Previous answer is
O Ashu Shin Yoshimasa Ju
Bizen Suke Munetsugu Saku Kore
Bunkyū 1 Nen 11 Gatsu Hi (November, 1861)
At Senju, Daitai Dotanbarai Kirite Yamada Genzō
応阿州臣義正需
備前介宗次作之
文久元年十一月日
於千住太々土壇払切手山田源蔵

Features: This sword bears a cutting test inscription, stating that in November of Bunkyū 1 (1861), Yamada Genzō performed a Daitai Dotanbarai cutting test at Senju.
In the late Edo period, gold inlays were rarely used, and instead inscriptions were carved directly onto the tang (nakago).
It is said that Bizen-no-Suke Munetsugu was so meticulous that he never produced flawed works and trained with extreme care.

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Appraisal Quiz #883 (Feburary 7th, 2026)
Who made this sword do you think ?
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Blade Length: 81.9 cm (32.24 in)
Curvature: 2.1 cm (0.83 in)
Mekugi Hole: 2
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.23 cm (1.27 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.08 cm (0.82 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.62 cm (0.24 in)
Shape: A long blade with a wide body and deep koshi-zori (waist curvature), showing a well-balanced form.
Both sides are carved with a bohi (groove) and soe-hi (secondary groove).
Jigane: A mixture of itame-hada and mokume-hada, with ji-nie attached.
The surface shows chikei and a visible utsuri (shadow pattern).
Hamon: Nie-based, mainly suguha (straight temper line) with mixed ko-gunome and choji-midare.
The hamon is filled with ko-ashi and yo, and features kinsuji and sunagashi.
The boshi turns back in a small round shape (komaru).

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Answer will be posted at next Appraisal Quiz.

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