S63765(W3221)

Wakizashi signed UJINOBU

Shinto early Edo period (Gen'na era/circa1615-) Owari
Length of cutting edge42.8cm Curvature0.9cm Width of bas31.2mm Width of Yokote23.7cm Thickness of base7.2mm

 NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon) certificate

Blade construction : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. There is abundant thickness on base and swelling upper Fukura. The entire blade is heroically brave and heavy on hand. (blade weights 516grams including Habaki) (click HERE for higher resolution of entire blade)
Forging (Hada) : Jigane is Itame hada which is strongly vivid and lively active mixing in streaming Masame-hada on Shonigi-ji. Sparkling hard metal granules of Ji-nie appear over the surface.
Temper line (Hamon) : Hamon starts with calm slant Yakidashi on base and then large Gunome mixing in with Togari and slanting Choji outline creating Ō-midare which is lively active and varies in shape and height. The entire temper works with thick, coarse Nie and deep Nioi with frequent Sunagashi, Kinsen activities. The Hamon generates isolated Tobiyaki and Yubashiri and some overflows to the Hiraji and Muneyaki that appears throughout the back ridge. The entire Hamon is splendidly active with broad-minded Nie so called "Hitatsura".
Tang (Nakago) : Greatly slanting left Ō-sujikai file marks. One Mekugi-ana. The Kurijiri round heel-shape. There is thick chiselled character that reads UJINOBU 氏宣.
Temper of tip (Boshi) : The temper of Boshi forms entirely quenching "Ichimai" then deeply turns back that generates "Muneyaki" temper marks throughout along the back ridge.

The subject splended "Hitatsura" work is made by UJINOBU 氏宣, real name Kanshichiro 勘七郎. He had come from Seki-town, Mino province to Owari Nagoya and belonged to Bizen-no-kami UJIFUSA school 備前守氏房. He signed his works with chiselled inscriptions such as “Bishū-jū Ujinobu saku” 尾州住氏宣作 and “Bishū Nagoya-jū Ujinobu” 尾州名護屋住氏宣 and there are extant wakizashi dated "In the 2nd month of Genna 5 (1619)" and "In the 6th month of Genna 6 (1620)".
In Owari Province during the early Edo period, a martial spirit prevailed, and many swords display a robust and powerful style. Such massive and fat shape blade is a good example that courageous Owari Samurai still mostly liked such heroic Wakizashi.
This splendid Wakizashi has a wide Mihaba and a bold, imposing form, heavy on hand. The kitae shows a strong and well-refined Itame-hada with clear Ji-nie, containing Chikei. The magnificent "Hitatsura" hamon consists of large, Nie-based midare, with nie spilling into the Hira-ji to form Yubashiri, Tobiyaki, and Muneyaki - fully demonstrating the true merits of Owari Shintō. Its sound and healthy condition is also highly commendable.
The smith UJIBOBU 氏宣 surely made this wakizashi to meet with courageous Owari Samurais' requirement.
Copper base double layer gold foiled Owari-style Habaki collar, preserved in Shira-saya plain wood mounting.
reference data:
Owari Tōkōfu, Iwata Atou in 1985 Publisher : Nagoya city Board of Education