By Sadayuki, signed Taira Sadayuki Japan, 15th century, Muromachi period (1336-1573) The blade: Shinogi-zukuri with iori mune, the hamon showing a very expressive juka-choji with much nie and nioi on one side and an unusually dynamic sanbon-sugi along with suguha and waves on the other. The nakago (tang) with two mekugi-ana, the tip is kurijiri. Signed Taira SADAYUKI. The name Taira refers to a large clan in the 12th century and occurs rarely. The mounting: The slightly oval tsuba with one hitsu, showing Chokaro Sennin with his horse. The fuchi and openworked kashira are of iron with shakudo inlay showing a trained monkey with eboshi, the bronze menuki are of floral form. The saya is lacquered in black. The iron fittings such as the kurigata and semegane with finely gilt decorative inlays.