H21574(T3243) Ken signed (chrysanthemum crest) Kaminariyoke Igano-kami Fujiwara KINMICHI Nihon Kaji Soushou	NBTHK(Hozon) NTHK(Shoshin "YUSAKU")
Shinto Middle of Edo period (Houreki era circa 1751-63) Yamashiro Length of cutting edge16.4cm Entire length24.8cm No curvature Width of base18.9mm Width of Yokote22.1mm Thickness of base6.4mm Thickness of Yokote7.4mm
Blade construction : Ken dagger of dignified style. Shinogi-ridge is high, width of Yokote is wide and thickness of Yokote is thicker than base. The entire dagger holds massive volume and solid on hand.(click HERE for higher resolution of entire blade) Forging (Hada) : Hada is moistened fine Masame-hada which is well kneaded and covered by sparkling glitter so called Ji-Nie crystallized mist and darkish Nie lines so called Chikei activity gushes out from steel. Temper line (Hamon) : Hamon is Konie-based, in which interior is filled with Nioi-mist and straight basic temper line is covered with uniform Ko-nie crystallized stripe, mixture with shallow wavy and minute irregular pattern. The entire temper shows the beauty of silence. Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is UBU, unaltered. shallow slanting left (Katte-sagari) file marks. The kengyo (V-shape) heel. One peg hole. The signature starts with the official Imperial Seal of Japan 16 petals of chrysanthemum flower crest 菊紋, Kaminariyoke (lucky charm - talisman) 雷除, an official district title Iga-no-kami 伊賀守, the clan Fujiwara 藤原 then smith name KINMICHI 金道. The other side is chiselled with the official title of power to appointment for official district title granted by the Imperial Court [Nihon Kaji Soushou - chief of Japan sword makers/日本鍛冶宗匠]. Temper of tip (Boshi) : Temper of tip is straight with brushing Hakikake activity and small circle turns back. Mishina-school, it's frontier KINMICHI 金道 had moved up to Kyoto along with his four sons in Bunroku 2, (1593) from Seki in Mino-province. They were the famed sword smiths so called [Mishina-sword smiths] who are Iganokami KINMICHI 伊賀守金道, Izuminokami KINMICHI 和泉守金道,Tanbanokami YOSHIMICHI 丹波守吉道 and Echunokami MASATOSHI 越中守正俊. The subject Ken was made by the 5th generation of Iga-no-kami KINMICHI who obtained Iga-no-kami title in Houreki 3 (1763) and worked until Kansei 11 (1799). His work was very popular to chisel Kaminariyoke (lucky charm - talisman) in the tang below chrysanthemum flower crest to keep evil spirits away. This dagger shows his excellent workmanship among ordinary articles and would guess that this Ken was custom-made, dedicated to Shinto shrine. Yusaku (excellent work) awarded by NTHK and NBTHK hozon certificate is added also. Silver Habaki collar, preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting. An old good polish/Condition scale: excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).