Y20673(S8102)
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Katana signed Noushu Goudo-ju KANENOBU-saku

Shinto early Edo period (Kan'ei era / circa 1624-) Mino
Length of cutting edge : 75.1cm Curvature : 2.0cm Width of base : 29.9mm Width of Yokote : 20.1mm Thickness of base : 7.9mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate

Blade construction (kengyo) : Long Katana Shinogi-zuruki, Iori-mune. Thick in Kasane and high Shinogi-suji, ample volume in Hiraniku heavy on hands. There is well-proportioned degree of tapering from base to point holding center pointed curve leading to a medium Kissaki. Bo-hi grooves on both sides.(click HERE for high resolution of the blade photograph)
Forging pattern (kitae hada) : Kitae hada is Itame and flowing Masame ware is perceived. Whitish Utsuri appears and thick lines of darkish Chikei in different carbon contents appears on Hiraji surface.
Tempering pattern (hamon) : Hamon makes up undulating Notare mixing with Gunome and Sanbon-sugi outline that ranges 2 or 3 irregularly. Hamon boundary line activates with a bit on stronger side Nie and isolated activities of TOBIYAKI or Ni-ju-ha appear on upper Monouchi area. The interior of temper is filled with whitish NIOI mist with activities of Nioi-Ashi and streaming Sunagashi lines.
Temper of tip (boshi) : Temper of Boshi forms irregular Midarekomi then small circle turns back a bit on deeper side.
Tang (Nakago) : The Nakago is unaltered UBU original. The heel of Nakago is uneven U-shaped (Ha-agari Kurijiri). The Yasurime filemarks is greatly slanting left (Ō-sujikai).One Mekugi-ana peg hole. The inscription signature starts with the place of work Noushu-Goudo-ju 濃州神戸住 and the name of smith KANENOBU-saku 兼信作.

A founder smith KANENOBU 兼信 who was active during Enbun era (middle of 14 th century/Nanbokucho period) is said a son or pupil of the famed smith SHIZU KANEUJI 志津兼氏. The descendant KANENOBU 兼信 in Muromachi period who joined to Zenjo-school 善定派 was obliged moving from Naoe-town to other major places such as Seki, Akasaka or Goudo by continuous natural calamities.
The subject smith KANENOBU 兼信 is judged as the a descendant who had moved to Goud town to meet with large demand from major powerful feudal lords.
The magnificent blade holds ample thickness to keep an almost original shape since early 17th century. The entire steel is darkish and shows whitish Utsuri mist reflection that would come from iron feature along Tozan-do or Hokuriku-do region. Forging technique and Sanbon-sugi temper line proves the typical Mino-den school.
Nakago hold an excellent taste of patina in 400 years and remains clear filemarks of Ō-sujikai as well as long inscription of signature.

Gold foil Habaki collar, Preserved in Shira-saya plain wood mounting, Sayagaki by Dr.Kanzan dated 1971)
Old polish/Condition scale: very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference data : Honma Kunzan / Ishii Masakuni NINONTO MEIKAN Yuzankaku, 1975