Edo period (1615-1868), 18th/19th century The first decorated with paulownia crests in gold and shakudo takazogan against a nanako ground; the second decorated with a paulownia crest on a bar in gold takazogan on a nanako ground; the third, a matching kozuka and kogai decorated with Shimazu family crests in gold takazogan against a nanako ground, the reverse with a gold and shakudo migakiji ground in a katamawari arrangement The first two with a wood tomobako storage box The first with Tokubetsu Kicho (Especially Precious) certificate no. 132 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated November 19, 1950 The second with Tokubetsu Kicho (Especially Precious) certificate no. 148 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai (Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword), dated September 10, 1974 8 3/8in (21.2cm), long, the largest