Antique Scarce Early Soshu Transitional Ubu Naginata Japanese Spear

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Today on offer is a venerable and exceedingly scarce Ubu (unaltered length) Soshu transitional period naginata with tsuba. 

As far as naginata go, this is a very rare example from the Soshu den of the 1380 to 1420 era, when the school was transitioning away from the original styles and blending with other schools to become what would be known as the Sue Soshu school (Middle Soshu era). This blade shows a lot of that original technique and style within the hamon and hada, while showcasing what the smiths had learned from the other schools.

Soshu naginata are extremely scarce, and while this piece's condition is not perfect, a proper togishi could revive it and make this a centerpiece for any collection. There is evidence of a mei (signature) on the nakago or tang of this blade, but due to age it has rotted away entirely. Shinsa would probably be able to point to a particular smith for this blade. My instinct says Hirotsugu lineage.

Even in its current condition, there is a lot of activity to study and appreciate with very prominent O-mokume hada. Looking at the mune (spine) of this blade, it must have been absolutely massive in terms of thickness when it was new.

One important thing to note is that this naginata is ubu which is nearly unheard of for a naginata of this age. 

This is not a naginata that you will encounter very often, if at all. Most have been cut down into wakizashi.

Nagasa/Blade Length : 47cm or 18.5"
Sori : 2cm or 0.8"
Hamon Type : A classic Soshu "O-midare ba" is the name for this hamon style I believe.
Jihada :  O-mokume with flowing itame/masame mixture.

Other Hataraki (activity) Visible : Kinsuji, inazuma. Almost feels like there is sudare-ba at points in the hamon.
Flaws : Ware as expected of a blade of its age. 
Other Info and Full Description :  Comes in paper saya with original copper habaki and copper tsuba.

Shipping: Shipping will be a flat $100 to ensure that the costs for properly packing such a precious object are covered and so the blade will receive full valuation shipping insurance.