with) Red seaweed lacquered sheath Owari style Chisakatana Koshirae
Length of cutting edge28.4cm Curvature0.2cm Width of base27.0mm Thickness of base6.1mm
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae-hada is conspicuous Itame-hada (wooden grain) and Mokume (burl marks) mixing in. There shows Ayasugi wave motion indication. Hiraji surface is covered in Ji-nie that generates outstanding darkish Chikei hard metal scene and sparkling reflection effect over the surface.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon forms wide suguha straight in general, mixing in slight waves and minute irregular shape Komidare. The temper edge is deeply covered in with thick Nie and interior is covered in deep Nioi moist activity, where activates with thick Kinsen darkish Nie lines, Uchinoke or Niju-ha double temper indication. The entire temper is vividly bright and clear.
Boshi (tip): The temper of the tip generates HAKIKAKE brushing indication then small circle turns back.
Nakago(tang) : Original UBU which holds an original mekugi-ana retaining hole. Shallow Katte-sagari (slight slanging left) file mark. The shape of bottom is Kurijiri round. The signature in Hakiomote starts with the name of place Bun-shu-ju then smith name KIYOHIRA.
The smith KIYOHIRA in Bungo province (now in Oita pref.) had been active during Kanbun period according to the directory of TOSHO ZENSHU by Osamu Shimizu. He belonged to Bungo Takada school. The steel shows bluish indication mixing in with different nature of steel that comes from a small-sized "Tatara-buki" and "Oroshigane" furnace by sword maker himself with an intention to forge less times to obtain flexible but top cutting performance, therefore the entire steel shows full of an old atmosphere.
The original Red seaweed pattern lacquered sheath Owari-style Chisakatana Koshirae consists of:
Fuchi/Kashira set - Bamboo scene, Suaka (copper alloy) polish surface, gold inlay
Menuki - Hotei motif, Suaka(copper alloy) Yobori, gold inlay
Kozuka - Dragon Kurikara motif, Sukaka (copper alloy), Nanako-ji surface, Takabori
Kogai - Dragon and Tiger motif, Suaka (copper alloy), Nanako-ji surface, Takabori
Tsuba - Iron cross rectangular shape, Owari style hammered surface
Tsuka - hilt is black lacquered rayskin, gray indigo-blue lozenge Tumami-maki silk cord wrap
Habaki collar - Copper ground, upper shell is Choji clove open work with gold foiled and lower shell is cross engraving pattern.
Fine fresh polish, set in a new Shira Saya plain wood mounting.
