Tokugawa Art

Samurai Sword,nothing finer,the best steel tools and arts ever made - aesthetics spirits of old Japan-

Wakizashi signed (Chrysanthemum crest) ICHI Yamashiro-no-kami Fujiwara KUNIKIYO

T201641(W5023)

Shinto Early Edo period (Kanbun era/about 350 years ago) Echizen
Length of cutting edge44.8cm Curvature0.9cm Thickness of base7.1mm Width of base33.0mm Width of Yokote23.4mm

NBTHK(Tokubetsu Hozon)

Sugata(configuration) : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune. Kasane is thick. Width on base is wide and one of the point is broad as well leading to extended middle point. The entire blade is brave and massive with thick kasane leading to a broad tip.
Kitae(forging pattern) : Fine ko-itame(tight wooden grain) in general. Jigane is thickly covered in minute ji-nie hard metal granules over the surface, delicate darkish chikei (small nie lines) which is delicately beautiful.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is Suguha straight mixing in of Kuichigai (fray), Niju-ha(double temper) indication, upper the blade, stronger and thicker the Ko-nie, where thick Nie-line (Kinsuji) and delicate Sunagashi blushing lines work.
Boshi (tip): Straight(sugu), with double temper indication in front, and medium circle gently turns back.
Nakago(tang) : UBU unaltered. Osujikai file mark. Round heel(Kurijiri). One ANA (retaining hole). The signature in Hakiura starts with KIRI (chrysanthemum crest), ICHI-monji, then Yamashiro-no-kami Fujiwara KUNIKIYO.
The first generation KUNIKIYO, initial name [SUKEMUNE], was born as a son of Shimada Hikohachiro SUKEMUNE during early year of Keicho (1600's), in Matsumoto, Shinshu province. He had come up to Kyoto to study under the great master KUNIHIRO to change his smith name as KUNIKIYO.
This is the work of 3rd generation KUNIKIYO who was a son of 1 st gen. KUNIKIYO's nephew (a son of younger sister). He enjoyed Yamashiro-no-kami title in the 11_th year Kanbun (1671) and officially succeeded the KUNIKIYO name the 1_st year Enpo (1673), passed away in the 7_th month 13_th year of Genroku (1700). The shape is urban and refined,and heavy on hands, wide and thick blade whereas uses the carefully selected fine steel, elaborate forging and tempering technique of blinking Ji-nie and Chikei activity with straight temper with classical grace. The entire blade has close resembles to a work of the ancient masterpieces in Yamashiro Kyoto.
In Echizen province, it is understood that YASUTSUGU lineage had enjoyed and chiselled an AOI crest from Tokugawa Shogun whereas KUNIYIYO lineage got the 16 petals Chrysanthemum crest from the Imperial Court, also the most of their works got the signature in Hakiura side, in the same matter of Tadayoshis in Hizen province.
Copper ground, gold foiled habaki collar.