Length of cutting edge 46.3cm Curvature 0.7cm Width of base 29.0mm Width of Yokote 19.5mm Thickness of base 6.2mm
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae is Itame hada mixing an indication of Masame in general. The entire steel gives off sparkling martensite particles of Ji-nie glitter that comes from fine steel quenching process where generates darkish gleaming lines so called Chikei activity.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is "Nie" rather on stronger side, starts with long undulating line of Yakidashi then ranges with small Gunome. Upper the blade taller the Hamon, bigger the Gunome and brighter the Nie further isolated spots or patches of Ji-nie so called Yubashiri quenching activity appear on Hiraji to form Hitatsura 皆焼 flamboyant quenching scene. The interior of temper is filled with misty sparkling Nioi where bright Nie of thick ashi feet radiates into the cutting edge and gleaming thick lines so called "Sunagashi" appears here and there crosses over the feet and also all over the Hitatsura isolated areas. The entire quench scene shows wide variety of Nie that comes from skilled forging activities from Senjuin school to prove his excellent workmanship.
Boshi (tip): Boshi forms Ichimai where gleaming lines of Kinsen or Hakikake appears frequently.
Nakago(tang) : The tang is UBU original. One Mekugi-ana retaining hole. "Katte-sagari" slanting left filemarks and the back ridge of Nakago is a bit contoured of "Ō-sujikai" filemarks. Kurijiri of U-shaped heel. The unique Rensho-tai style signature is located underneath the Mekugi-ana, along Shinog-suji that starts from the name of school Senjuin 千住院, title Izumi-no-kami 和泉守, name of clan Minzmoto 源 and smith name MORIMASA-saku 守正作. The entire Nakago preserves clear mark of inscription with an excellent taste of patina.
During the Edo period, the capital of Bushu Edo and the other castle towns flourished in peace. Not only powerful clans or high class Samurais but also wealthy merchants were mostly eager for artistic elements and praying for devine protection.
The subject Wakizashi with the inscription title SENJUIN 千手院 is a quite rare extant work of MORIMASA 守正 in the rank of JOSAKU "superior made" artisan. He was a distant descendant of Akasaka SENJUIN 赤坂千手院 during Nanbokucho period from Yamato province.
He joined to and learned from Izumi-no-kami KANESHIGE 和泉守兼重 with the famed fellow students of Kazusa-no-kami KANESHIGE 上総守兼重 and Nakasone KOTETSU 長曽根虎徹.
He enjoyed an official district title of Izumi-no-kami 和泉守 granted by the Imperial Court and initially had named himself as MORIMASA 守正 then reportedly changed his name as MORIKUNI 盛国 in his later age.
MORIMASA 守正 enjoyed top reputation who was tied for the leading swordmakers matching with Nakasone KOTETSU 長曽根虎徹, Kazusa-no-kami KANESHIGE 上総守兼重 and Yamato-no-kami YASUSADA 大和守安定.
Most of his extant works are inscribed including his source of origin SENJUIN 千手院 such as Izumi-no-kami Senjuin Minamoto MORIMASA-saku 和泉守千手院源守正作 like this example or Izumi-no-kami Senjuin MORIKUNI-saku 和泉守千手院盛国作.
Copper Habaki collar preserved in Shira-saya with Sayagaki plain wood mounting.(click HERE for front and HERE for reversed side)
Good old polish/Condition scale: excellent (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data : Honma KUNZAN/ISHII Masakuni, Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975
