M20148(T3192)
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Tanto signed KANESADA (Izumi-no-kami KANESADA/Nosada) with)Black O-mokume hada Chinkin style gold-inlaid lacquerware scabbard TantoKoshirae

Koto on the end of Muromachi period (the latter period of Eisho era/1504 - 20) Mino
Length of cutting edge 26.5cm Inward curvature Width of base 22.5mm Thickness of base 5.4mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon)
carried/reported in 2 issues of
Mino-to Oshigata-shu
Token-Bijutsu #741

with)Black O-mokume hada Chinkin style gold-inlaid lacquerware scabbard Tanto Koshirae

Sugata(configuration) : Dignified tanto of Hira-zukuri with Mitsu-mune back ridge. Kasane on base is a bit on thicker side and Mihaba is in average with the indication of a bit on inward curvature leading to the less swelling Fukura upper area. Entire shape holds very harmonious ratio of Mihaba to Nagasa, Kasane and Fukura. (click HERE for higher resolution image)
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae is reinforced Itame hada in general with the indication of streaming Masame ware. The entire steel gives off whitish-utsuri of sparkling martensite particles glitter that comes from fine soaking steel.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is uniform bright Nioi-deki with softly sparkling martensite particles of glitter to form Medium Suguha where shows slight indication of Notare.
Boshi (tip): Boshi forms Suguha, small circle where bows slightly inward the cutting edge then turns back deeply.
Nakago(tang) : The tang is UBU original. well-contoured massive in Hiraji. One Mekugi-ana retaining hole. Higaki crossing filemarks and the back ridge of Nakago is well-contoured. Shallow Ha-agari-Kurijiri of uneven U-shaped heel. Sophisticated dignified style of inscription KANESADA 兼定 in unique cursive character so called "NOSADA" is located a bit on lower side in front. The entire Nakago preserves an excellent taste of patina from nearly five centuries.

Here is quite rare works by the Most Superior Artisan KANESADA 兼定 with the rumor of the Most Supreme Sharp Cutting performance as well so called "NOSADA" 之定.
In the battle ages of Muromachi, the famed KANESADA 兼定 epoch-making swordsmith had appeared under the protection of the powerful clan Saito. Apart from the other makers, KANESADA 兼定 used the highest quality steel to make fine art swords, not as being merely weapons and utilitarian objects to meet with requirement from master. Kanesada works aroused the envy among rival Daimyo chief lords during the period of civil wars

From his extant works with the date of year, his activity period ranges earliest from Bunmei 4 (1472) to the end of Daiei 6 (1526) in 54 years.
In his earlier stage on before Meiou 8 (1499), his signature "SADA" 定 was in square style later he changed it to the cursive style like this example so has been called as "NOSADA" 之定 in his later age.
We can't miss it that he is the first swordsmith who enjoyed an official provincial government title granted by the Imperial Court "Izumi-no-kami" on about Eisho 5-7 (1508-10).

Here is one of the most excellent tantos in his later years after he changed it's inscription to cursive style "NOSADA" 之定. Most of his later works of tanto shows decent Yamashiro style looking up Rai works from Kamakura period like this example.
Great taste of patina in 500 years history, vigorous stroke of inscription "KANE-SADA" to prove his own strong confidence on this Tanto article.

This tanto is carried in the Mino-to Oshigata-shu in 1977 and also reported in Token-Bijutsu #741 in 2018 as one of his representative Tanto masterpieces by the famed artisan "NOSADA" 之定.

with) Black O-mokume hada Chin-kin style Gold-inlaid lacquerware scabbard Tanto Koshirae consists of : (click HERE for entire Koshirae / HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/Kashira : Streamig UME flowers design, copper ground gold plated, Shakudo Iroe, unsigned
  • Menuki : Chicken and Hen design, Gold ground, Yobori carving
  • Kozuka : Ox design, Shakudo ground Nanako-ji surface, Gold rim and Hokin back cover, unsigned
  • Tsuba : UME flowers design, Hexagonal shape, a pair of headpiece openwork, Shibuichi ground, Amida an aureole carving, Iroe inlay, unsigned attributed to UMETADA 埋忠
  • Metal fittings of scabbard : Kurikata,Kaeri-tsuno and Ura-kawara - stream design, gold plated, unsigned
  • Scabbard : Black O-mokume hada (large burl wood grain pattern) gold-inlaid lacquerware (using powdered gold in etched grooves)
  • Hilt (Tsuka) : White Rayskin, Black&Gold Jabara-style Fine thread Wickerwork lozenge braid
Double layers gold foiled Habaki collar, preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting.
Good old polish/Condition scale: excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data :
SUZUKI Takuo/SUGIURA Yoshiyuki, Muromachi-ki Mino-toko no Kenkyu, 2006
KANO Tomomichi, Mino-to Oshigata-shu, 1977
Token Bijutsu #741, 2018
Special exhibition Kanesada/Knemoto, Gifu City Museum of History, 2008
Special exbibition Kanesada, Gifu Prefectural Museum, 2018