Length of cutting edge70.3cm Curvature1.2cm Width of base30.7mm Thickness of base7.8mm Width of Yokote19.0cm
Forging(Hada): Forging mark is conspicuous Itame wooden grain mixing in streaming ware indication. The entire steel shows darkish blue impression where Ji-nie hard metal glitter covers on hiraji-surface generating Chikei-darkish Nie-lines scene.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is wide Suguha straight, Nie based of which temper line activates with Uchinoke, fray, frequent Ashi feet and small Gunome activity and the interior of temper is filled in mist-like crystalline area where is active with Kinsen thick lines of Nie, short lines of Nie, Inazuma bright curved thread-like or Sunagashi blushing-like areas. The entire blade is full of vivid and bright impression.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi is small circle turns back deeply to the back ridge.
Tang(Nakago): UBU, One peg hole. Osujikai Greatly Slanting left filemarks. Uneven U-shape bottom heel. Round back ridge. The signature on Haiomote starts with an official district [Hōkinokami] title granted by the Imperial Court, the clan [Fujiwara] and smith name [NOBUTAKA].
The smith Kawamura San-no-sho NOBUTAKA, who was born in the ninth year of Kanei (A.D.1632) in Nagoya, Owari, enjoyed Hōki-no-kami title when he was 34 years old at the fifth day, third month, the fifth year of Kanbun (A.D.1665). Also he was nominated in the fifth month, the same year, to work for the domain of Owari Tokugawa exclusively by the second feudal lord Tokugawa Mitsutomo. During Kanbun/Enpo period in the middle of 17th century, there was large demand of swords from Samurais, who preferred stout and best cutting performing blades especially in Owari where Bushido was very vigorous. The smith Nobutaka proudly worked for a Bushido instructor of Owari Tokugawa, Yagyu Renya Shigekane and have been prized by Samurais from long ago for their cutting ability as Owaza-mono (the best cutting performance).
This katana, it is long with wide mihaba on base, shallow curved and heavy on hand which was popular shape among Samurais in the early stage of Edo period. There is rich and conspicuous activity of large itame hada and streaming forging marks with ji-nie that glitters in the light. This is an example of the works which had been owed and treasured by Owari Samurais holding brave spirit, and is understood that smith Nobutaka was particularly skilled to meet with their requirement. Nakago holds a good taste of patina, remains clear filemark and chisel of signature.
Gold foiled Owari habaki collar (Upper shell is gold foiled/lower one is copper alloy shakudo), Preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.
An old good polish/Condition scale: very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor).
reference data:
[Owari Tōkōfu] Iwata Atou 1985 Publisher : Nagoya city Board of Education
[Token Bijutsu vol.357] Kato Hiroshi 1986 Japan Sword Preservation Society
