O92023(W5049)
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Wakizashi signed Awa-no-kami Taira TAKAMICHI

Shinto eraly Edo period (Kan'ei era/ca1624-） Owari
Length of cutting edge 44.0cm Curvature 0.8cm Width of base 33.3mm Width of Yokote 21.4mm Thickness of base 7.7mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate


Blade construction : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune, Wide in Mihaba, thick in Kasane holding harminized degree of tapering from base to extended medium Kissaki. Heroically heavy on hands (511grams without habaki)。（click HERE for higher resolution of the blade)
Forging (hada) : Fine Mokume-hada whereas the Shinogi-ji shows Masame-hada. Hiraji-surface is convered with sparkling Ji-nie glitter where works with darkish grain mark of Chikei-activity.
Boshi : Temper of tip forms a Gunome at Yokote line, then becomes straight line along Boshi and medium circle turns bacl.
Nakago : UBU original, One peg hole. Greatly slainting left O-sujikai Yasurime file marks and back ridge is flat where greatly slanting left Ō-sujikai file mark apperas. The heel of Nakago forms uneven U-shaped Ha-agari Kurijiri. On the obverse side near the ridge (mune), there is a long signature inscribed "Awa-no-kami Taira TAKAMICHI" 阿波守平貴道.

The first-generation TAKAMICHI 貴道, real name was Niwa Tazaemon 丹羽太左衛門, during the Keichō (1596-14) era hailed from Asano Village in Niwa District, Owari Province (present-day Asano, Ichinomya City), where was also the birthplace of Asano Yukinaga 浅野幸長, the lord of Hiroshima Castle in Aki province. He was a disciple of Ō-kanemichi 大兼道, also known as Mutsu-no-Kami Daidō 陸奥守大道.
During the Gen'na era (1615-23), after the establishment of Nagoya Castle, he set up a studio in Ikura-cho, Nagoya (present Nishiki 1-2, Naka-ku). He signed his works as “TAKAMICHI Tazaemon”貴道太左衛門 or “Fujiwara TAKAMICHI Tazaemon" 藤原貴道太左衛門.

The second generation, Harima-no-Kami Tachibana TAKAMICHI 播磨守橘貴道 was adopted by Niwa Tazaemon TAKAMICHI 丹羽太左衛門貴道. It is said that he specialized largely in crafting spears.

The subject work by the third-generation TAKAMICHI, he was the legitimate son of the first generation, known as Niwa Jubei 丹羽重兵衛. In the first year of the Kan’ei era (1624), he was awarded the title Awa-no-Kami 阿波守, assumed the surname Taira 平, and succeeded the family headship under the name Awa-no-kami Taira TAKAMICHI 阿波守平貴道.

During the Kan’ei to Enpō eras, there was strong demand for swords, especially in Owari Province where martial arts flourished. This led to a preference for robust designs characterized by wide blades, well-formed Monouchi of striking sections and a dignified, imposing shape. These swords embodied the grandeur expected of high-quality weapons used by Owari samurai.
The file marks on the tang and the chisel work of the signature remain well-preserved, with both the blade and Hamon retaining their sharp brilliance.

Fitted with gold-plated Koshi-Yujo style file marks Habakli collar, preserved in Shirasaya mounting.
reference:
Owari Tōkō Fu (Genealogy of Owari Swordsmiths), Nagoya City Board of Education, March 31, 1984 (Showa 59)