Katana unsigned KANENOBU (attributed to a work of SHIZU)
Koto Nanbokucho period (Ouan era/about 650 years ago) Mino
Length of cutting edge73.7cm Curvature1.2cm Width of base30.9mm Thickness of base7.5mm Width of Yokote21.1mm
NBTHK(HOZON)
NBTHK(TOKUBETSU HOZON)
Sugata(configuration) : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Wide in Mihaba on base with thick Kasane, high shinogi-ridge and wide in Hiraji leading to a extended middle tip generating brave and heroic construction. There is square end Bo-hi grooves.
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae-hada is conspicuous Itame wooden grain marks mixing in with large Mokume burl, swirl so called Oitame wooden marks hada-ware. Outstanding forging marks generates from an abyss of steel and the surface is covered in thick Nie hard metal granules.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is strong Nie based, deep Noi mist, small-gunome, clove outline and Togari-ha. The temper gives off bright light that works with Inazuma thunder, kinsen gold lines indication vividly active with Nie-activity.
Boshi (tip): The temper of the tip comes in irregular gunome-midare and shows Hakikake bruising lines indication activity.
Nakago(tang) : Suriage cut off the tang unsigned, Horizontal end heel shape and Kiri horizontal filemarks. Two mekugi-ana.
Early of 14th century, the sword smith SHIZU-Saburo KANEUJI who was one of the 10 genius smiths of MASAMUNE, learned Soshu-den technique based on his own Yamato-den workmanship and had transmitted his pupils such as KANETOMO, KANETOSHI, KANENOBU in Naoe-town, so called Naoe-Shizu lineage during Nanbokucho period. Extremely bright and fine weaved steel gushes out outstandingly beautiful, generating darkish thick Chikei hard metal granules scene. Temper gives off virgin snow light, vividly cool and bright, fascinated by the beauty of steel, one of the best works of Shizu or Naoe-Shizu lineages. In 1963, NBTHK issued a judgement paper as [attributed to a work of SHIZU-Saburo KANEUJI] and recent NBTHK judgement is [KANENOBU] who is a celebrated pupil of SHIZU-Saburo KANEUJI in Naoe-town.
The entire blade keeps an excellent condition and remains a good fine polish status.
Silver foil habaki collar, Preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.
