Antique Nihonto Katana Signed by Masamitsu NBTHK HOZON TOKEN Certificate

Authentic Nihontō Japanese Sword Katana Signed by 

Geishu ju Izumo daijo Masamitsu 藝州住出雲大掾正光 NBTHK HOZON TOKEN Certificate  

石橋正光 (Ishibashi Masamitsu) was said to be a disciple of 青木元長 (Aoki Motosada) from 尾張国 (Owari Province). He was born in 享和2年 (1802) as the fourth son of the swordsmith 正長 (Masatake) in 高野村 (Takano Village), 山県郡 (Yamagata District), which is now part of 北広島町 (Kita Hiroshima Town). He was also known as 兵七 (Hyoshichi) and 弘之進 (Hironoshin). Although it seems his three older brothers were also swordsmiths, few of their works remain, and not much is known about them. However, it appears that 正光 (Masamitsu) was the most skilled, leaving behind numerous excellent pieces.

The oldest known work by 正光 (Masamitsu) with a dated inscription is from 天保五年 (1834), but he was granted the title of 出雲大掾 (Izumo Daijo) in 文政十二年 (1829), indicating that he had already established a significant reputation by the age of thirty. In 天保八年 (1837), he moved to the neighboring village of 移原 (Ihara), now part of 北広島町 (Kita Hiroshima Town), and became independent. By 安政5年 (1858), he was receiving a stipend and had become an official swordsmith for the 浅野家 (Asano clan) of the 広島藩 (Hiroshima Domain).

In 元治元年 (1864), likely influenced by the 長州戦争 (Choshu War), he received an order for 200 swords from the neighboring 浜田藩 (Hamada Domain). Working with his son 卯吉 (Ukichi) and his apprentice 宮太 (Miyata), they completed the order by July of the following year, demonstrating an impressive speed in forging 200 swords in less than a year.

Even as the samurai era ended and the Meiji period brought modernization, 正光 (Masamitsu) continued his craft. His last known work is from 明治八年 (1875), when he was 75 years old. He witnessed the drastic changes in the world of Japanese swords, culminating in the 廃刀令 (Haitorei, Sword Abolishment Edict) the following year, before passing away at the age of 78 in 明治12年 (1879).

This sword, dated 嘉永六年 (1853), was made when 正光 (Masamitsu) was 51 years old. It features a slightly wider difference between the base and tip, a deeper curve, and an extended tip, conveying both elegance and sharpness. The steel is well-forged with a fine itame-hada and ji-nie, with intricate chikei. The hamon is a tightly controlled suguha-chō with skillfully crafted gunome, where the tightly spaced gunome-ashi resemble horse teeth. Soft nie can be seen in places, and the boshi is straight with a rounded tip on both sides. The nakago is ubu (original), with a good rust color and flawless yasurime and inscriptions.

As a renowned smith from 芸州 (Geishu), 正光 (Masamitsu) was highly skilled in both forging and tempering. The balance is excellent, making it highly recommended for customers from 広島 (Hiroshima) as a local sword. This sword, registered in 昭和26年 (1951) in 広島県 (Hiroshima Prefecture), is believed to have been passed down from the Asano clan.

Bare weight: 682 grams.

Nihontō Information