with) Black Stone-surface lacquered scabbard Onigawara Koshirae
Length of cutting edge58.2cm Curvature0.6cm Width of base32.2mm Thickness of base7.0mm
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae-hada is conspicuous fine Masame-hada in Shinogiji and Hiraji shows fine Mokume (wooden burl) grain mark of which surface is covered in sparkling ji-nie glitter that generates darkish small Nie lines along wooden grain so called CHIKEI activity.The entire steel is clearly bright and shows bluish and moistened atmosphere.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon generates Notare (wavy) outline,mixing in with Gunome. Fine Nie glitter falls on along the temper edge thickly and vividly bright, Thick shinning Nie-feet activates frequently and the interior of temper is filled in Nioi-mist.
Boshi (tip): The temper of tip in front is medium circle turns back and the reversed side adds Hakikake blushing indication.
Nakago(tang) : Original UBU with One mekugi-ana retaining hole. Kattesagari (slightly slanting leftward) file marks. Ha-agari Kurijiri (uneven U-shaped) heel. The signature in front is long character that starts from an official district [Harima-daojō] title granted by the Imperial Court, the name of clan [Fujiwara] and smith name [SHIGETAKA] and the reversed side is chiselled the place of work [Echizen-ju].
The first smith SHIGETAKA was born in Iida, Shinshu domain, moved to the major district Seki-city, Mino domain during end of Muromachi period to learn from smith [KANENORI]. SHIGETAKA accompanied his master KANENORI as far as Echizen domain. Up to the 3rd generation SHIGETAKA had enjoyed Harima-daijō title and 4th was Hyuga-daijō title. From the 5th to the later generations to 11th, No official district titles were enjoyed.
This sword is the work of 2nd generation SHIGETAKA. From such a heroic shape, durable, heavy construction and reasonable length shows that this sword was custom made by the special demand from the Samurai of martial arts. The works of SHIGETAKA shows close resembles to the works of YASUTSUGU in the same domain. There is a darkish forging loosen ware in the reversed side under the Yokote ridge, which is elaborately eliminated by a skilled polisher. The entire blade holds rich volume and thick in kasane and it is honored that this wakizashi accompanies with a nice old koshirae in the same age.
The Black Stone-surface lacquered scabbard Onigawara Koshirae consists of Shakudo Nanako-ji ground Onigawara motif Fuchi/Kashira and Menuki ornament. Shakudo Nanako-ji ground Tiger/Dragon Kozuka. Iron ground Double Dragon Nanban Tsuba. Stone surface scabbard with Dragonfly Kojiri ornament.(click HERE for the entire Koshirae and HERE for detail images)
Fresh polish/Condition scale: very good-good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor) condition.
Double layer habaki collar (upper is silver foiled/lower is shakudo ground). Preserved in a Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.
