Wakizashi signed Seki-ju KANEFUSA-saku with) Black Stone surface lacquered sheath KIRI-crests Aikuchi style Koshirae
Koto End of Muromachi period (Eiroku era/about 450years ago) Mino
Length of cutting edge31.5cm Curvature0.3cm Width of base29.3mm Thickness of base6.2mm
NBTHK(HOZON)
with) Black Stone surface lacquered sheath KIRI-crests Aikuchi style Koshirae
Blade construction: Hirazukuri, Iori-mune, Mihaba width is wide with puffy upper fukura in full. The entire blade is full of brave spirits and strengthened. There is double parallel Bo-hi grooves in front and the Ura side is single groove chiselled half way to the tang.
Forging(Hada): Kitae is well knead Itame wooden grains marks generally, mixing in with streaming Masame hada ware which shows soft and moist skin. There works with whitish UTSURI reflect over the surface.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is Gunome zigzag of which head is round generally so called [Kenbou-midare], partially sharpened up, that varies in height. Temper edge is filled in bright and vivid Ko-nie, especially condensed on valleys of each Gunome, Sunagashi busing mark streams, soft Nioi mist works in the interior. The entire Hamon gives off typical atmosphere in manner of traditional Mino-technique in 15 th century.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi is irregularly tempered with small circle that generates Jizou-profile shape then deeply turns back along the back ridge.
Tang(Nakago): UBU, Two peg holes. Slanting left filemarks. Ha-agari round shape bottom heel. The signature on Hakiomote starts with living place two characters that reads Seki-Ju and smith name KANE FUSA SAKU.
Kanefusa in Mino province, famed smith in Muromachi period had created KENBOU-MIDARE temper which is narrow in the middle and round head like an octopus head. Some of Kanefusa lineages had moved to Owari or Shinshu province.This wakizashi reflects historical social conditions of Noble Samurais, that holds a true spirits of warriors, supplementary blade to the Uchigatana sword. The subject smith KANEFUSA, real name [Kyozaburo/Kiyozaemon], was born in the 3rd year of Tenbun (1534), lived in Seki-town. He changed his smith name to UJIFUSA, nominated a title of [Saemon-no-shoi], then enjoyed [Wakasanokami] title 22nd, the 4 th month, 1 st year of Genki (1570). He exclusively had worked for Oda Nobunaga, moved to Kiyosu city then Azuchi town along with Nobunaga. Passed away 11 th day, the 5 th month 18 th year of Tensho (1590), was 57 yeas old.
Aikuchi style koshirae, consists of Stone surface lacquered sheath, KIRI crests motif sheath, Iron Kojiri Karakusa/Kiri crest gold inlay, Hilt is white Ray-skin, Horn Noh mask menuki, Kashira is Iron ground gold inlay SHINKEI kanji character, Iron Kozuka signed NORIYOSHI, Hare/moon-viewing scene, Kogatana is signed Harimanokami Fujiwara KANETAKA.
Old silver foiled Shonai-style Habaki collar, Shira-Saya plain wood mounting includes.
