C16080(T3190) Tanto signed KANEFUSA
with) Black lacquered wrinkles leather wrap Chi'isa Katana-style Koshirae

Preserved in a Shirasaya Sayagaki written by a living National Treasure Hon'ami Ni'shu
NBTHK(Hozon)
NBTHK(Koushu Tokubetsu Kicho)
Koto End of Muromachi period (Eiroku era/circa 1558-) Mino
Length of cutting edge 29.5cm Curvature 0.3cm Width of base 26.8mm Thickness of base 6.1mm
Sugata(configuration) : Gallant Tanto of Hira-zukuri with Iori-mune. Upper the Fukura area is swelling out in full. Kasane is a bit on thicker side, wide in Mihaba with a slight upper curvature. (click HERE for higher resolution image)
Kitae(forging pattern) : Kitae is conspicuous Itame hada, mixing with streaming Masame ware. The entire steel shows darkish impression where generates whitish misty "Shirake-Utsuri" reflection.
Horimono(carving) : Futasuji-hi twin grooves which are chiselled half-way onto Nakago on both sides.
Hamon(tempering pattern) : Hamon is "Ko-nie" a bit on stronger side matching very well in both sides that varies lively in shape to form flamboyant Ō-midare that starts with short Yakidashi at Hamachi, undulating Notare that consists of Gunome and tall tassel-shape Choji or round-head tassels with slender waist so called "Kenbo-midare" 兼房乱. The quench Tobiyaki splashes over Hiraji. Slanted Cho-ji groups together to form as a box-like or like an earlobe-shape. The interior of temper is filled with misty sparkling Nioi where bright Nie of thick Ashi feet radiates into the cutting edge and brushing short lines of Nie so called "Sunagashi" and isolated dots of YOU appears here and there. The entire quench scene shows exquisite quenching activities of Nie and Nioi.
Boshi (tip): Boshi forms "Jizo's stature profile" medium circle turns back deeply.
Nakago(tang) : The Nakago is UBU original. One Mekugi-ana retaining hole. "Higaki" cross pattern file marks. "Kurijiri" uneven U-shaped heel in full. The signature is located underneath the Mekugi-ana two character KANEFUSA 兼房. The entire Nakago preserves clear mark of inscription with an excellent taste of patina.

During the Muromachi era, several generations of sword blacksmiths named KANEFUSA 兼房 lived in Seki town and had been the most famous and played one of the most major roles of sword production. Also they won the fame as it's Hamon so called " Kenbo Midare" 兼房乱 (slender waist, round head clove shape).
From the encyclopedia Nihonto Meikan 日本刀銘鑑, the founder KANEFUSA 兼房 was active in Eikyo era (1429-) as a son of KANESHIGE 兼重. However the earliest specific date of year is Bunmei 1 (1469) who is judged as a practical first generation.
KANEFUSA with date of year Bunmei 12 (1480) and 14 (1482) is provisional second generation and KANEFUSA with Iwami-no-kami 石見守 title of Daiei 7 (1527) is supposed to be the third generation.
The later generations in Koto period are Eiroku-Genki era (1558-72) as the 4th and the 5th generation of KANEFUSA would be active during Genki-Tensho era (1558-91).
Those KANEFUSAs of end Muromachi period are very good at quenching pattern of Kenbo midare and had a great influences on the other sword makers in Seki town.
Noble sword smith Wakasa-no-kami UJIFUSA 若狭守氏房 was born in the 3rd year of Tenbun era (1534) as the 3rd son of the 3rd generation of Iwami-no-kami KANEFUSA 石見守兼房 in Gifu. He won the praise from the daimyo Oda Nobunaga 織田信長 and exclusively belonged to him.
The subject stirring and powerful Hirazukuri tanto is possibly by the 4th generation KANEFUSA 兼房. There still remains wide in Mihaba, rich volume in kasane and massive in upper Fukura area where is swelling out in full. The bohemian quench from Soushu tradition produces natural beauty of unsophisticated pattern that shows a close resemblance to the works of Chougi 長義 during the ancient Nanbokucho period but shows his own peculiarity of Kenbo-midare partially. The SOUSHU tradition had been deeply admired by powerful clans during the Warning States of period.
For the age of exceeding 450 years or more, it's remains magnificent shape and shows rich activities of Nie and Nioi.
This KANEFUSA tanto was previously polished by a living National Treasure Hon'ami Ni'shu 本阿弥日洲 and his own written Sayagaki on 1962 and still remains very good condition condition up to now.

with) Black lacquered wrinkles leather wrap Chi'isa Katana-style Koshirae (click HERE for entire Koshirae and HERE for each metal fitting)
  • Fuchi/Kashira : KIKU chrysanthemum flower design, Shakudo cooper alloy ground Sukibori carving, unsigned
  • Tsuba : Karakusa arabesque design, Iron ground, polish surface, oval shape, brass,silver and copper inlay, Silver inner Fukurin rim on both Hitsu-ana, unsigned
  • Menuki : Autumn flower design, Copper ground, Yobori carving, Gold Iroe
  • Kozuka : Go-hiki SHISHI Leo design, ShakudoNanako-ji ground, Takabori carving, Gold Iroe, Gold Koberi rim, unsigned
  • Tsuka : black lacquered leather Ikkan-maki style wrap
Excellent old polish/Condition scale: very-good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
Preserved in a Shirasaya Sayagaki written by a living National Treasure Hon'ami Ni'shu 本阿弥日洲.
reference data :
Suzuki Takuo/Sugiura Yoshiyuki, Muromachi-ki Mino-Toko-no-kenkyu, Ribun shuppan , 2006
 
Tanto signed KANEFUSA
Tanto signed KANEFUSA
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