O92109(S1524)
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Katana unsigned attributed to a work of ENJU　with)Black Ro-ro lacquered Spiral pattern scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae

Koto End of Kamakura period (Shochu era/circa 1324-) Higo
Length of cutting edge69.7cm Curvature1.5cm Width of base26.8mm Width of Yokote16.7mm Thickness of base6.4mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate

with)Black Ro-ro lacquered Spiral pattern scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae

Blade construction (kengyo) : Shinogi-zuruki, Iori-mune. It's Ō-Suriage substantially shortened, there is a shallow archway curvature that is created in an archaic Yamashiro tradition. There is an appropriate degree of tapering from base to the point of Ikubi-style middle Kissaki.(click HERE for high resolution of the blade)
Carving (Horimono) : Engraved carving of Suken in front. The Gomabashi and Bonji carvings on the other side.
Forging pattern (kitae hada) : Kitae hada is Ko-Itame hada in general so called "Nashiji" (flecked effect of pear), partial streaming ware appears. Darkish Nie lines of Chikei activity generates from fine steel against sparkling granules of Ji-Nie.
Tempering pattern (hamon) : Hamon is fine ko-Nie base, solidly tight uniform Suguha, delicate slight irregular pattern of Komidare glows on sparklingly bright boundary line.
Temper of tip (boshi) : Boshi forms uniform straight medium circle turn back gently
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is Ō-Suriage substantially shortened to be unsigned, horizintal heel and slightly slanting left (Katte-sagari) filemarks. Two Mekugi-ana peg holes.

The founder of ENJU 延寿 school was said the maker HIROMURA 弘村, native place is Shikkake, Yamato domain 大和国尻懸. His son KUNIMURA 国村 moved from Yamato domain to Yamashiro capital in Kyoto to learn from RAI KUNIYUKI 来国行 then married the daughter of him to move and establish ENJU lineage in Kikuchi, Higo domain (now in Kikuchi ciry Kumamoto pref. in Kyushu) under the patronage of KIKUCHI clan. Sword makers in ENJU school assumed the skill of RAI school in Yamashiro and had been prospered during end Kamakura to Nanbokucho period about 100 years.
The subject ENJU katana, although it is Ō-Suriage shortened, there still holds at Jo-sun interpretations in an arckway "Trii-sori" curvature with highly archaic manner that shows close resembles to the works of RAI KUNITOSHI 来国俊.
ENJU works, in compare with the ones of RAI school, it is reporteadly said it's NIOI-kuchi is a bit on dimmer side and shows some indications of streaming forging indication from Yamato tendency.
This katana is accompanied with the Shirasaya written by a doctor professor as well as a connoisseur of Japanese sword Dr. Fukunaga Suiken 福永酔剱, dated (3 days later Tanabata Festival, Horse in the 7th Calender sign of Heisei (1990) to viiew on this sword from a slightly altered perspective to give an opinion as the work of Awataguchi YOSHIMASA 粟田口藤左衛門吉正 who is a distinguished pupil of the most famed maker Awataguchi YOSHIMITSU 粟田口藤四郎吉光 in Yamashiro.
This sword is an excellent piece that has been identified by experts as a work of the master craftsman under Yamashiro tradition from Kamakura period.

with) Black Ro-ro lacquered Spiral pattern scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae that comprises : (click HERE for each ornamental fitting in detail/click HERE for the entire koshirae fitting)
  • Fuchi/Kashira : KIRI-mon crests, Shakukdo ground, Nanako-ji surface, Gold Iroe, unsigned
  • Menuki : Phoenix design, Shakudo katabori carving, Gold Iroe
  • Tsuba : Autumn flower bell cricket, mantises design, Shakudo ground, Sukisage carving, Gold Iroe, unsigned
  • Hilt : White rayskin, Ecru silk cord Tsunegumi lozenge wrap
Double layer gold foiled Habaki collar, preserved in a plain wood Shirasaya mounting Sayagaki written by Dr. Fukunaga Suiken 福永酔剱 (click HERE in front HERE for the other side)
The recent polish/Condition scale: very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
note) Dr. Fukunaga Suiken, born 1914, Miyazaki prefecture, was a medical doctor and former associate professor at Kumamoto University Medical School. He was a renowned authority on Japanese swords, having authored numerous books on Japanese swords, including the "Nihonto Daihyakka Jiten" (Encyclopedia of Japanese Swords).
reference data : Honma-Kunzan, Ishii Masakuni Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975