M13116(T5992) Tanto signed HIROFUSA-saku
with)Tamenuri burgundy lacquered scabbard Higo-style Tanto Koshirae
NBTHK(Hozon)
Shin-shin-to End of Edo period (Ansei era /circa 1854-) Ise
Length of cutting edge 22.1cm No curvature Width of base 24.5mm Thickness of base 7.6mm
Blade construction (kengyo) : Solidly built and well-proportioned Hira-zuruki Tanto. Iori-mune in low, a bit on inward curve, Kasane on base is thick and upper Kissaki area is massively thick as well. Mihaba on base is a bit on wider side for the length and upper Fukura is swelling out in full. (click HERE for high resolution of the blade photograph)
Forging pattern (kitae hada) : Kitae hada is super fine Ko-Itame, strong and clear sparkling Ji-nie creates precise Chikei scene on surface.
Tempering pattern (hamon) : Hamon is fine ko-Nie base wide Suguha where sparkling Nie accumulates thickly in belt. Abundant small ASHI and continuity of floating dots of YOU appears in the interior of temper.
Temper of tip (boshi) : Boshi forms decent medium circle turns back deeply.
Tang (Nakago) : Nakago is UBU original. Osujikai(greatly slanting left) with Kesho dress filemarks. Ha- agari Kurijiri round heel shape. One Mekugi-ana peg hole. The signature in front is neatly chiselled in three character HIROFUSA-saku 廣房作.

Here is a Tanto by first generation HIROFUSA 廣房 in Kuwana, Ise domain (now in Mie pref.), as the first son of smith Mishina Touemon HIROMICHI 三品藤右衛門廣道. His ordinary name is Hanbei 半兵衛 with adopted name of "Gihousai 義朋斉".
He apprenticed himself with his younger brother Mishina Tokuro HIROMICHI 三品藤九郎廣道 to their master Koyama MUNEHIRA and MUNETSUGU 固山宗平・宗次 to learn Bizen-den tradition and set up his studio at Kaji-cho, Kuwana.
According to the reference of Nihonto meikan, his posthumous works with the date of year ranges from Kaei 5 to Meiji 2 (1852-69), passed away August 19, Meiji 18 (1885).

Decently dressed original Higo-style Tanto Koshirae consists of : (click HERE for entire Koshirae/HERE for each fitting)
  • Fuchi/kashira and Kojiri : Kiri/Karakusa design, Iron ground, gold inlay
  • Tsuba : Butterfly design, Iron ground, gold inlay
  • Wari-kogai : Meshwork jewels design, Iron ground, gold inlay
  • Kozuka : Dragon in cloud design, Iron ground, gold inlay with silver Kogatana
  • Tsuka : White rayskin, Shaludo Tome-kanagu of Butterfly design, Shakudo Menuki of Peony flower design, Iroe inlay
  • Saya scabbard : Burgundy transparent brushing luster "Tamenuri" lacquered saya
Original copper ground silver foiled Habaki. preserved in Shirasaya plain wood mounting.
Good polish/Condition scale: excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data:
Yagase Sei'ichi, Mie-ken-no Toko, 1976
Honma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni, Nihonto meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975
 
Tanto signed HIROFUSA-saku with)Tamenuri burgundy lacqured scabbard Higo-style Tanto Koshirae
Tanto signed HIROFUSA-saku with)Tamenuri burgundy lacqured scabbard Higo-style Tanto Koshirae
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