Sugata(configuration) : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Mihaba on base is wide and deep at Hamachi starting point of cutting edge, thick in kasane and abundant volume of Hiraji as well.There is ordinal curve leading to an extended large tip. It deserves special mention that the entire sword indicates full of majesty and remains an excellent condition. (click HERE for super sized image)
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae-hada is tight and fine precise Mokume (wooden burl) hada. The surface is thickly covered in with uniform/sparkling Ji-Nie activity that generates thick Nie lines of Chikei scene over the surface.The entire shinogi-ji surface shows Masame straight forging pattern.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is coarse Nie (hard metal granules) based and visible blinking Nie granules condense along the temper line. Deep Nioi mist works in the interior. The hamon starts with shallow Yakidashi, wavy indication mixing in with Box-shape so called "Hako-ba". The entire temper gives off vividly sparkling brirlliance.
Boshi (tip): The temper of the tip calms down into straight CHU-MARU medium circle then turns back regularly.
Nakago(tang) : UBU un-altered, V-shape (Takanoha) filemarks and V-shape "Iriyama" heel. One mekugi-ana peg hole. The signature in Tachi-style is located upper the shinogiji side, long character that starts with the place of work [Kaga-koku Kanazawa-junin] 加賀国金沢住人 then family name [Kinoshita] 木下 the smith name [KANETOYO-saku] 兼豊作 and the reversed side is chiselled the date of year [Quality forged In the 8 th month, Sheep, the 9 th calendar sign, Meiji 4th] and then proudly chiselled as [Made-toorder of Imperial Household Agency] 宮内省御用ニ付.
KANETOYO 兼豊 in Kaga province (now Kanazawa city, Ishikawa pref.), real name Kinoshita Jin’go 木下甚吾, was born on 15th day 3rd month 1831 (Tenpō 2). He was the younger brother of Kinoshita Jin'nosuke Kaneshige 木下甚之丞兼重. On 15th day 3rd month, 1866 (Keiō 2), he was granted the title of Ise Daijō 伊勢大掾. In the last days of the Tokugawa government, he inscribed his works with signatures such as "Kinoshita Fujiwara Kanetoyo Saku" 木下藤原兼豊作 or "Kinoshita Ise Daijō Fujiwara Kanetoyo" 木下伊勢大掾藤原兼豊.
He passed away on 10th day 7th month, 1907 (Meiji 40) at the age of 77. This sword was forged in 1871 (Meiji 4), when he was matured at the peak of his career at the age of 40. The inscription "Made for the Imperial Household Ministry" ("Kunaishō Goyō ni Tsuki") indicates that it was specially commissioned by the Imperial Household Ministry. After the Taisei Hōkan (the restoration of imperial rule), the Emperor Meiji arrived at the Tokyo Imperial Palace on March 28, 1869 (Meiji 2), marking the transfer of the capital to Tokyo. KANETOYO 兼豊 who had previously served the Maeda clan of Kaga, relinquished his appointment as Ise Daijō 伊勢大掾, dropped the Fujiwara 藤原 name of clan, and devoted himself to producing swords for the revived Imperial Household.
Examining the craftsmanship, the dense ko-mokume hada (small wood-grain pattern) and the meticulously executed hamon (temper line) with a combination of undulating patterns and Hako-ba (box-like tempering) on both sides reflect his refined skills. The dignified appearance with an elongated tip reveals a style influenced by Kanewaka 兼若 of the same province, showcasing this piece as an excellent work.
Comes with Yamagane Copper double layer Habaki collar. preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.
reference :
Kaizan Honma and Masakuni Ishii, "Nihontō Meikan", Yūzankaku, Shōwa 50 (1975)
"Kashū Shintō Taikan", Japanese Sword Preservation Society (Ishikawa Branch), January 10, Shōwa 48 (1973)
Note: The Katsukuni 勝国 lineage of the Darani school 陀羅尼 served the Maeda clan, feudal lords of Kaga Province. The lineage continued from the 2nd Katsukuni 勝国 to Yasuhira 泰平(originally Katsuie 勝家), then to Kanehisa 兼久, and finally to Kinoshita Jinnosuke Kaneshige 木下甚之丞兼重.
