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Wakizashi signed Kawachi-no-kami KUNISUKE with) KIRI crest high relief MAKIE gold pearl of inlay Nashiji lacquered scabbard Aikuchi Koshirae

Shinto Middle of Edo period (Manji era/about 350 years ago) Settsu
Length of cutting edge33.0cm Curvature0.4cm Width of base27.9mm Thickness of base6.0mm

NBTHK(HOZON) certificate

with) KIRI crest high relief MAKIE gold pearl of inlay Nashiji lacquered scabbard Aikuchi Koshirae

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Blade construction : Hira zukuri, Iori-mune. Mihaba is average, long Sun-nobi style wakizashi. There is an elaborate carving of Fudou-myouou (不動明王) and the other side is a Suken sword with a pair of Tsume-Nail. Realistic carving stands out against the blade. (click HERE for super sized image of entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging mark is fine Ko-Itame wooden grain. Hiraji surface is moistened by sparkling glitter so called Ji-Nie - crystallized mist that gushes out from fine steel.
Hamon : Hamon in front is Notare wavy mixing with small Gunome. Some sparkling Nie overflows to Hiraji-surface to form "Tobiyaki" indication.
Other side starts with Osaka-style Yakidashi, then clove outline (Choji) in which interior is covered with deep Nioi-mist and temper edge is covered with sparkling Nie darkish line so called Sunagashi activity. Some sparkling Nie overflows to Hiraji-surface to form "Tobiyaki". In view of upper the blade on both sides, wider the temper that overflows to Hiraji-surface and stronger the Nie glitter to generate "Tobiyaki and Yubashiri" activity. The interior of temper is filled in whitish Nioi mist with thick Nie darkish line so called Kinsen activity.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi is straight indication with large circle turns back.Tang(Nakago) : Nakago is UBU in original, a little on Tanago-bara (Fish belly) shape side, deep both in Ha-machi and Mune-machi. One Mekugi-ana peg hole. File mark is O-Sujikai greatly slanting left. Ha-agari Kurijiri (single bevelled) heel in full. The signature on front side is located under the peg hole, along Mune-side, small five characters that starts with an official district title Kawachi-no-kami 河内守 then smith name KUNISUKE 国助. There is a slight grain opening mark in Nakago, Hamachi side upper in front.
The first gen. KUNISUKE was born in Kanbe town, Ise province (now in Suzuka-city) and assumed his birth was very early of Keicho period (very early 17th century) it is guessed from the age difference between 2nd generation. He had moved to Kyoto and became a disciple of well-known great master Horikawa KUNIHIRO on about 16-17th year of Keio (1611-1612) on the later years of master KUNIHIRO. Therefore it has been understood that he studied under the tutorship of Echigo-no-kami KUNITOMO. There is something persuasive in his workmanship that his signature and forging/tempering technique is pretty similarly each other. After master KUNIHIRO passed away, he again moved to Osaka where was lively and humming with business then enjoyed Kawachi-no-kami title from the Imperial Court in early Kanei period. He had refined KUNIHIRO's workmanship and sublimate it into beauty of art that fascinated Samurais or merchants in Osaka. The first gen. KUNISUKE was passed away in Shouho 4(1647)
The second gen. KUNISUKE 国助 was mainly active during Kanbun (1661-1672) in Osaka. His forte is flamboyant clove outline, which is well-known as an originator of Kengo-Choji 拳形丁子 of which shape looks something like a fist finger in the Shinogi-zukuri style Wakizashi or Katana.
He enjoyed an official district Kawachi-no-kami 河内守 title granted by the Imperial Court in Keian 1 (1648) when he was 20 years old, had been active more than 50 years, passed away Genroku 11 (1698), was 72 years old.
The subject Hira-zukuri style wakizashi, it's shape shows a close resemble to the work of Bizen in Ouei, early Muromachi(1394-1427). It is quite rare to come across Hira-zukuri style Tanto or Wakizashi in his works of art KUNISUKE 国助 would strongly model himself on the ancient works of Ouei-Bizen like Morimitsu 盛光, Yasumitsu 康光 or Moromitsu 師光.
Itame forging becomes delicately fine and steel is selected carefully where glittering Ji-nie metal granules spread over uniform in Hiraji surface. Temper in front is shallow wavy with delicate irregular pattern in the interior of temper to say full of the impression with Muromachi the Medieval Period, whereas in view of the reversed side temper starts with long Osaka-style Yakidashi then clove out line like fist finger shape where works with Sunagashi to express his own forte of Osaka-shinto style in the middle of Edo period. On both sides upper the blade, wider the temper, stronger the Nie glitter and deeper the Nioi mist where temper overflows into Hiraji surface to generates "Tobiyaki and Yubashiri", temper of upper area is filled in with strong Nie activity with Kinsen and deep Nioi mist.
Elaborate Takabori style carving in front is guardian Acala Fudou-myouou (不動明王), angry-faced engulfed in flame stands on a "huge rock base". Right hand holds a sword and a Kenjaku-rope with his left hand. The reversed side is Suken sword with Tsume-nails.
The shape of this hira-zukuri wakizashi style is in favor of Ouei-bizen back to the ancient times and KUNUSUKE worked his own forte of Choji clove temper using the finest steel further added an elaborately planed custom-made carving to indicate strong wish to protect an owner. We can see one aspect of society in the middle of Edo in this wakizashi.
KIRI crest high relief MAKIE gold pearl of inlay Nashiji lacquered scabbard Aikuchi Koshirae using a pair of gold KIRI crest KASA menuki, is carefully made by skilled craftman to understand that owner has been treasured this wakizashi exclusively.
Double layer Habaki collar (lower is gold foiled/upper is silver foiled), Preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting.
reference dada : Nihonto Taikan, Shinto-hen volume 1 Otsuka Kogeisha 1966