This is only the second Japanese sword I have acquired. I bought it through an auction where it was presented as a: Japanese katana in shirasaya, shin-shinto (1765-1867), suguha hamon, ko-itame jimon, signed 'Suishinshi Masahide', original tang, iron tsuba with gilt inlay from Edo period; together with a silk katana bukuro (sword bag), total length: approx. 41", blade length: 28.25".
One of the reasons I bought this is because it appears "unfinished" and I wanted to add same,ito, mekugi, koiguchi, kojiri, etc.