O13232(W5079)
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Wakizashi signed Seki-ju KANEFUSA-saku with) Black Stone surface KIRI-mon crest shadow Makie scabbard Aikuchi-style Koshirae

Koto End of Muromachi period (Eiroku era/ca1558-) Mino
Length of cutting edge 31.5cm Curvature 0.3cm Width of base 29.3mm Thickness of base 6.2mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate

Blade construction: Hirazukuri, Iori-mune, Mihaba width is wide with puffy upper Fukura in full. The entire blade is full of brave spirits and strengthened (click HERE for super sized image of entire blade)
Horimono carving: There is parallel Bo-hi grooves in obverse and the reverse side is single groove, both chiselled half way onto the Nakago.
Forging(Hada): Kitae is well knead Itame wooden grains marks in general, mixing in with streaming Masame hada ware mostly along cutting edge. It shows bluish impression, where works with whitish UTSURI reflect over the surface.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon starts with short Yakidashi, Gunome zigzag of which head is round generally so called Kenbou-midare, partially sharpened up that varies in shape and height and entire Hamon both sides marching each other. Boundary line is filled in bright and vivid Ko-nie granules, especially deeply condensed on valleys of each Gunome, where works with Sunagashi busing streams and thick Nie lines against soft Nioi mist filled in the interior of temper. The entire Hamon gives off typical atmosphere in manner of traditional Mino-technique in 15 th century.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi is irregularly Midarekomi and small circle that generates Jizou-profile shape then deeply turns back along the back ridge.
Tang(Nakago): UBU, Two peg holes. Slanting left filemarks Sujikai. Ha-agari round shape bottom heel. The signature on Hakiomote starts with living place that reads Seki-Ju 関住 and smith name KANEFUSA-saku 兼房作.

Kanefusa 兼房 in Mino province, famed smith in Muromachi period had created the Hamon so called KENBOU-MIDARE 兼房乱　that is is narrow in the middle and round head like an octopus head. Some of Kanefusa 兼房 lineages had moved to Owari or Shinshu province.

This wakizashi reflects historical circumstances of Noble Samurais, that holds a true spirits of warriors, as a supplementary blade to the Uchigatana sword. The subject smith KANEFUSA 兼房, real name Kyozaburo京三郎 later changed as Kiyozaemon清左衛門, was born in the 3rd year of Tenbun (1534), lived in Seki-town. He changed his smith name to UJIFUSA 氏房, nominated a title of Saemon-no-shoi　左衛門少尉, then enjoyed Wakasanokami 若狭守 title 22nd, the 4 th month, 1 st year of Genki (1570).
He exclusively had worked for Oda Nobunaga 織田信長, moved to Kiyosu city then Azuchi town along with Nobunaga. Passed away 11 th day, the 5 th month 18 th year of Tensho (1590), was 57 yeas old.

with) Black Stone surface KIRI-mon crest shadow makie scabbard Aikuchi-style Koshirae
(Obverse – Close-up Photo / Reverse – Close-up Photo / Detailed Photos of Sword Fittings)
  • Scabbard : Black stone surface KIRI-mon crest Makie
  • Trust-in Aikuchi : Black stone surface, KIRI-mon gold Makie
  • Kashira : Jindai character, Iron ground, Gold inlay
  • Kojiri tip : Arabesque KIRI-mon design, iron ground, Gold inlay
  • Menuki : Noh mask design, made of bone, Gold Makie
  • Kozuka : KIRI/AOI mon design, Shakudo ground, Gold Iroe, unsigned
Good old polish/Condition scale: very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
Old silver foiled Shonai-style Habaki collar, preserved in Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.