Make this at 66 years old
Length of cutting edge42.0cm Curvature1.2cm Width of base36.5mm Thickness of base9.0mm Width of Yokote30.2cm
Carving: Kata-chiri style Bo-hi grooves on both sides, of which tip ends lower at Yokote level.
Forging(Hada): Forging mark is basically fine Itame wooden grain using steel of superfine quality with the impression of bluish steel. Hiraji surface is covered with sparkling Nie glitter so called Yubashiri crystallized mist which overflows into the groove.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon stars with straight with minute irregular pattern, generates gentle wavy (Notare). Upper the blade, wider and larger the temper to create "A big notch of an arrow". The entire temper shape of both sides are well matched. Sparkling nie glitter accumulates thickly along temper peak, some overflows to the Hiraji-surface to generate Yugashiri sparkling mist.There shows slight Muneyaki (quenched marks on the back ridge) indication. In the interior of temper it is full of crystallized mist with rich activity of frequent Ashi feet and floating YOU activates.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi is straight with minute irregular pattern, medium circle turns back deeply to the back ridge.There is a Tobiyaki quenched mark of crescent-shaped moon in front and the reversed side is a mark of full moon.
Tang(Nakago): UBU, Two peg holes. Greatly Slanting left with horizontal Kesho filemarks. Uneven U-shape bottom heel. Round back ridge. The signature on Haiomote starts with the retirement pseudonym of Zenpakushu 前伯州, smith name NOBUTAKA 信高 then Nyudo(a Monk) 入道. and the reversed side is chiselled with his age Make this at 66 eyars old 生年六十六才作之.
The 2nd generation NOBUTAKA was born in Keicho 8, (1603) as a legitimate child of 1st generation NOBUTAKA 慶遊信高 in Seki-kaji town Kiyosu Owari domain. He had moved to Seki-Kaji town Nagoya (now in Marunouchi 3 chome, Naka-ku, Nagoya) in Nagoya castle relocation , the 2nd month, Keicho 15 (1610). He obtained official district title "Hōki-no-kami" , in the 29th day, 8th month, Kanei 10 (1633) at 31 years old then had exclusively worked for Tokugawa Yoshinao 徳川義直 and the vassals of the Owari Tokugawas with as much as a one hundred koku stipend.
He once announced his retirement in Kanbun 2, at 60 years old in order to abdicate in favor of his son officially but he still remained to the stage with the additionally signed monk name [Nyudō入道] at the end of his signature or add [Zenpakushu 前伯州] title on top. Passed away in the 27th day, 9th month, the 2th year of Genroku (1689), 87 years old.
The 3rd generation NOBUTAKA, Kawamura San-no-sho NOBUTAKA, who was born in the ninth year of Kanei (1632) in Nagoya, Owari, enjoyed Hōki-no-kami title when he was 34 years old at the fifth day, third month, the fifth year of Kanbun (1665). Also he was nominated in the fifth month, the same year, to work for the domain of Owari Tokugawa exclusively by the second feudal lord Tokugawa Mitsutomo 徳川光友.
During Kanbun/Enpo period in the middle of 17th century, there was large demand of swords from Samurais, who preferred stout and best cutting performing blades especially in Owari where Bushido was very vigorous. The smith Nobutaka proudly worked for a Bushido instructor of Owari Tokugawa, Yagyu Renya Shigekane(1625-1694) 柳生連也厳包 and have been prized by Samurais from long ago for their cutting ability as Owaza-mono (the best cutting performance).
This wakizashi, it is stout with outstandingly wide mihaba and exceedingly thick in kasane and heavy on hand. The age of 66 means Kanbun 8 (1668) that adds a historical value of this wakizashi and shows peculiarity of Nobutaka who closely worked for Bushido master Yagyu Renya Shigekane.
In reference to the other wakizashi signed [San-ami Mappa Houki-no-kami Nobutaka saku, Owned by Taira-uji Shigekane, kanbun 7, Autumn, Cut a Ichino-dou body with thigh at once, Two bellies cut through at once over a few SUN down into the ground] possessed by The Kuwana City Museum 脇指 『三阿弥末派伯耆守信高作 平氏厳包所持之、寛文七秋一之胴奥大桃灯一刃 二津胴快裁落之入平地数寸也』. This is an example of work which had been owed by Bushido master Yagyu Renya Shigekane and treasured by Owari Samurais holding brave spirit, and it is understood that smith Nobutaka was particularly skilled to meet with their requirement. Nakago holds a good taste of patina, remains clear filemark and chisel of signature.
Shakudo foiled Owari habaki collar, Preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.
An old good polish/Condition scale: mint-excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference data:
Iwata Atou Owari Tōkōfu 1985 Publisher : Nagoya city Board of Education
Kato Hiroshi Token Bijutsu vol.357 1986 Japan Sword Preservation Society
Wakizashi signed [San-ami Mappa Houki-no-kami Nobutaka saku, Owned by Taira-uji Shigekane, kanbun 7, Autumn, Cut a Ichino-dou body and thigh at once, Two bellys cut through at once over a few SUN down into the ground] possesed by The Kuwana City Museum 脇指 『三阿弥末派伯耆守信高作 平氏厳包所持之、寛文七秋一之胴奥大桃灯一刃 二津胴快裁落之入平地数寸也』.
