Macnificent Japanese Katana Sword National Treasure Gassan Sadakatsu NBTHK Hozon Signed year 1915.

Macnificent Japanese Katana Sword National Treasure Gassan Sadakatsu NBTHK Hozon Signed year 1915.

With great pride a present to you this Beautiful Katana.

Gassan Sadakatsu (1869-1943) was the first son of the Meiji era’s master swordmaster Gassan Sadakazu.
He was a dedicated student and tireless assistant during his father’s productive years.
He succeeded the headship of the Osaka Gassan School in 1918 upon the death of Sadakazu, In 1921, Sadakatsu became acquainted with Baron Kitokuro Itsuki, then Minister of the Imperial Household, that brought him the opportunity to create swords for the Emperor, the Imperial Army, the Imperial Navy and the Imperial Family. He was the swordsmith of Emperor Hirohito’s Grand Field Marshal Sword (大元帥刀)as well as his enthronement tachi plus imperial military swords (恩賜の軍刀) given to top graduates of the elite Imperial War College upon graduation.
This rare and elegant katana that he made for his friend (It is inscribed “Gift to my best friend Ishihara Tsunemitsu”) year 1915.
and thats Unique it is known that he signed his swords from year 1918 so this is one of a kind.
Also in this inscription he said O mote mei “Refined to the best of his ability to the point that his bones were ground to powder.”
Sadakatsu is often inscribed with the inscription “謹作”（Carefully crafted.) this make this katana Unique.
Also the Dragon Horimono is wonderful the Dragon has the jewel in his claws the number of stokes is huge and very good in detail just stunning.
This blade is perfect, the inscription is very personal and never found before a signed katana in 1915 from Sadakatsu is never found until now!.
I can explain this mei as follow

Omote mei
“Refined to the best of his ability to the point that his bones were ground to powder.”
This is described as.
It can be assumed that “粉骨” is quoted from the idiom “粉骨砕身”.
The idiom “粉骨砕身” means ‘to make one’s best efforts with all one’s might’, “粉骨” means “to the point of grinding my bones to powder”,”砕身” means “to the point that the body smashes.”
Gassan Sadakatsu is often inscribed with the inscription “謹作”（Carefully crafted.）, but this is the first time I have seen the inscription “謹粉骨精錬之”.

Ura mei
It is inscribed with the year October 1915 and the name of the person to whom Sadakatsu gave it.
It is inscribed “Gift to my best friend Ishihara Tsunemitsu”.
However, the inscription “best friend” is the first I have seen, and Hamon is Saka-choji midare, which Sadakatsu was very good at, so it seems that Mr. Ishihara was a very close friend, both publicly and privately.
This is a wonderful katana with great details perfect blade cherish this one.

Koshirae
Very nice one in dark brown collor tsuba is iron and has a gold edge.
Mounting is iron and Gold details tight fit very good and elegant.

Shirasaya signed by Sadakatsu for his friend.

Nagasa Blade length: 68.1
Sori  1.8 cm
Omosa Weight of the blade  567 gram
Moto Haba 2.75
Moto kansane 6.5 mm
NBTHK Hozon given  on 30-06-2018