IMPORTANT NOTICE: To celebrate our first year as professional sellers on catawiki and to thank all the customers who have made us grow with 100% positive feedback, during the first quarter of the year we will be offering high quality pieces for sale far below market value. Authentic pieces for the best collectors and enthusiasts at very low reserve prices as a thank you for this wonderful year! ABOUT US: At Supein Nihonto we strive to bring you high quality samurai swords and armors at prices far below the competition. We are probably the largest exporter in Europe and we are proud to anunce that we are number one TOP SELLER in Catawiki Samurai and Japanese auctions. This is especially important to save on taxes and waiting times that can exceed four months deliveries with Japanese sellers also headaches with tedious and sometimes problematic processes that further lengthen deliveries, even returning the parcel to its origin and more than 35% extra on the final price due the customs, tariffs and fees that increase the product but not the quality and the future resell. We are also professional sellers and therefore our satisfaction guarantee, knowledge and standards are superior to private sellers and with higher after sales guarantees. Thanks to this and the lowest professional prices in the industry plus our fast and efficient shipping method which rarely exceeds three days delivery in Europe, we are sure you will enjoy this great opportunity to own a piece of art that will appreciate in value for years to come and a great investment. Trust us to enjoy the samurai art. ITEM DESCRIPTION: At Supein Nihonto we strive to bring you high quality samurai swords at prices far below the competition. We are probably the largest exporter in Europe. This is especially important to save on taxes and waiting times that can exceed four months with Japanese sellers and more than 35% extra on the final price due the customs, tariffs and fees that increase the product but not the quality and the future resell. Thanks to this and the lowest professional prices in the industry plus our fast and efficient shipping method, we are sure you will enjoy this great opportunity to own a piece of art that will appreciate in value for years to come and a great investment. Comes with kimono or cotton bag. Amazing Nihonto Long katana from the famous smith "Hankei繁慶" in shirasaya and very beautiful and elegant koshirae. 10 million yens rank in toko taikan. His swords are sold by tens of thousands of euros. The polish are in good condition with a clear vivid hamon remaining. An amazing and authentic piece of art that will delight any collector or amateur. Hankei ID HAN5 Province Musashi Start Era Keichō (1596-1615) End Era Genna (1615-1624) Active Period 1596-1624 Lineage Image / Interactive Source Rating Reference/Page Hawley 150 HAN5 Toko Taikan ¥10M 510-511 Fujishiro Sai-jo saku S8 Signatures: 野田善四郎清尭 noda zenshiro kiyotaka 野田善清尭 noda zen kiyotaka 小野繁慶 ono hankei 日本善清尭 nihon zen kiyotaka 繁慶 hankei Hankei (繫慶) is one of the most renowned swordsmiths active during the early Edo period (Early 17th century). He is often called Noda Hankei because he also called himself Noda Zenshiro Kiyotaka (野田善四郎清堯). His real sirname is Ono. He served Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun, and Tokugawa Hidetada, the second head of the Edo government. Hankei also dedicated his creations to prestigious shrines in his career. Hankei was born and raised in Mikawa province (today’s Aichi prefecture). His family ran a business of making matchlock guns for many generations. He learned how to make guns in his childhood and eventually moved to Edo City (today’s Tokyo) to become an apprentice of Akagari Sohachiro, a skilled gun maker. After mastering superb gun-making skills, Hankei became an independent gunsmith and moved to Hachioji city in Musashi province (today’s Tokyo prefecture). According to available records, Hankei became a swordsmith after 1607, when Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of the Edo government, left his Shogun position for his son and moved to Suruga province (today’s Shizuoka prefecture). Hankei was introduced to Tokugawa Ieyasu by his teacher, Sohachiro. And Hankei started to serve Tokugawa Ieyasu as a gunsmith first while forging blades. He used Kiyotaka as his gunsmith and swordsmith’s name. He stayed in Suruga province during 1610-1614. While he was assigned there, the second head Shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada, ordered Hankei to forge a matchlock gun to dedicate to Ichinomiya shrine, one of the most prestigious shrines in Japan back then. He was also assigned to make guns to dedicate to other renowned shrines. After Tokugawa Ieyasu deceased in 1616, Hankei was relocated to Edo City by Tokugawa Hidetada. It is said that this was when he started using Hankei as his maker’s name. He was especially good at forging blades with Soshu Den tradition, one of the five most Japanese sword-forging traditions. Considering the fact that Hankei served the first and second Tokugawa shogun, his craftsmanship was highly appreciated by the Tokugawa government. Beautiful and vivid hamon and nice Jihada (skin of the blade). Very rare and desirable find a blade with this quality polish in such almost perfect condition. The koshirae is in very good condition too. And amazing piece of art. Normal signs of use and battle as normal for such kind of item. A great museum piece to any collector. Special and rare sword full of history to tell. The blade is in old japanese polish remaining in good condition, the jihada of the steel is detailed and full of details to appreciate. A masterpiece Worthly a museum and a great addition to any private collection. Blade is in very good condition due to aging. Not hagire and not fatal damage, of course. This is a japanese weapon so have a real historical value. This is a weapon with centuries, not machine crafted so can be minor movements of saya, tsuka, tsuba, habbaki, etc. Because of dilatation, humidity, etc. and little damages propers of his age like small rust, scratches, etc. Sold as is. An Authentic nihonto japanese sword, difficult to find in Europe, without the consequent costs of importing from Japan or from Japanese sellers, which can increase the price of the sword by up to 30% and a months waiting for shipment and custom paperwork. A truly real nihonto to delight both new and experienced collectors. All my swords are originals, imported from japan and Europe from the best dealers and collectors during many years of collection and passion. All bids are binding, if you are not interested don't let other bidders miss the opportunity. Winning the auction and not paying for the item blocks you from bidding on catawiki on any auction forever, keep this in mind before bidding. Please see my other samurai swords and items clicking on my seller name. Combine shipping avaliable. Size: Koshirae Full length: 100 cm Blade length: 67,3 cm Sori: 0,8 cm