Gendaito by Sadaroku - SamuraiSword.com

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Swordsmith: Imai Sadaroku (Student of Amada Sadayoshi)

Area: Niigata prefecture

Nagasa (cutting edge length): 66.8 cm ~ 26 1/4″ Sori (curvature): 1.5 cm ~ 3/8″ Motohaba (width): 3.25 cm ~ 1 1/4″

Hada: Itame / very fine mokume with ji-nie, Masame above shinogi

Hamon: Suguba with fine nie and nioi

Boshi: Ko-maru

Nakago: Ubu

Habaki: silver foil

Signature: Echigo (province) – no – kuni ju (resident of), Imai Sadaroku

Shinsa: Guaranteed to pass shinsa if submitted by us within one year of purchase.

Dated: Showa 16th year (1941), the 9th month, a lucky day.

Included: Shirasaya, carry bag

Notes/References: Kaigun Jumei Tosho smith, listed in John Slough Gendai book page 149 (See scan further below), His blades are medium to high grade gendaito, Won the 2nd seat in 1941 at the Shinsaku Nihon To Tenranki (1st place was taken by Yasukuni Shrine). Student of Amada Sadayoshi, father of the Ningen Kokuho Amada Akitsugu. Traditionally hand forged blade in new polish

BLADE BY “SADAROKU” SIGNED; ” ECHIGO (PROVINCE)- NO – KUNI, JU
(RESIDENT OF), IMAI SADAROKU (MAKER), AND DATED; SHOWA 16 th. YEAR
(1941), THE 9 th. MONTH, A LUCKY DAY. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IMPRESSED WITH
HIS BOLD SIGNATURE, IT REMINDS ME OF “ECHIGO NO-KAMI KANESADA”.
SADAROKU IS HIGHLY RESPECTED, AND EXCEPTIONALLY WELL LISTED IN; DR.
HOMMA SAMA’S “NIHON TO MEIKAN” A TRULY GREAT HONOR. HE IS ALSO LISTED IN
NUMEROUS OTHER JAPANESE REFERENCES, AS WELL AS, “MODERN JAPANESE SWORD
SMITHS”, BY J. S. SLOUGH (AN EXCELLENT WORK), AND THE MOST IMPORTANT
GENERAL ENGLISH JAPANESE SWORD REFERENCE WRITTEN TO DATE, “JAPANESE
SWORD SMITHS” BY W. M. HAWLEY.

SADAROKU IMAI, WAS FROM NIIGATA PREFECTURE. HIS CAREER WAS VERY
PROLIFIC, AND THE FINE QUALITY OF HIS BLADES GAINED HIM THE RESPECT OF
ALL. IN 1941 HE WON THE COVETED SECOND SEAT (I WAS TOLD THAT THE “FIRST
SEAT” WENT TO THE YASUKUNI SHRINE), IN THE “SHINSAKU NIHON TO
TENRANKI”, ONE OF JAPAN’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS CONTESTS. THE MAJORITY OF
NOTED SWORD MAKERS ENTERED THIS CONTEST, AS WINNING A SEAT WOULD BRING
THEM A MULTITUDE OF CUSTOM ORDER’S, AND FAME!

THIS KATANA HAS A “NAGASA” (LENGTH), 26 1/4 ” OR 66.8 cm, THE “SORI”
(CURVE) IS 3/8 th. INCH, OR 1.5 cm., THE “MOTOHABA” (WIDTH) IS 1 1/4″,
OR 3.25 cm. ALL MEASUREMENTS ARE APPROXIMATE! THE OVERALL CONDITION IS
VERY GOOD, APPROX. “99 %” POLISH.

THIS IS ONE OF THE “SHARPEST BLADES” I HAVE SEEN, IT ACTUALLY SHAVED THE
RICE PAPER, WHEN REMOVING THE “UCHIKO POWDER”. IT IS MOUNTED IN A SHIRA-
SAYA, AND WOULD BE EXCELLENT FOR MOUNTING IN A KOSHIRAE (FITTINGS) OF
YOUR CHOOSING. THE GENTLEMAN WHO BROUGHT IT BACK FROM W.W. II.

THE BLADE WOULD BE PERFECT FOR THE “COLLECTOR / PRACTITIONER”, WHO
DEMANDS A FINE BLADE, WITH EXTRAORDINARY CUTTING ABILITY!

* GENDAITO ARE NOT RATED IN ANY SCALES OF WAZAMONO, BUT HAD THEY BEEN, THIS SWORD COULD BE RATED AS O-WAZAMONO DUE TO IT BEING EXTREMELY SHARP.

Description (in caps) by the late David E. J. Pepin

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This sword is not available for purchase.