with) Black Ro-iro lacquered scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae
Length of cutting edge 69.2cm Curvature 1.3cm Width of base 31.5mm Width of Yokote 21.5mm Thickness of base 5.9mm
Forging(Hada): Kitae is outstandingly but well knead, generally Masame-hada and flowing Itame grain mark that form a queue indication so called AYASUGI-like pattern.The entire skin shows whitish UTSURI reflect. It is conspicuously active view against a backdrop of fine steel forging mark Masame and Itame.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is shallow undulating Notare in general, some knots of Gunome appears here and there. Hotsure fray and Ni-ju-ha double-temper line appears. Upper the Monouchi area, wider the temper that forms minute Gunome then takes the form of large Gunome at the Yokore.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi form a large Gunome at Yokote, wide in temper to form almost Ichimai whole area tempered.
Tang(Nakago): Suriage shortened unsigned, Three Mekugiana peg holes. Katte-sagari (slanting left) filemarks. Ha- agariKurijiri (uneven U-shape) bottom heel.
In the Medieval Period, Kaifu province (now in Tokushima pref.), there were more than 60 sword makers who succeeded legendary Yamato-tradition under the influence of Naminohira lineage from Satsuma province. Therefore some of KAIFU smiths followed NAMINOHIRA forging technique so called Ayasugi style like this example. Their major demands had come from naval service that gave first priority to actual cutting performance under armed sea force.
It is a matter of knowledge that the katana signed Ashu UJIYOSHI-saku 阿州氏吉作 is a special sword given the name Iwakiri Kaifu(Cut Rock Off kaifu) which is listed in Kyoho Special Book issued Hon'ami Kouchu.
This katana was recently judges as a work of UJIYOSHI 氏吉 by Japanese Sword Preservation Society. The nagasa currently measures around 70cm but the blade tapers less, have a shallow Sori and ends in a large Kissaki. This blade geometry appears the last years of Muromachi or very early Edo period assuming that warlike Samurai in dandysm preferred heroic shape like this example that reminds ancient Nanbokucho-style from 14 th C.
with) Black Ro-iro lacquered Scabbard Uchikatana Koshirae (clikc HERE for entire Koshiar/HERE for each fitting) is excellent condition.
- Fuchi/kashira : Leopard and tiger design, Shakudo ground, Nanako-ji surface, Takabori carving, Gold iroe, unsigned
- Menuki : Dragon design, Yobori carving, gold plated
- Tsuba : Dragon on wave design, Iron ground, Sukisage carving, Gold Nunome-style inlay, signed Jakushi 若芝
- Tsuka : White polished off flat layskin Gold silk cord Moro-Tsumami-maki style lozenge wrap
Good old polish/Condition scale: excellent - very good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data : Honma Kunzan/Ishii Masakuni, Nihonto meikan, Yuzankaku, 1975
