katana signed Nōshu-seki-ju KANETOKI kore-wo Tsukuru Auspicious day in the 2nd month, monkey, the 9th calendar sign of Heisei
Contemporary sword (Heisei 4/1992) Gifu
Length of cutting edge 74.1cm Curvature 1.8cm Width of base 35.7mm Width of Yokote 27.8mm Thickness of base 7.5mm
Blade construction: Ubu original Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune katana. It holds well balanced moderate sori, Mihaba is rather on wider side in high ratio of Hira-ji to Shinogi-ji. The blade tapers less leading to the elongated large-kissaki. The shape reminds of Nanbokucho-revival blade but in it's shortened condition of Ō-suriage. There is a pair of bo-hi grooves on both sides. (click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Forging mark is Itame wooden marks mixing with Mokume burl. Steel gives off the impression of Nie sparkling hard metal granules "Ji-nie" and darkish thick lines of Nie so called "CHIKEI" activity wells out from steel.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is a bit on tight side Nioi based, Notare of big wave mixing with large Gunome outline in which interior of temper is filled with mist-like crystallize area and emitting Ashi toward the cutting edge.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi forms irregular midarekomi of gunome outline then sharpened up indication turns back.
Tang(Nakago): The heel of Nakago is UBU original with one retaining peg hole. Shallow kurijiri heel and V-shape (taka-no-ha) filemarks, the back ridge of Nakago is slight-rounded contour with Ō-sujikai filemarks. The inscription on Shinogi-suji starts from the place of work Nōshu-seki-ju 濃州関住 and smith name KANETOKI 兼時, kore-wo Tsukuru 造之. The other side of Hakiura shows the date of year Auspicious day in the 2nd month, monkey, the 9th calendar sign of Heisei (1992)
Here is a specially-made katana by the KANETOKI 兼時 (1925 - 2005) who was a leading and representative sword artisan in Seki city, Gifu prefecture.
He continuously won numerous prizes in the contemporary Japanese Sword Fine arts Contests held by the Japanese Swords Preservation Society such as "Shorei award", 2 times of "Doryoku award" and 21 times of "Nyusen award" and held a Chairman of the All Japan Swordsmiths Association.
The subject brave sword is lager than usual using fine steel to understand that it was custom made when he was matured 68 years old and quite reminds us of Nanbokucho-revival blade of Shizu-saburo KANEUJI.
Double layer gold plated silver Habaki collar, preserved in a Shira-saya plain wood mounting.
Skilled polish/Condition scale: mint (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
