In the 8th month, Enpō 2nd
Aged 63 years old
Length of cutting edge 32.2cm Curvature 0.4cm Width of Base 29.5mm Thickness of base 5.9mm
Forging(Hada): Kitae is conspicuous Itame mixing with flowing ware. The entire skin of Hiraji shows sparkling martensite crystals of Ji-nie to generate Itame darkish gleaming lines of Chikei activity.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon of boundary line starts with slanting short Yakidashi on base then picturesque tall Gunome and tassel-shaped Choji-midare . Hamon is a bit stronger side Nie base and ravine of boundary line is covered with a bit on stronger side sparkling martensite crystal of Nie and the interior is filled with mist-like Nioi. The entire Hamon is flamboyant active with sparkling Nie and misty Nioi.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Hamon of Boshi becomes calm straight of undulating Notare then medium circle turns back deeply.
Tang(Nakago): UBU in original. Two Mekugi-ana retaining holes (one is filledl with lead). Higaki crossing filemarks. Shallow round shape bottom heel of Kurijiri. Back ridge is flat with greatly slanting left of Ōsujikai filemark. The inscription signature on Sashi-omote starts with with an official title of Bungo-no-kami 豊後守, name of clan Minamoto 源 and the name of smith MASATOMO 正全 and the other is chiselled with the date of year In the 8th month, Enpō 2nd 延宝二年八月日 then starts new paragraph Aged 63 years old 六拾三才作
The smith MASATOMO(MASAYASU) 正全, real name Ishida Zen'zaemon 石田善左衛門 in Owari (now in Nagoya) was active during Kanbun to Enpo era (1661～80) . He was descended from MASATOSHI 正利 of Itakura-Seki 板倉関 school from Koto Muromachi period. After apprentice himself to the Mishiha school 三品派 of an experienced master Igano-kami KINMICHI 伊賀守金道, he had set up his own studio at Teppomachi town, Nagoya.
The subject brave Ko-wakizashi features a rather on the larger, wider side and a bit on thinner in Kasane to perform superb cutting performance to play supplement usage of the Shinogi-zukuri Katana. Impressively flamboyant Hamon among similar works from 17 th C in central Owari domain. Tang of Nakago remains excellent taste of patina in 350 years. Vibrant inscription signature is full of enegy and it's date of year 1674 with it's age at 63 years add histrorical value of this article.
Copper Habaki collar, preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting.
Good old polish/Condition scale: very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data :
Iwata Ato, Owari-To-ko-fu, 1984
Ishii Masakuni/Honma Kunzan, Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975
