with) Black Ro-iro decorated Silver Sakura Butterfly KIRIGANE inlay lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae
Length of cutting edge 68.7cm Curvature 1.3cm Width of base 30.2mm Width of Yokote 20.0mm Thickness of base 7.3mm
Forging (Hada) : Hada is fine Ko-Itame-hada which is well kneaded and some flowing ware is perceived. Sparkling glitter so called Ji-Nie crystallized mist covers on surface and darkish Nie lines so called Chikei activity gushes out from steel.
Temper line (Hamon) : Hamon is fine Nioi-based, in which interior is filled with Nioi-mist. Quenching boundary line starts with slope of Yakidashi then undulating Notare with small clove outline of Choji like KIKU flower.
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is UBU in original. Heel shape is IRIYAMA V-shape.Slanting left Suji-chigai with cosmetical Kesho file marks. Back ridge of Nakago is well contoured with Suji-chigai filemark. One Mekugi-ana peg hole. The inscription signature in front starts with a prefix of In'han-shin (a vassal of Inaba clan) φΛbAthe pseudonym Minryushi °΄q and smith name TOSHIZANE υΐ. The other side shows the date of year In the 8th month Bunsei 3rd ΆONͺϊ.
Temper of tip (Boshi) : Temper of tip becomes small clove Choji and medium circle in front whereas the back is small circle then turns back a bit on deeper side.
Hamabe TOSHIZANE lυΐ in Tottori, Inaba domain was born in Anei 6 (1777) as a legitimate son of master Hamabe TOSHINORI lυi. Real name Gihachiro VͺY.
He stands unlivaled in western Japan and was a dominant maker in his time to create KIKU flower pattern quenching techiniue and trained many pupils in the same league as Suishinji MASAHIDE Sq³G.
Initialy he named himself TOSHIKUNI υ before succeed the headship of HAMANO school then changed to TOSHIZANE υΐ on Kansei 9 (1797) when he was 20 years old. He became to add the the pseudonym Minryushi °΄q on after Kyouwa 1st (1801). Ranks "Superior Made".
Subject Katana is heavy on hands with prominent workmanship of his own KIKU flower quenching technique in his matured age 44 years old.
with) Black Ro-iro decorated Silver Sakura Butterfly KIRIGANE inlay lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae :
(click HERE for entire Koshirae in front and HERE for reversed side / HERE for each fitting)
- Fuchi/Kashira : Sakuragawa design Shakudo grouond Polish surface Gold inlay, unsigned
- Menuki : Large Sakura tree design Shakudo ground Katabori carving
- Tsuba : Sakura blossoms design Iron ground Sukibori carving Gold inlay unsigned
- Scabbard : Black Ro-iro decorated Silver Sakura Butterfly KIRIGANE mother-of-silver inlay
- Hilt : White rayskin Rouge silk cord lozenge warp
Silver double layers Habaki collar, preserved in Shirasaya plain woord mounting.
reference data :
ISHII Masakuni, HONMA Kunzan, Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975
