K50291(T3690)
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Tanto signed KANEMORI

Koto end Muromachi period (Tenbun era/circa 1532-) Mino
Length of cutting edge 29.4cm Curvature 0.4cm　Width of base 25.1mm Thickness of base 6.0mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate


Sugata(configuration) : Hira-zukuri Tanto, Iori-mune. The cutting edge measures as long as 9-sun 7-bu 5-rin (29.4cm). There is harmonious ratio of Mihaba to Nagasa holding well-balanced curvature of which this blade geometry appears with the latter half of Muromachi period to perform the most supreme cutting performance.(click HERE for higher resolution image)
Horimono (carving) : medium Bo-hi groove in font and wider Bo-hi groove in the other side that are chiselled half way to the tang of Nakago.
Kitae(forging pattern) : The entire steel gives off bluish tendency. Kitae forging pattern is outstanding Itame wooden hada generally with the indication of streaming Masame ware mostly along quenching line.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon quenching state is a bit on tight side "Nioi-deki", starting with straight Yakidashi at Hamachi on base then it becomes wide Box-like Gunome of which head forms like the notch of an arrow "Yahazu" and the interior of temper is filled with frosty Nioi mist.
Boshi (tip): Wide in temper at boshi tip medium circle turns back deeply down.
Nakago(tang) : The Nakago is original UBU of which shape is a bit curved Funazoko ship-bottom shape and double bevelled U-shape heel. File marks on the tang is checked Higaki and the back ridge of Nakago is also Higaki checked. Two Mekugi-ana retaining holes.The entire Nakago preserves an excellent taste of patina from 16th C. The classical inscription signature in front located a bit on back ridge side, two characters KANEMORI 兼盛.

According to the reference Nihonto Meikan, The KANEMORI "兼盛" is considered to have its first generation during the Eikyo and Kakitsu periods (1429-43), followed by the Bunmei period (1469-), and further into the Tenbun period (1532-), assumed three generations. They were active in Akasaka and Seki regions throughout the Muromachi period.

This Tanto is considered dates back to the later Muromachi period, specifically during the Tenbun period (1532-), and it's considered to made by the third generation of KANEMORI "兼盛." The "Yahazu-midare" refers to a hamon pattern where the heads of box-like Gunome resembles the shape of arrow notches which were used in textiles, family crests or spreaded to other consumer designs. A similar pattern of tempering Hamon can also be found in Mino swords from the Muromachi period. This technique was carried forward by Owari smiths in their Shinto sword-making endeavors, exhibiting a similar style.
Old copper ground double layer Habaki with Mokko crest openwork, preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting
Old polish/Condition scale: very good - good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)

notes :
As the latter half of the Muromachi period began, Japan entered an era of warring states marked by the O'nin War (1467-1477), stemming from the weakening of the Ashikaga Shogunate and political instability. During this turbulent time, the demand for Japanese swords as effective weapons rapidly increased.
Swordsmiths in the region formed an autonomous organization known as the "Kaji-za" 鍛冶座 to create a stronghold for swordsmiths in the area and relocated the ancestral deity of swordsmith the "Toso-jin" 刀祖神 from Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara to a branch Kasuga Shrine in Sek.
Additionally, they established and coordinated the "Seki Shichi-ryu" or "Seven Seki Schools," 関七流 which included the Zenjo school (Kaneyoshi), Muroya school (Kanezai), Ryoken school (Kaneyuki), Nara school (Kanetsune), Tokunaga school (Kanehiro), San'ami school (Kanesada), and Toku'in school (Kaneyasu). This brought their prosperity and marked the peak of their influence as they received commissions from prominent clans and feudal lords.
Not only in Seki, but also in Mino Province, various swordsmiths known as "Sue-Seki" 末関 produced swords in places such as Hachiya (Mino Kamo City), Sakakura (Sakahogi Town), Akasaka and Shimizu (Ogaki City).
The Seki swordsmiths in Mino, which thrived as Japan's premier sword-producing region, rivaled the size and reputation of Osafune. However, their prosperity declined when Tokugawa Ieyasu emerged victorious in the Battle of Sekigahara in the fifth year of Keicho (1600), leading to an era of peace under the Tokugawa Shogunate. The demand for swords rapidly declined and these swordsmiths dispersed to the major castle towns of influential feudal lords to take up the production of new swords in the following Shinto period.

reference data :
Tokuno Kazuo, Minoto Taikan, Token kenkyu Rengokai, 1975
Suzuki Takuo/Sugiura Yoshiyuki, Muromachi-ki Mino Toko-no-kenkyu, 2006
Honma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni, Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975