H63012(W5013)

Wakizashi signed KANENOBU with)Brown Wrinkles-leather style lacquered succabbard Chisa-katana Koshirae

Koto end of Muromachi period (Eiroku era / circa 1558-) Mino
Length of cutting edge : 31.8cm Curvature : 0.3cm Width of base : 26.7mm Thickness of base : 6.0mm

NBTHK(Hozon) certificate


with)Brown Wrinkles-leather style lacquered succabbard Chisa-katana Koshirae




Blade construction: Hira-zukuri, Iori-mune, Extra long Sun'nobi style Tanto. A bit on thicker side in Kasane and there is less tapering toward upper Fukura swelling in full. The entire blade holds heroic and brave impression. (click HERE for super sized image of entire blade)
Carvings(Horimono): Bohi-grooves whichi is chiselled half-way into Nakago.
Forging(Hada): Kitae is conspicuous Itame-hada and partial Mokume burl grain indications with streaming Masame grain mark along temper side. The steel surface gives off whitish shimmering UTSURI and is active with darkish Chikei lines that appear corresponding to Itame and Mokume.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon starts with short Yakidashi on base, tall slanting Gunome and Clove outline that face each other in dirrerrent angles and shape. Temper edge is covered in uniform Nie and the interior is filled in with whitish Nioi mist activity. Sunagashi and Kinsen Nie lines streams repeatedly rich in activity.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi in front is lively tempered like a flame up then deeply turns and the other side is irregular Gunome then medium circles turns back to form the profile of JIZO stature.
Tang(Nakago): UBU in original. Two retaining Mekugi-ana holes. Higaki crossing filemarks. Round bottom heel. The signature in front is two large characters that reads KANENOBU 兼信.
A founder KANENOBU 兼信 who was active during Enbun era (middle of 14 th century/Nanbokucho period) is said a son or a pupil of the famed smith SHIZU KANEUJI 志津兼氏. The subject smith KANENOBU 兼信 is judged as a descendant of KANENOBU 兼信 who had moved to Seki town to meet with large demand from major powerfull feudal lords. The magnificantly shaped blade still remains ample thickness to keep an almost original shape since middole of 16 th century while the Warring States period. The entire steel is darkish blue that gives off whitish Utsuri mist reflection that would come from iron feature along Tozan-do or Hokuriku-do region during Muromachi period. Under dandhysm spirit from feudal warlord of the Warning States period, Soushu tradition forging technique has a great influence on this work whereas quenching temper techinique presents a typical Mino school. In view of Nakago, it grows excellent taste of patina, remaining clear HIGAKI crossing filemarks as well as powerful lively graved inscription.

with) Brown Wrinkles-leather sytle lacquered scaabard Chisa-katana Koshirae
(clikc HERE for entire Koshirae in front, HERE for the other side and HERE for each fitting)
  • Identical metal fittings (Fuchi/Kashira,Koikuchi, Ura-kawara, Kojiri) : Iron ground polish surface Gold Nunome-style inlay bearing the crest of KIRI
  • Menuki : crest of tripe KIRI, Katabori carving, gold Iroe
  • Kougai : Iron ground polish surface Gold Nunome-style inlay bearing the crest of KIRI and KARAKUSA arabesque, unsigned
  • Kozuka : Iron ground Amaryu dragon design, Gold, Shakkudo, Silver inlay, Shakudo back plate, signed MASASHIGE 銘 政重
  • Tsuba : JIMON woven pattern design, Iron ground, Polish surface, Gold Nunome-style inlay, unsiged
  • Tsuka : White rayslin, Nando gray indigo-blue silkcord Moro-tsumami-maki style lozenge wrap
Single layer Brass Habaki collar, preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting with Sayagaki