Length of cutting edge 37.9 cm Curvature 1.0 cm Width of Base 30.2 mm Thickness of base 6.7 mm
Forging (Hada) : Forging is conspicuous Itame wooden grain mark in general, Masame ware mostly appears on Shinogi-ji. Sparkling Ji-Nie covers on Hira-ji where thick lines of Nie appears over the surface.
Temper line (Hamon) : Hamon is a bit on stronger side hard metal granule Nie-based, undulating Box-like-Gunome mixing with small Gunome or clove outline Choji. In the interior of temper, hard metal crystallized Nie accumulates on ravines of Gunome where thick lines of feet and short lines of Sunagashi frequently appears.
Temper of tip (Boshi) : Temper of the tip forms irregular line of Gunome sharpens up to form small circle where short lines of Nie, Hakikake appears that turns back deeply like a side view of "Jizou stone stature".
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is UBU, unaltered. V-shaped (Taka-no-ha) file marks. Double-bevelled (Kurijiri) heel in full. One retaining hole Mekugiana. The signature in front is clear chiselled grandly in full on Nakago, 4 large character of UJINOBU GAN'MAKU 氏信岩捲.
The Ganmaku 岩捲 school had arisen in Shimizu, Mino domain during the Daiei era (1521-27) in Muromachi period.
UJINOBU 氏信 is one of the most representative founders of Ganmaku school who served exclusively for Inaba Yoshimichi 稲葉良通, the lord of Shimizu castle and his descendants who moved to Owari domain in Edo period had been active in generations down to Kanbun (1661-72) era.
The subject Wakizashi is appraised as the 3rd generation of UJINOBU 氏信 who was active during Momoyama period of end 16th century.
It shows the typical style of Momoyama period so called Keicho-style and creates a majestic manner of heroic image by powerful Samurai to play for success.
Preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting, Single layer Yujo-style silver Habaki collar in gold plated.
Good old polish/Condition scale: excellent-very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data:
Suzuki Takuo/Sugiura Yoshiyuki, Muromachi-ki Mino-toko-no-kenkyu, Ribun shuppan, 2006
Sugiura Yoshiyuki, Mino-toko-meikan, Ribun shuppan, 2008
