Hiiro-Doo Kozuka Signed "Masayoshi" with NBTHK Hozon Tosogu Iron Kyo-Sukashi tsuba with NBTHK

Iron Kyo-Sukashi tsuba with NBTHK Hozon Tosogu

Tsunagi length

Decorated with Four Gentleman

Katana tsuka with wild geese shakudo fuchikashira

Mimi is between 6

Hiiro-Doo Kozuka Signed "Masayoshi" with NBTHK Hozon Tosogu Iron Kyo-Sukashi tsuba with NBTHKKozuka made of hiiro doo, it is rarely used alloy of very pure copper. Its literal meaning is "scarlet copper", also know as shudoo. Produced only from a second half of Edo period untill Meiji period. It was made by specialised shops in a time consuming way. That is why it was rather expensive. (Alloy description from "Tosogu Classroom" vol. 1, by Fukushi Shigeo, translated by Markus Sesko) Nanako ground, carved in takabori and decorated with shakudo