A68954(W2787)
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Wakizashi unsigned attributed to a work of KANEFUSA (cutting performance inscription) On the 5th day of the 3rd month in the 19th year of Kan'ei (1642) at Edo Castle in Musashi Province as a result of a Tameshigiri performed by Ishihara Kos□hikonarimasa

Koto End of Muromachi period(Eiroku era/1558-) Mino
Length of cutting edge 39.2cm Curvature 0.7cm　Width of base 32.2mm Thickness of base 5.7mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate

with)Pipe stripe Vermillion Urumi-nuri lacquered scabbard Chisa-katana Koshirae

Sugata(configuration) : Hira-zukuri, Iori-mune, broad Wakizashi "Danbira" wide in Mihaba and upper Fukura area is swelling out in full. There is a slight Sakisori upper pointed curve. (click HERE for higher resolution image)
Horimono(carvings) : Bohi grooves on both sides which is chiselled half way to Nakago.
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae is fine bluish Itame-hada (wooden grain), mixing with streaming Masame ware along quenching side.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is "Ko-nie" a bit on stronger side Nie based, each group of medium gunomes and a tall sharp-head clove-shape joints together with wavy "Notare" line in general. The pattern of the Hamon on both sides is quite consistent. There are some indications of slender waist Gunome-midare of which head is round, so called [Kanefusa-midare] 兼房乱 and Yahazu a notch of an arrow, Togari-ha or box-shape Gunome. Some splashes into Hiraji surface so called "Tobiyaki". The interior is filled with misty sparkling Nioi where bright Nie of thick ashi feet radiates into the cuttign edge and brushing long lines of Nie so called "Sunagashi" crosses over the feet. The entire quench scene shows wide variety of Nie and Nioi that correspnds with forging pattern.
Boshi (tip): Boshi form wavy "Jizo's profile" medium circle turns back deeply.
Nakago(tang) : The tang is UBU original. One Mekugi-ana (retaining hole). "Higaki" crossing file marks. "Kurijiri" U-shaped heel. The "Tameshigiri" cutting performance test resut is inscribed in front to mention that "On the 5th day of the 3rd month in the 19th year of the Kan'ei era (1642), at Edo Castle in Musashi Province, as a result of a Tameshigiri (cutting performance test) performed by Ishihara Kos□hikonomasa, the blade cut through the Wakige (armpit hair area) down a depth of five sun (approximately 15 cm) into the clay mound 寛永十九年三月初五於武州　江城□脇毛深守土中五寸　石原小□彦成正（花押）.
(Kao seal)".

The subject broadsword Danbira wakizashi is perceived an additional inscription in 1642 (note) from a test cutting performance by a Samurai "Ishihara Kos□hikonomasa" that reads, "On the 5th day of March, Kan'ei 19th year, at Edo Castle in Musashi Province,cut through at armpit moreover down 5-sun (nearly 15cm) into clay mound.
The sword workmanship is likely influenced by the works of the Nanbokuchō period's Sōshū tradition. The configuration with a upper point curvature and a groove carved along the blade, indicates that it was a special order, likely intended as a companion sword to a long Tachi, with a focus on excellent cutting performance. The blade is forged with a streaming Masame grain near the cutting edge to enhance its cutting ability. The Hamon of "Kanefusa midare", typical of late Muromachi period Mino swords tradition, is richly textured with prominent lines of Nie of grainy martensite, giving it a wild and rustic appearance.
Based on its distinctive style and the characteristics of the tang, the sword has been appraised as the work of the famed smith "Kanefusa" 兼房 from the late Muromachi period.
During the Muromachi era, several generations of sword masters named KANEFUSA lived in Seki town had been the most famous and played one of the most major roles of sword production. Also they won fame as it's Hamon so called "Kanefusa Midare" (slender waist, round head clove shape). From the encyclopedia [Nihonto Meikan], the founder KANEFUSA was active in Eikyo era (1429-) as a son of KANESHIGE 兼重 but the earliest specific date of year is Bunmei 1 (1469) who is judged as a practical 1st generation. KANEFUSA with date of year Bunmei 12 (1480) and 14 (1482) is provisional 2nd generation and KANEFUSA with Iwami-no-kami 石見守 title of Daiei 7 (1527) is supposed to be 3rd gen.
The later generations in Koto period are Eiroku-Genki era (1558-72) as the 4th.and the 5th generation of KANEFUSA would be active during Genki-Tensho era (1558-91). Those KANEFUSAs of end Muromachi period are very good at quenching of [Kanefusa midare] and had a great influences on the other sword makers in Seki town.
Noble sword smith Wakasa-no-kami UJIFUSA 若狭守氏房 was born in the 3rd year of Tenbun (1534) as the 3rd son of the 3rd gen. Iwami-no-kami KANEFUSA 石見守兼房 in Gifu. He won the praise from the daimyo Oda Nobunaga to exclusively belong to him.
The subject stirring and powerful wakizashi is a sublime work by the KANEFUSA 兼房. There still remains broad Mihaba as well as swelling upper area of Fukura area in full. The flamboyant Hamon O-midare shows natural beauty of unsophisticated pattern that shows a close resemblance to the famed work during Nanbokucho period and adds his own peculiarity [Kanefusa-midare] which had been deeply admired by powerful clans during the Warning States of period.
For the age of 500 years it's remains magnificent shape and shows rich activities of Nie and Nioi.

with) Pipe striped Vermillion Urumi-nuri lacquered scabbard Chisa-katana Koshirae consists of :
(click HERE in front / HERE in the other side and HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/Kashira : KIKU/KIRI crest design, Oboro-gin cooper/silver alloy, unsigned
  • Menuki : double KIRI crest design, silver ground, Katabori carving
  • Kozuka : Botan/Shishi design, Shakudo ground Nanako-ji surface, Gold Suemon-inlay, Gold Hokion back plate, unsigned
  • Tsuba : KIRI crest design, Shakudo ground, Nanako-ji surface, Takabori Gold Iroe, Gold Fukurin rim, unsigned
  • Tsuka: White ray-skin, red-black silkcord Tsunegumi-ito Moro-tsumami lozenge wrap
Old silver plated Yamagane copper ground double layer Habaki collar, preserved in an old Shirasaya plain wood mounting
Old polish/Condition scale: very good - good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
There are some stains,slight rust and scratches due to old polish still enough to admire and those ware will be removed by skilled polisher in future.

(note) : The Shimabara Rebellion broke out in the 14th year of Kan'ei (1637), followed by the Great Kan'ei Famine (1641–42), which caused a significant increase in deaths due to starvation. This led to a population influx into the three major cities, including Edo, resulting in a deterioration of public order. In response to the soaring rice prices caused by the shortage, the shogunate ordered the daimyo to transport their stipend rice to Edo and issued a decree prohibiting the perpetual sale of farmland.
(note) : Some characters are unclear, represented by "□" in the translation paperworks
reference data :
Suzuki Takuo/Sugiura Yoshiyuki, Muromachi-ki Mino-Toko-no-kenkyu, Ribun shuppan , 2006
Iwata Ato, Owari Toko-fu, the Nagoya Board of Education, 1984