katana signed Noshu-seki-ju KANENORI kore-wo Tsukuru Auspicious day December, the 51th year of Showa
Contemporary sword (Showa 51/1976) Gifu
Length of cutting edge 75.4cm Curvature 1.6cm Width of base 33.8mm Width of Yokote 23.5mm Thickness of base 7.9mm
Blade construction: Ubu original Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune katana. It holds well balanced moderate curvature of sori, rather on wider side mihaba and wide proportion of Hira-ji to Shinogi-ji. The blade does not taper less leading to the elongated large-kissaki. The shape reminds of Nanbokucho-revival blade but in it's shortened condition of Ō-suriage. (click HERE for higher resolution image of the entire blade)
Forging(Hada): Hada forms basis of minute Ko-itame and overall Masame impression. The entire steel gives off sparkling martensite particles of Ji-nie glitter that comes from fine steel quenching process.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is a bit on stronger side Nie base. Wide tempering boundary line varies in shape and flamboyant with Gunome, Togari-ha and clove of Choji midare that splashes onto Hira-ji so called Tobiyaki activity from place to place. The interior of temper is frequently active with Ashi emitting into the cutting edge and gleaming thick lines so called "Sunagashi" appears entirely crossing over the feet of Ashi. The interior of temper is filled with mist-like crystallize area deeply and vividly bright with sparkling Nie.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Temper of boshi forms slightly irregular midarekomi of gunome outline then medium circle turns back.
Tang(Nakago): The heel of Nakago is UBU original with one retaining peg hole. Shallow kurijiri heel and slanting left (Katte-sagari) filemarks, the back ridge of Nakago is flat with Katte-sagari filemarks. The large and thick chiselled inscription in front starts from the place of work Noshu-seki-ju 濃州関住 and smith name KANENORI 兼則, kore-wo Tsukuru 作之. The other side of Hakiura shows the date of year Auspicious day December, the 51th year of Showa (1976) 昭和五十一年十二月吉日.
Here is an important extant work by KANENORI 兼則 who was one of representative modern sword artisans in Seki city. His real name was Kojima Taro 小島太郎.
He was born in May, 1907, in Nagasumi-cho, Seki, Gifu pref. as a younger brother of KANEMICHI 兼道 (real name Kojima Tokijiro 小島時二郎).
He joined to the studio of Nihonto Tanren-juku 日本刀鍛錬塾 to learn from Watanabe KANENAGA 渡辺兼永 with his elder brother KANEMICHI 兼道 to acquire the technique of Mino-den tradition and became an official licensee of Japanese sword artisan nominated by the Agency of Cultural Affairs in February 7, 1969.
He continuously won prizes of "Nyusen award" in 8 times at the contemporary Japanese Sword Fine arts contests held by the Japanese Swords Preservation Society.
The subject brave sword was made when he was matured 70 years old and quite reminds us of Nanbokucho-revival blade.
Single layer silver Habaki collar, preserved in a Shira-saya plain wood mounting.
Original polish/Condition scale: mint-excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data: Ono Tadashi, Gendai-toko meikan, Kogei-shuppan, 1971
