A30667(W5084)
+Shipping

Wakizashi signed Yokoyama Kōzuke-daijō Fujiwara SUKESADA Bishu-Osafune ju-nin

Shinto Early Edo period (kanbun/Enpo era circa 1664 -) Bizen
Length of cutting edge 54.5cm Curvature 1.0cm Width of base 30.3mm Width of Yokote 22.0mm Thickness of base 6.6mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate

Sendmail

Blade construction: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune of a bit on higher side. Mihaba on base is wide and Kasane is a bit on thicker side, heavy built wakizashi holding massive volume of Hiraji. There is less tapering from base to upper Yokote and a bit on shallow side moderate Sori curvature, leading to an elongated Chu-kissaki.(click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging mark is fine and uniform Ko-Itame. The steel gives off minute sprinkled sand impression to cover with thick Nie sparkling hard metal granules "Ji-nie" on Hira-ji surface and darkish precise lines of Nie so called "CHIKEI" activity that wells out from steel. The Shinogi-ji surface is conspicuous Masame-hada.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is a bit on coarse side Nie hard metal granules base, starts with Suguha straight temper line of Yakidashi then roundish Gunome, clove/tassel shaped Choji and "Kani-no-tsume" which looks like claw of a crab. Sparkling hard metal granules "Nie" accumulates on the hardening boundary hamon where short or long lines of Nie "Sunagashi" frequently appears. The interior of temper is filled with mist-like crystallize area and dense Nie foot of sparkling ASHI appears. The entire temper is the most flamboyant and gives off brilliant flash.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi forms straight below Yokote and medium circle turns back a bit deeply in good manner.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago remains entirely UBU original. Double bevelled Kurijiri heel. One mekugi-ana hole. Slightly slanting left Katte-sagari filemarks. Back ridge of Nakago is flat with greatly slanting left filemark. The clear inscription of signature in front is located upper the Shinogi-ji ten character that starts from the family name Yokoyama 横山, an official district Kō-zuke-daijō 上野大掾 title, name of clan Fujiwara 藤原 and the smith name SUKEDASA 祐定. The other sides is chiselled with the origin of birth place Bishu-Osafune-ju-nin 備州長舩住人.

Here is a superior made Jo-saku wakizashi by the smith Yokoyama Kozuke-daijo SUKESADA 横山上野大掾祐定.
In the 8th month of Tensho 19 (1591), a flood struck Fukuoka-sho, Osafune area as a result of localized downpour, most of sword workshops were carried away by the flood and SUKESADA atelier 祐定 was no exception.
One of the founder Yokoyama Souzaemon SUKESADA 横山宗左衛門祐定 reconstructed SUKESADA 祐定 atelier in Shinto period along with his brothers Shichibei-no-jo SUKESADA 七兵衛尉家 and Genzaemon-no-jō 源左衛門尉家. Those three SUKESADA families had been prospered during Edo period.
The subject swordsmith Yokoyama Kozuke-daijō SUKESADA 横山上野大掾祐定 is a legitimate child of Shichibei-no-jō SUKESADA 七兵衛尉祐定 (real name is Yokoyama Heibei 横山平兵衛) that is the 6th generation of founder Yosō-zaemon-no-jō SUKESADA 与三左衛門尉祐定 and distinguished himself as the doyen of Bizen sword smiths in Shinto period.
His extant works with the date of year range from Manji to Shoutoku era (1660-1715) in the advanced early Edo period. He belonged to Bizen-den technique and devoted himself to restore the ancient works of founder Yosō-zaemon-no-jō SUKESADA in Koto period. He was very good at the hamon of "Kani-no-tsume" which looks like claw of a crab and successfully revived Bizen-den technique in Shinto period.
He also served for the court noble Ichijo family 一条家 and enjoyed Kōzuke-daijō title 上野大掾 from the Imperial Court in Kanbun 4 (1664).
Long life, was passed away in the 29th day, 11th month, Kyoho 6 (1721), was 89 years old.
The subject wakizashi is longer in nagasa, wider in mihaba and thicker in kasane than usual works. Further flamboyant hamon almost reaches to Shinogi-ridge and is superior to the other examples in abundant activity of hardening boundary line.
Silver ground Habaki collar, preserved in a new Shirasaya plain wood mounting.
Fresh polish/Condition scale: mint - excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data :
Kashima Susumu, Osafune-cho-shi/Token-hen zuroku, Otsuka Kougei-sha, 1998
Honma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni, Nihonto Taikan, Yuzankaku, 1975