Featured in this lot we have a wonderful Shinshinto peroid Japanese katana blade set in a Shirasaya. This katana blade comes with a Japanese blade certificate by Suiken Fukunaga showing both Japanese and English. The certificate is from Feb, 16, 1978 with the name of the swordsmith signed Tada Hiro from the Hizen Saga Province and made in Kanbun (1670). This certificate displays gilt gold floral and peacock designs with 4 hanko stamps on the certificate and comes with a rubbing of the tang of the blade. The katana blade displays a Shinogi Zukuri design with a toriizori curve to the blade. The tang features a Swordsmith inscription reading "Hizen No Kuni-ju Omi Daijo Fujiwara No Tada Hiro" with the blade crafted in 1670. The blade displays Damascus construction with a New Japanese polish in 1981. The blade is set in a Shirasaya, a traditional way of storing, transporting, or displaying blades. The all wood construction and seamless design is commonly used to display blades, with the Shirasaya lacking the tsuba for protection or any of the other traditional sword funishings. This blade was featured and sold by Bonhams & Butterfields fine art Auctioneers in 2004 along with other blades. The blade comes with an original Bonhams & Butterfields catalog with the blade under 4051 on page 25 along with original paperwork. The blade also comes with a set of photos from their acquisition in 1980 along with a slip of paper showing the blades details. The katana comes with a proper sword sleeve and shows wonderful condition overall. The blade measures 35 1/8" long overall including the tang with the edge measuring 27 1/4". The shirasaya measures 38 1/2" long overall. The blade and accoutrements weigh 3lbs 2oz.