Wakizashi signed Hizen koku Kawachi daijo Fujiwara MASAHIRO
K1441(W8050)
Shinto Early Edo period (Kanei era/approx.370 years ago) Hizen
Length of cutting edge30.4cm Curvature1.0cm Width of base32.3mm Thickness of base6.4mm
Sugata(configuration) : Shobu-zukuri, Iori-mune. Mihaba is wide and there is massive thickness with an upper pointed curve. The entire blade is solidly made and stout. There is an elaborate carvings of Sou-Kurikara (a draft for a dragon entwined around a sword) in hakiomote and the ura there is Bonji carvings. (click HERE for super sized image)
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae-hada is well kneaded itame hada. The surface is thickly covered in with uniform/sparkling Ji-Nie activity that generates thick Nie lines of Chikei scene over the surface.The entire hada splendidly works with Nie activity which is vividly bright.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is strong Nie based and deep nioi that starts with narrow yakidashi pattern and then large gunome and box shape temper pattern or Yahazu (a notch of an arrow) shape varies in height and the condensed Nie around a pair of gunome appears like a [eyes of horsefly so called ABUNOME]. The interior of temper works with thick nie ashi feet and filled in with deep nioi. The entire temper gives off vivid and strong light.
Boshi (tip): The temper of the tip waves into KOMARU circle then turns back deeply.
Nakago(tang) : UBU un-altered, slanted left (o-sujikai) filemarks and V-shapel heel. One mekugi-ana. The signature in hakiomote is located shinogiji side, long character that reads Hizen koku Kawachi Daijo Fujiwar MASAHIRO.
This is a superb work of the first generation Masahiro, born in the 12th year of Keicho (1607), a son of Yoshibonu who was a-son-in-law of 1st gen. Hizen TADAYOSHI. His name is Hashimoto Sadenjiro, initial smith name Masanaga. In the ninth year of Gen-na (A.D.1623) when he was 19 years old, he had made a sword and demonstrated his prominent skill in front of the feudal lord Nabeshima Katsushige of Hizen-han and granted a smith name MASAHIRO In the 11th month, the 2nd year of Kanei (1625). In the 5th year of Kanei (1628), [or other different opinion is 18th year of Kanei (1641)], he enjoyed an imperial grant title KAWACHI DAIJO.
In compare with typical character of the major head family Hizen Tadayoshis' straight temper and Nashji precise forging ware, A leader Masahiro who belonged to a major branch family had made in the style of magnificent and extravagant Soushu-den school, especially strongly influenced by an old masterpieces of SADAMUNE or MASAHIRO in Soshu-province. The whole shape is stout and wide in mihaba, massive hiraniku. The entire Ji-Ha shows fruitful activity of Nie and Nioi. It seems from this wakizashi that he satisfactorily expressed an old-style Soshuden and would have close resembles to a famed work of Sadamune. The elaborate and accurate carvings on both side were possibly made by MUNENAGA or YOSHINAGA who belonged to a master Umedada Myouju. Passed away in the 5th, 2nd month, 5th year of Kanbun (1665), was 58 years old.
Gold foiled double layer habaki collar. Shira-Saya plain wood mounting.
Weight: 4000.00 gms
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