A JAPANESE KATANA (LONG SWORD), BLADE 1650-1750, MOUNTS 1750 -1850 WITH A LATER ADDITION OF A LEATHER COVER, Sugata (configuration): shinogi-zukuri (longitudinal ridgeline) with deep tori-zori (even curve), medium kissaki (tip), gilt copper habaki (collar); Hamon (tempering pattern): chôji gunome midare (wavy and abruptly undulating with clove buds); Nagasa (length): 64.0 cm; Nakago (tang): ubu (unshortened) with one mekugi-ana (fixing hole), signed Bizen Osafune ju nin (resident of Osafune in Bizen province) and Yokoyama Kozuke no Daijô Fujiwara Sukesada; Koshirae (mounting): wooden saya (scabbard) with lacquered hana kairagi-zame (ray skin) finish, black and red silk sageo (tying cords), black copper alloy fittings, with officer's leather foul weather protective cover. Wooden tsuka (hilt) with brown silk itô (braiding) over white same (ray skin), gilt shakudô fuchi kashira (collar and pommel) and menuki (hilt grips), russet iron tsuba (sword guard) with high relief decoration on one side of a sage in a bamboo grove and on the other chrysanthemums, all with highlights in gold Unusually the saya is non-standard and along with the fittings is highly decorated. Hana kairagi-zame is a special and expensive type of ray skin with large knobs that resemble plum blossoms. The braiding on the hilt may have been replaced and it is possible that the leather cover is not associated with the original mounting. Yokoyama was the family name of several generations of swordsmiths who worked in the village of Osafune in Bizen Province during the Edo period. During the early Edo period Yamato Kozuke no suke Sukesada (1633-1729), the son of Shichibei Sukesada in Osafune village, established a line of smiths signing 'Yokoyama' who continued the production of fine quality blades well into the shinshinto era. He was awarded the honorary title Kozuke no Daijô in 1664. Their work is a conscious revival of older swords from Bizen.