"Sword Figure"
The blade has a shinogi-zukuri construction with an iori-mune (ridged back), normal width and thickness, and
a
slightly pointed/subdued fukura (bulge). The tang
is original and unshortened, bearing sujikai yasurime (diagonal file marks), and the nakagojiri (end of the tang) is formed in a shallow kengyō (sword) shape.
The jigane (ground iron)
has a wood-grain pattern mixed with fine wood-grain patterns, flowing from the edge of the blade and covered
with ji-nie (small crystals).
The hamon (temper pattern)
is a nie-deki notare-ba (undulating pattern) with a nie
-deki (nie-like structure)
along the edge, with vigorous sunagashi (sand-like patterns) and kinsuji (golden lines) within the blade. The bōshi
(decorative stripe)
follows the line of the hamon and returns in a komaru (small, round) shape.
"Detailed Characteristics"
Kunitoki, a swordsmith who lived in Yamashiro Province during the early Edo period, around the Kan'ei era, was known as a leading disciple of Horikawa Kunihiro. It is said that he served Kunihiro from the time Kunihiro lived in Hyuga Province, and later moved to Kii Province.
Because he often worked on Kunihiro's behalf, although his period of activity as a disciple was long, Kunitoki's existing works are extremely few and therefore rare.
This particular sword was forged by Kunitoki while he lived in Kishu Province, exhibiting a typical Kan'ei Shinto style, and boasts a long blade of 2 shaku 6 sun 1 bu. The steel has a wood grain pattern
mixed with fine wood grain, and the ji-nie (small crystals) are thick, showing the characteristic workmanship of the Horikawa school, and the hamon (temper line) is a wavy pattern with nie (crystals). Both the function of the blade and its state of preservation are excellent, making it a fine and impressive piece.
The koshirae (mounting) is also tastefully put together and in good condition.
Even among the few surviving works of Kuniaki Jōshū, those made in Kishū are even rarer, making this a particularly valuable sword.
Joshu-ju Kunitoki was a swordsmith active in Yamashiro Province around the Kanei era of the early Edo period, and is recognized as a leading student of Horikawa Kunihiro. He is said to have served Kunihiro from the time the latter lived in Hyūga, and later to have moved to Kii Province.
As Kunitoki frequently worked on behalf of his master Kunihiro, very few of his signed and attributable works survive today, making his swords exceptionally rare despite his long career as a disciple.
This blade was forged while Kunitoki was living in Kishū. It exhibits the classic Kan'ei shintō shape and boasts a notably long blade of 2 shaku 6 sun 1 bu.
The jihada is a Horikawa-school style itame mixed with ko-itame, richly covered in ji-nie, while the hamon is a splendid nie-deki notare-ba. admirable work.
The mountings are also tastefully assembled and remain in fine condition.
Even among the already scarce extant works of Jōshū-jū Kunitoki, examples forged in Kishū are particularly uncommon, making this an especially valuable sword.
"Koshirae"
Habaki: Double layer of plain copper with metal clasp.
Tsuba: Iron with a mokko-shaped design of a Chinese man.
Fuchi-kashira: Red copper with a design of autumn grasses and insects.
Menuki: Red copper with a design of a whip.
Tsuka: Rayskin with prominent nodules, wrapped in dark brown silk.
Saya: Black lacquered saya.
"Condition of the blade"
: Polishing: Good.
Damage: No damage that would be considered a defect.
Wakizashi
https://samuraishokai.jp/sword/25308.html
Wakizashi (short sword) Izuminokami Minamoto Kuniyoshi (Yamashiro Province, Shinto period )
|
Specially preserved sword
(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon)
, item number: sw25308
, price: 410,000 yen (JPY)
| | Blade length | 52.7cm (1 shaku 7 sun 4 minutes) |
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| Curve Sori | 1.0cm |
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| Width at the hamachi | 3.05cm |
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| Kasane Motoshige | 6.5mm |
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| Wide at the Kissaki | 2.1cm |
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| Saki Kasane | 4.5mm |
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| Mekugi (peg hole) | 2 |
|---|
| Jidai | Edo period ( around Enpō 1673 ) |
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| Country of origin | Yamashiro Province |
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