Nanban-tetsu-wo motte kore-wo tsukuru
with)Black Ro-iro lacquered scabbard AOI crest Koshirae
Length of cutting edge56.1cm Curvature1.5cm Width of base31.3mm Width of Yokote22.8mm Thickness of base6.8mm
Forging (Hada) : Hada is fine ko-itame which is precisely forged. Hiraji surface is covered in sparkling Ji-nie hard metal granules. There is uniform ji-nie, sparkling hardened granules over the surface that reflects irregular whitish Utsuri mist. The entire forging steel is vividly clear.
Temper line (Hamon) : Hamon is noi-based, Clove outline (Choji-ha), which varies in hight and shape, some of clove heads almost reach to the shinogi-suji ridge. Choji-feet ASHI appears and YOU dots float in the interior of temper. The entire temper creates gracefull impression.
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is UBU, unaltered. Osujikai greatly slanting left file marks, there is a little mass on the back ridge, Double-bevelled (Kurijiri) heel. One retaining hole. There is long signature that starts with the native place [Goushu-ju-nin], family name [Sasaki], then a Monk sign [Nyudo], clan [Minamoto] and smith name [Ippo], the revesed side is proudly chiselled in the cursive style [Nanban-tetsu-wo motte kore-wo tsukuru] (forged using an imported steel from Holland/Portugal).
Temper of tip (Boshi) : Temper line of the tip becomes straight along tip then medium circle turns back.
A smith IPPO belogned to the legitimate Oumi Ishido school and followed orthodox Bizen Ichimonji technique, the frontier first smith IPPO lived in Takagi-town, Oumi (now in Shiga pref) in early Edo period. The subject sword was made by the successor, the second generation whose real name is Sasaki Zenshiro. He had moved to Bushu province in his later period. Actually many of his works show Nie-based wavy temper line indication that would be strongly influenced by the other Osaka-related swords, whereas he follows legitimate Bizen-den with this sword. It is understood that this wakizashi was made in his later period in Akasaka, Bushu after he become a monk (Nyudo) and also extraordinally made using special imported steel, in his life work.
The Black Ro-iro lacquered scabbard AOI crest Koshirae consists of:
Hilt : White Rayskin, golden brown lozenge silk cord wrapp, Fuchi/Kashira AOI crests Takabori curve, gold Iroe, Menuki horsetail Yobori, gold Iroe.
Tsuba : Oborogin(copper alloy) Ginkgo leaves openwork, kebori, Gold Iroe
Kozuka : Shakudo(copper alloy) Guiver with AOI crest, Takabori, Gold Iroe / Wari-Kogai: A quiverful of arrows, Takabori, Gold Iroe.
Old double layers gold foiled Habaki collar, accompanies Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.
The top quality polish/Condition scale: mint - excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
KAWARA entry for Kogai remains tipped off when Kurikata was accidentally got off in past, where is purposely un-repaired because the whole old Ro-Iro lacquered scabbard has been changed to transparent amber due to the passage of hundres years and is full of a good old atmosphere.
