with) Black Roiro lacquered Snowflake concave Makie works scabbard Aikuchi style koshirae
Length of cutting edge22.7cm Inward sprout curve Width of base 23.2mm Thickness of base5.6mm
Forging(Hada): Itame mixing with entwined flowing Masame partly with Mokume mark. There is mottled Utsuri reflection in Hira-ji surface.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is Nioi base, rather small Nie sparkling glitter attaches, Gunome zigzag that varies in height and the summits of gunome radiate sparkling, mottled reflection into the Hiraji surface.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi is irregularly Midarekomi with medium circle deep turn back that generate side view of Jizou stone stature.
Tang(Nakago): Nakago is in UBU original. Two peg holes. Osujikai (greatly slanting left) filemarks. The signature in Hakiomote is five large character that reads Fuji Wara Uji Fusa Saku.
The first smith UJIFUSA, real name [Kawamura Kyouzaburo, the initial smith name KANEFUSA], was born in the 3rd year of Tenbun (1534) as the 3rd son of Seizaemon KANEFUSA in Gifu, Mino province. He officially was given the way of legitimate son of KANEFUSA from his elder brother Iwami-no-kami KUNIFUSA in the 2nd year of Kouji (1556) to chage his given name from Kyouzabuto to Seizaemon then moved to Seki town, Mino province.
In the 19th day, the 4th month, 13th year of Eiroku (1570) he enjoyed the official title of [Kiyozaemon-no-shuoi] and changed his smith name to UJIFUSA, then 3 days later he got an official district [Wakasa-no-kami] title granted by the Imperial Court.
He won the praise from the daimyo Oda Nobunaga to exclusively belong to him. In the 5th year of Tensho (1577) he moved to Azuchi castle town in Oumi province along with Oda Nobunaga to work exclusively as a vassal.
After the Incident at Honnō-ji (本能寺の変, Honnō-ji no Hen) referred to the forced suicide in the 21th day, the sixth month, the 10th year of Tensho (1582) of Oda Nobunaga, UJIFUSA returned to his home town Gifu with Oda Nobutaka's help then again came back to Kiyosu castle town under support of Sakuma Masakatsu. He passed away in the 11th day, the 5th month of Tensho (1590) at 57.
This tanto was made on after 1570, he changed his smith name [UJIFUSA]. From it's signature analyzation and shape of Nakago heel, it is understood that this tanto was made during his later period.
The attached Black Roiro lacquered Snowflake concave makie works scabbard Aikuchi style Koshirae consists of:
Silver polish surface ground metal works of Fuchi, Kashira, Aikuchi, Sashikomi-Menuki, Kurikata, Kawara, Kojiri, Kozuka and Kogai.
Black lacquered leather hilt wrap Killer whale (Shachi) Menuki ornament Shakudo Yobori, Gold Iroe inlay
Koganata signed Noshu-Seki KANEKADO
Traditional black Ro-iro lacquered scabbard shows a degree of transparent beauty with concave Makie works of snowflakes against sober silver metal shine add Gold killer whale (Shachi) menuki ornament stands out on frosted black leather wrap hilt.
The legitimate UJIFUSAs had been worked exclusively for Owari clan untill 5th generations middle of Edo period.
Old copper ground, gold layer habaki collar, preserved in a Shira Saya plian wood mounting.
