A18293(T3197)
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Tanto signed KANETSUNA-saku with)Burgundy lacquered Shichi-go-san stripes scabbard Tanto Koshirae

Koto end Muromachi period (Tensho era/circa 1573-) Mino
Length of cutting edge 29.4cm No curvature　Width of base 27.6mm Thickness of base 5.8mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate

with)Burgundy lacquered Shichi-go-san stripes scabbard Tanto Koshirae

Sugata(configuration) : Hira-zukuri broad Tanto dagger, Iori-mune. The cutting edge measures as long as 9-sun 7-bu (29.4cm). Wide in Mihaba, no curvature, a bit on thicker side in Kasane and upper Fukura is swelling of which this broadsword geometry appears with the latter half of Muromachi period to perform the most supreme cutting performance.(click HERE for higher resolution image)
Horimono (carving) : Bo-hi grooves on both side that are chiselled half way into the Nakago.
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae forging pattern is outstanding Itame wooden hada generally with the indication of Mokume ware and streaming Masame ware appears mostly along the back ridge of Mune.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon quenching state is a bit on tight side "Nioi-deki", starting with short slanting Yakidashi at Hamachi on base then it becomes undulating flamboyant Gunome and clove out line of Choji with some indication of triangular shape "Togari".
Boshi (tip): Wide in temper at boshi tip which is created in like a side view of Jizo-stature so called "Jizo-boshi" then turns back deeply.
Nakago(tang) : The Nakago is an original UBU of which shape is a bit curved Funazoko ship-bottom shape and double bevelled U-shape heel. File marks "Yasurime" is checked "Higaki" and the back ridge of Nakago is created in greatly slanted left "O-sujikai". Two Mekugi-ana retaining holes.The entire Nakago preserves an excellent taste of patina from mid 16th C. The broad-minded inscription signature in front located a bit on back ridge side, three characters KANETSUNA-saku 兼綱作.

The subject swordsmith 兼綱 is read as "KANETSUNA" belonged to Tokuei 徳永 school　among the　Seki Shichi-ryu group 関七流.
According to the reference Nihonto Meikan, The KANETSUNA "兼綱" is considered as its first generation during the Houtoku periods (1449-) and followed by the Bunmei 18th (1486) or Choukyo 2nd (1488). The KANETSUNA 兼綱 in Tensho (1573-) assumed had moved to Gifu castle town, a territory of Oda Nobunaga clan, and carried inscriptions like "濃州岐阜住兼綱" Noshu Gifu-ju KANETSUNA.
This Tanto which is assumed a work by the KANETSUNA "兼綱" of the Tensho era (around 1573 - ). The subject broad Tanto holds an exceptionally wide and robust Hira-zukuri shape with a swelling pointed edge of upper Fukura area. The Yakiba (temper pattern) is widely excecuted and the hamon on both sides is maching well showing vividly strong activity.

with) Burgundy lacquered Shichi-go-san stripes scabbard Tanto Koshirae
(click HERE for Koshirae in front/HERE for the other side and HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/Kashira : Graze cattle design, Shakudo ground, nanako-ji surface, Gold inlay, unsigned
  • Menuki : cattle design, Shakudo ground, Katabori carving, gold iroe
  • Kozuka : God ritual scoop of sacred Sake "Nagatsuka Choji" 長柄銚子 design, Shakudo Nanako-ji surfacem Takabori, Gold Iroe, unsigned
Silver foiled single layer Habaki, preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting
Good old polish/Condition scale: excellent - very 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