities in some signature phrasing between them. Both were granted the honor of engraving the Aoimon (Hollyhock Crest) of the Daimyo, Honda Hidano Kami Narishige, suggesting not only did Narishige patronize both Yasutsugu and Sadatsugu, but that the two smiths worked contemporaneously and in close proximity.

This particular work bears the signature, “Echizen no Kuni Shimosaka Sadatsugu” and is further inscribed “Kasane-do oyobi tabitabi Masse no Ken kore nari”, or “Sword of the Last Days as it cut repeatedly through multiple stacked bodies”. This particular phrasing can be found on works of the Shodai Yasutsugu as well.

Extensive skillful carving of Bamboo and Plum Blossoms occupy a large part of the swords length adding to the impressive and vivid impact of a truly magnificent work, without overpowering it.

Echizen Sadatsugu Sayagaki
Written in June, 2022, by Tanobe Michihiro, former Director of Research for the NBTHK“

[This blade] bears a seven-character signature, a standing hollyhock crest, and the inscription that it cut several times through stacked bodies and that it should therefore be regarded as “Sword for the Last Days.” Sadatsugu was one of the most skilled Shimosaka smiths and we see the same hollyhock crest and inscription with Yasutsugu, which suggests that both smiths had a very close relationship. The said inscription likely means that the sword should be handed down in perpetuity. The blade is of a robust shape, displays a somewhat blackish ko-itame, and is hardened in a chōji-midare with long ashi in nie-deki. The quality is exceptionally excellent and the Kinai engravings of plum and bamboo that fully occupy both sides are highly decorative. Blade length ~ 73.6 cm, written by Tanzan [Tanobe Michihiro] in June of the year of the tiger of the Reiwa era (2022) + monogram”