A13934(S8884)
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Katana unsigned attributed to a work of ENJU with)Black lacquered Rapeseed pattern scabbard Owari style Uchikatana Koshirae

Koto End of Kamakura - Early Nanbokucho period (about 680 years ago) Higo
Length of cutting edge70.3cm Curvature2.2cm Width of base28.6mm Width of Yokote19.2mm Thickness of base6.8mm

with)Black lacquered Rapeseed pattern scabbard Owari style Uchikatana Koshirae

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate

HonAmi SOUKEI Origami

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Blade construction (kengyo) : Shinogi-zuruki, Low back Iori-mune. Even it's Suriage shortened status, there is rather deep curve standing firmly on base so called "Funbari". There is somewhat difference in Mihaba between base and tip, narrowing toward the middle point. Chiselled away Kata-Chiri style Bo-hi grooves on both sides that start from upper the Shinogi-ji tip. There is a pair of parallel lines Koshi-hi additional groove and Bonji (Sanskrit characters) in Omote side and Ura side shows a single Koshi-hi groove. (click HERE for high resolution of the blade photograph)
Forging pattern (kitae hada) : Kitae hada is Ko-Itame hada basically so called "Nashiji" (mark with flecked effect of pear), partial flowing ware Masame along temper side. Darkish Nie likes -Chikei scene activity generates from steel. Over all forging is outstandingly visible with moist impression. The hiraji surface is covered with fine Ji-nie (hard metal granules over the surface of the blade) and whitish utsuri reflection glows in a belt on both back and temper sides.
Tempering pattern (hamon) : Hamon is fine ko-nie base, solidly tight and uniform Suguha, delicate ASHI feet grows and slight irregular pattern.
Temper of tip (boshi) : Boshi in front is brushing away with no return and reversed side does with medium circles back.
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is O-suriage cut, unsigned. Horizintal heel shape. slightly slanting left (Katte-sagari) filemarks. Two Mekugi-ana peg holes and crescent-shaped punch mark at heel which might be the possible original peg hole.
The founder of ENJU 延寿 school was said the maker HIROMURA 弘村, native place is Shikkake, Yamato domain 大和国尻懸. His son KUNIMURA 国村 moved from Yamato domain to Yamashiro - Kyoto to learn from RAI KUNIYUKI 来国行 then married the daughter of him to move and establish ENJU lineage in Kikuchi, Higo domain (now in Kikuchi ciry Kumamoto pref.) under the patronage of KIKUCHI clan. Sword makers in ENJU school assumed the skill of RAI school in Yamashiro and had been prospered during end Kamakura to Nanbokucho period about 100 years.
This katana, although it is SURIAGE cut status, there still holds wide base standing firmly, gracefully deep curve and decent length that shows close resembles to the works of RAI KUNITOSHI 来国俊 or RAI KUNIMITSU 来国光. In compare with the works of RAI school, it's NIOI-kuchi is a bit dim, Temper of tip among ENJU works shows Yamato tendency of "brushing" or shallow turns indication in Boshi or sometimes shows wide bo-hi grooves that chisels away.
This katana is accompanied with the written statement Origami by connoisseur HonAmi SOUKEI (the 13th generation of HonAmi Koumi family), dated Showa 12 (1937) who owed HonAmi's official copper seal 『本』, saying that this katana would be judged as a work of RYOKAI 了戒 who was a son or pupil of RAI KUNOTOSHI.
Black lacquered Rapeseed pattern scabbard Owari style Uchikatana Koshirae comprising :
(click HERE for each ornamental fitting in detail/click HERE for the entire koshirae fitting)
White lay-skin black cord lozenge wrapped Hilt
Fuchi/Kashira Crematis flowers Karakusa , Shakudo copper alloy, gold Iroe inlay unsigned
Menuki Ukai (Cormorant fishing) scene, Shakudo copper alloy, gold Iroe inlay
Tsuba Dragon in clouds, Iron ground round shape, Stone surface, Sukidashi carve Uchinokoshi hammered rim signed Tetsugendo NAOFUSA.
Single layer copper Habaki collar, preserved in a plain wood shirasaya mounting.
The top quality polish/Condition scale: very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).