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(日本刀ギャラリー) Nihontō Gallery

Koto Kanemoto Katana (古刀兼元刀)

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Nagasa (長さ): (2尺 2寸 8分)
Sugata (姿): (Shinogi-zukuri 鎬造)
Jihada (地肌): (Ko-itame 小板目)
Hamon (波紋): (Gunome-midare 互の目乱れ) (sanbonsugi 三本杉)
Mei (銘): (Orikaeshi-mei 折返し銘) Kanemoto (兼元)

Attachment: NTHK Kanteisho Origami (鑑定書折紙)

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A long sword (katana 刀) with a blade length (nagasa 長さ) of (2尺 2寸 8分) 27.2 inches or 69.1 cm. It has a refined (shinogi-zukuri 鎬造) shape (sugata 姿). The style of the outline of the tempered edge (hamon 刃文) is a specific type of (gunome 互の目) called (sanbonsugi-midare 三本杉乱れ). The hamon is done in a very fine crystal structure (nioi-deki 匂出来) intermixed with larger crystals of (nie 沸). The forging pattern (jihada 地肌) is a fine (ko-itame 小板目). The tempered edge of the tip (bōshi 帽子) is very well developed.

The katana is signed with an (orikaeshi-mei 折返し銘) turned back and folded over signature of Kanemoto (兼元). This sword passed the NTHK 2024 East Coast Shinsa at the Orlando Show. The official attribution is to a later generation of Kanemoto of Mino Province (後代兼元 美濃) circa the Tenshō (天正) Era of the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (安土桃山時代), which lasted from July 1573 CE through December 1592 CE. Kanemoto is one of the most famous swordsmiths of the Mino Tradition with many generations. The katana is fitted to a plain white wooden scabbard (shira-saya 白鞘) and gold foil habaki (はばき) for storage.


Provenance: Unknown purchased from a US based Japanese sword dealer.

Shinshintō Tantō (新々刀短刀)


Nagasa (長さ):  15.5 cm
Sugata (姿):  Hira-zukuri (平造)
Jihada (地肌):  Itame (板目)
Hamon (波紋): (Gunome-midare 互の目乱れ)
Mei (銘):  Omote: (Sashu Mikawa Tenseido 薩州三河天生土) 
                 Ura: (Meiji-ni mi ni-tsuki hi 明治二巳二月日)

Attachment: NTHK Kanteisho Origami (鑑定書折紙)

    

A (shinshintō tantō 新々刀短刀) polished in a sashikomei style. The undulating (gunome 互の目) pattern of the temperline (hamon 波紋) is very clear and bright. The temper pattern of the tip (boshi 帽子) shows a great turn back (ō-maru 大丸). The hamon consists of fine particles (nioi 匂). The actively literally meaning 'potato vine' (imozuru 芋蔓) is in and around the hamon and appear as dark horizontal lines. This is a characteristic feature is seen in Shintō and Shinshintō works by Satsuma Province swordsmiths. These type of short tantō were favored by the wives of samurai during the Edo Period. The fine blade collar (habaki はばき) is made of a single piece of silver foil with an applied texture over a copper base. It is stored in a plain wooden scabbard (shira-saya 白鞘).
This tantō passed the NTHK shinsa at the 2024 Orlando Show.  The signature on one side of the nakago is read "Sasshū (薩州) Mikawa Tenseidō (三川天生土)". The other side of the nakago is the date: "A Day in the second month of Meiji two (1869 CE), year of the snake" (明治二巳二月日).
 
Provenance: Purchased from the Tony Smith collection at the Tampa Show, March 2019. 

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