Wakizashi signed KANEMICHI-saku
O120417(W7358)
Koto End of Muromachi period (Eiroku era about 450 yeas ago) Mino
Length of cutting edge32.0cm Curvature0.4cm Width of base28.2mm Thickness of base6.1mm Width of Yokote23.8mm
Sugata(configuration) : Hira-zukuri, Iori-mune. Long tanto. There is a slight sakizori curve and fukura (upper cutting edge) is prominent. The entire blade is heroically made and stout. There is chiselled half way bo-hi grooves on both sides. (click HERE for super sized image)
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae-hada is outstanding itame hada mixing in with large mokume, entwined flowing masame hada. The surface is covered in with sparkling Ji-Nie activity that generates thick Nie lines of Chikei scene over the surface.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is Ko-nie based gunome-midare of which head is round and waist is narrow adding some tobiyaki temper spot marks here and there. Thick nie feet works toward the cutting edge. The interior of temper is filled in deep nioi and there is sunagashi works frequently.The entire temper gives off vivid and strong light.
Boshi (tip): The temper of the tip waves into medium circle then turns back deeply so called JIZOU shape.
Nakago(tang) : UBU un-altered, cross over (Higaki) filemarks and round kurijiri heel. One mekugi-ana. The signature in hakiomote is located in center, thick chiselled three character that reads Kane Michi Saku.
This is a work of smith KANEMICHI who named himself as the 9th generation Shizu Saburo KANEUJI. As seem from the subject wakizashi, it's workmanship, especially it's forging method has Soshu school technique although his own home Mino school favor can be seen from it temper pattern. He enjoyed Saemon-no-jo and Mutsuno-kami title in 1596 (12 th year of Eiroku) and changed his name O-Kanemichi or Mutsunokami Daido. His eldest son Iganokami Kinmichi established a Mishina school in Kyoto and had been flourished throughout Edo period holding a special privilege to nominate the title of sword smiths on behalf of imperial family. Also his second son Rai-Kinmichi, Third son Tanbanokami Yoshimichi and Fourth son Echunokami Masatoshi, all of them had become top famed and admired sword smiths. This wakizashi or extra sized tanto (Sun-nobi Tanto) was possibly made in earlier year of Eiroku period and its forging technique is true Itame under Soshu den and frequent thick nie lines shows the initial stage of SUDARE-ha workmanship (like bamboo blind). This is a representative works of KANEMICHI, a frontier of Mishina school pre Momoyama period
Copper habaki collar, Shira-saya mounting
Weight: 5000.00 gms
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