T170750(T3687)
+Shipping

Yamato Koken with)Vermillion Urumi-nuri lacquered scabbard Dragon Aikuchi fitting

Kamakura period (about 800 years ago) Yamato
Length of cutting edge20.3cm No curve Width of Base16.7mm Thickness of base5.2mm Whole length29.7mm
Entire length of fitting Koshirae : 37cm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate

with)Vermillion Urumi-nuri lacquered scabbard Dragon Aikuchi fitting

Blade construction : "Yamato Koken" of Ryo-shinogi-zukuri style Ken dagger created in an archaic style. There is less degree of tapering from base to the sharp point without Yokote ridge, Shinogi-ridge is high and thick in kasane holding massive volume. (click HERE for higher resolution of entire blade)
Forging (Hada) : Forging appearance is moistened Itame-hada mixing with Masame-hada flowing ware which is conspicuously kneaded and covered by sparkling glitter so called Ji-Nie crystallized mist and thick Nie lines so called Chikei activity that gushes out from steel.
Temper line (Hamon) : Hamon starts above Hamachi "Yakiotoshi" is rather on stronger side sparkling "Nie" hard metal granules based, in which interior is filled with condensed sparkling Nie-mist where is activated with abundant quenching scene such as double to frayed temper boundary lines or thick or short lines of Nie so called Kinsen of bright curved threadlike areas appears throughout temper.
Temper of tip (Boshi) : Temper of tip is symmetrical Yakizume that stops on Shinogi-suji ridge.
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is UBU unaltered, originally unsigned. Hammered Tsuchime-ji marks. The shallow chestnut Kurijiri heel. Two Mekugia-ana punches (upper is an initial original).

Tsurugi (Ken) dagger has been used as Buddhist fittings and implements used in practice religious austerities at a temple. The subject work holds an almost original shape from ancient Kamakura period. Tsurugi (Ken) daggers were made under devout worship of esoteric Buddhism and offered for high rank Buddhist priests by the sword makers who exclusively belonged to the biggest temples like Todai-ji 東大寺 or Koufuku-ji 興福寺, therefore most of them were made originally unsigned.
The sublime beauty of the arts from fine steel, abundant activities from quench process and also exquisite taste of patina deserve great praise with full of classical grace from 800 years history. An awe-inspiring view of this Ken has rarely met such an incomparable beauty from Kamakura period.

with)Vermillion Urumi-nuri lacquered scabbard Dragon Aikuchi fitting (click HERE for front/HERE for the other side /HERE for each fitting)
Gold ground Dragon decorative Mekugi
Yamagane copper Habaki collar, preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.
Old polish/Condition scale: very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)