Katana unsigned attributed to OMIYA with) Black lacquered/red stone waist sash Uchikatana koshirae
Koto Nanbokucho period (Jouji era about 650 years ago) Bizen
Length of cutting edge68.2cm Curvature2.0cm Width of base30.7mm Thickness of base7.6mm Width of Yokote20.7cm
NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon)
with) Black lacquered/red stone waist sash Uchikatana koshirae
Sugata(configuration) : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Although the blade was Suriage substantially shortened, it is still wide in Mihaba on base standing firmly. Ample thickness and less hiraniku volume leading to an extended middle kissaki. There is round end bo-hi grooves on both sides.
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae-hada is conspicuous Itame wooden grain marks mixing in with large swirl mokume burl hada-ware. Outstanding forging marks generates from an abyss of steel and the surface covered in thick Nie hard metal granules. The entire hiraji surface shows some mottled utsuri indication (reflections of the irregular tempering pattern).
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is Nie based, small-gunome, clove out-line, tall tadpole shape and box-shape that varies in shape and patterns. The temper line gives off bright light that works with Inazuma thunder, kinsen gold lines indication and Yubashiri temper which are active with Nie-activity.The interior of temper works with YOU dots against whitish NOI mist.
Boshi (tip): The temper of the tip comes in irregular gunome-midare with flamming up indication.
Nakago(tang) : Suriage substantially shortened, results in unsigned. Horizontal heel shape and Kiri horizontal filemarks. Three mekugi-ana retaining holes.
MORIKAGE of Omiya lineage in Osafune Bizen province is said to come from Inokuma, Omiya in Yamashiro(Kyoto). However in view of the most existing works with two character MORI-KAGE, Yamashiro favor can be seen. On the other hand, for those works with Osafune MORIKAGE in Omiya lineage shows the typical Bizen favor with mixture of Soushu technique. The works of Omiya lineage have close resembles to the ones of KANEMITSU in the same province, period. However in compare with KANEMITSU, closer observation of Omiya shows the stronger Nie which generates more Kinsen and Sunagashi indication and conspicuous Mokume hadaware but less Utsuri reflection covering in Hiraji, furthermore hamon forms various shape, generally small pattern. From the other point of view, Omiya lineage in Bizen would connect to CHIKAKAGE as a forefather because CHIKAKAGE and MORIKAGE, both have the same chisel-handwriting [Right to Left contrary stroke]
Black lacquered /red stone waist sash Uchikatana Koshirae consists of
Fuchi/kashira : Crane and KOUHONE (water lily), black Shibuichi (copper alloy) polish surface Takabori Gold/silver Iroe inlay signed MASATOSHI.
Menuki : Gentian and Chrysanthemum, Shakudo (copper alloy) Yobori, gold Iroe inlay.
Tsuba : Sailboats, Iron hammered surface, cross rectangular shape, Both Hitsuana filled by gold, signed Yamashiro Fushimi-ju KANAIE.
Hilt : White ray-skin UNOHANA white cord lozenge wrap.
Gold foiled double layer habaki collar.
The blade is preserved in Shira-saya plain wood mounting.
