S9325(S3277)

Katana signed Kuwana-ju Gisensai Mishina HIROMICHI-saku In the 4th month keiou 3rd Forged using a IMIBI Bonfire of TADO ShintoShrine with) Reed grass pattern lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae

Shin-shin-to the end of Edo period (Keiou 3 / 1867) Ise
Length of cutting edge 71.2cm Curvature 1.5cm Width of base 31.2mm Width of Yokote 21.5mm Thickness of base 7.6mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate
NBTHK(Tokubetsu Kicho) certificate

with) Reed grass pattern lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae

 

 

 

Blade construction: Stirring Katana massively volumed of Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Kasane is rather on thicker side and Mihaba on base is wide which does not taper that much leading to an elongated Chu-Kissaki. Hiraji surface is wide in proportion to Shinogi-ji and there is an appropriate well-proportioned curve. These feathres assume major trend that started in the end Edo period.(click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging mark is fine wooden grain mark of Ko-Itame-hada. The weaved scene of forged smelting steel and flexible iron generates darkish line of Nie so called "CHIKEI" clearly against the sparkling Ji-nie glitter that caused by quenching, hardning process.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is a bit on stronger side Ko-Nie base that forms wide-Suguha straing on base then deep crystallized quenching line of tassel-shape Choji-ha and long footed Choji-midare. The interior is filled with mist-like crystallize area that contains great deal of feet "Ashi". The entire quenching scene is well-sofisticated under Bizen-den tradition and vividly bright.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi forms a Gunome below Yokote, straight Suguha small circle in front the other side forms slight wave of Notare, both are medium circle turns back gently.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is UBU original with an indication of fish bottom shape, un-even U-shape "Ha- agari Kurijiri" heel on bottom. One peg hole of Mekugiana. Greatly slanting left "O-sujikai" filemarks with horizontal "Kesho-yasuri". Back ridge of Nakago is a bit contoured. The signature in front starts with the place of work Kuwana-ju 桑名住, the pseudonym Gisensai 義専齋, family name Mishina 三品 and smith name HIROMICHI-saku 廣道作. The other side is inscribed with the date of year In the 4 th month, keiou 3 rd 慶應三年四月日, then paragraphed Forged using a IMIBI Bonfire of TADO Shinto Shrine 以多度齋火鍛之.

Here is an impressively healthy Katana in mint condition with an original Koshirae mount which is just the same as it had been in Keiou 3 (1867).

The smith HIROMICHI 廣道 in Kuwana, Ise domain (now in city of Kuwana, Mie pref.), was born as a second son of smith Mishina Touemon HIROMICHI 三品藤右衛門廣道. His ordinary name is Toukurou 藤九郎 and named himself an adopted name of Gisensai 義専齋.
He apprenticed himself with his elder brother Mishina Hanbei HIROFUSA 三品半兵衛廣房 to their master Koyama MUNEHIRA and MUNETSUGU 固山宗平・宗次 to learn Bizen-den tradition and set up aterier at
Kaji-cho, city of Kuwana.
Smith HIROMICHI 廣道 carefully forged the fine steel using sacred fire "IMIBI" 齋火 by traditional igniting device from
TADO Shinto shrine 多度大社 where is dedicated to Amenomahitotsu no Kami 天目一箇神 (note).
There are some who suggest that the blacksmith god Ame-no-mahitotsu no mikoto made the sword which has been reverved as a all-powerful and magical deity in its effect.

Decently dressed original Reed grass pattern lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae mount consists of : (click
HERE for entire Koshirae/HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/kashira and Tsuba : Ume apricot design. Iron ground, Takabori, Iroe, unsigned
  • Menuki : Crawling Dragon design, copper ground, Yobori, gold plated
  • Tsuka : White rayskin, unbleached silkcord Moro-tsumami-maki style lozenge wrap
  • Saya scabbard : Black reed grass pattern "Isokusa" lacquered
Original copper ground silver foiled Habaki with a set of original copper Seppa collar. preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting.
Good old polish/Condition scale: mint-excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data:
YAGASE Sei'ichi, Mie-ken-no Toko, 1976
TABATA Tokuo, Mie-ken Touko/Kinko Meikan, 1989
(note) : Amenomahitotsu no Kami is a Shinto god of iron manufacture and blacksmiths who appears in Japanese mythology