H1379(W6616)
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Wakizashi signed KUNIMASA (Horikawa school)

Shinto Early Edo period (Kanei era about 380 years ago) Yamashiro
Length of cutting54.3cm Curvature1.0cm Width of base29.3mm Thickness of base6.0mm Width of Yokote19.6mm

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Blade construction : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune, Kasane is a bit thinner and there is less Hiraniku volume. Curvature is in average leading to a middle Kissaki. There is round-end BO-HI grooves on both sides.(click HERE for higher resolution image)
Forging(Hada) : Hada is so called [ZANGURI] - a bit conspicuous Itame with flowing indication mixing in with Mokume-hada that is covered in fine sparkling Ji-nie glitter and Chikei darkish wooden grain mark well works in Hiraji surface. Shinogi-ji shows outstanding flowing Itame in the mixture of Masame-hada.
Temper(Hamon) : Hamon is wavy based, gunome, slanted-temper and Togari-ha. The entire temper line is covered in sparkling deep Nie glitter and the interior of temper is filled with Nioi - deep and whitish mist and delicate sunagashi streaming Nie lines work. The entire hamon is vivid and bright.
Tang(Nakago) : Nakago is UBU original. Osujikai greatly slanting left filemarks. The shape of bottom is Uneven U-shape, Ha-agari KURIJIRI. The back ridge mune-side is full. The signature in front is two large character that reads KUNIMASA 国正.
Temper of tip (Boshi) : Boshi is straight medium circle turn back.
KUNIMASA 国正 in Horikawa school was a nephew of a great master Horikawa KUNIHIRO 堀川国広, a son of smith KUNIMASA 国政. He learned from KUNIHIRO 国広 and said that he had moved to Bushu after his master KUNIHIRO passed away, during Kanei - Shouhou(1624-1647) period, from the important material wakizashi signed Bushu Edo Fujiwara KUNIMASA 武州江戸藤原国正. Also there is the other important example recently found of wakizashi signed Tanaka Genbei KUNIMASA The 2nd month Manji 2 (1659) 田中源兵衛国正　万治元年二月日 to understand that his family name is TANAKA 田中 which is same as KUNIHIRO 国広 and worked untill Manji (1660s) period.
It is extremely rare to come across genuine signed works of KUNIMASA in Horikawa school because he had exclusively worked for his great master KUNIHIRO to play a ghost-maker for him in his later ages. The major characteristic of this wakizashi, shape of tang and signature almost exactly like ones of KUNIHIRO and temper shows close resembles to one of senior fellow KUNIMICHI 国路. It is said because he had exclusively worked for master KUNIHIRO. The works of KUNIMASA in Horikawa school is quite rare and this work shows fine skill of KUNIMASA who was a ghost-maker of great master KUNIHIRO during later ages.
Silver double habaki collar. Shira-Saya includes.
An old good polish/Condition scale: good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference data:
Honma Junji, Sato Kanichi, Nihon-to Taikan Shinto-hen #1, Otsuka Kogei sha, 1966
Nariai Hideki Token Bijutsu vol 637, NBTHK February 2010