Wakizashi, Koshirae

[ Signature ] omote : (Aoi hollyhock crest 葵紋)康継於越前作之　ura : -

[ Size ]Blade length: 53.6cm (1 shaku 7 sun 6 bu 8 rin), Curvature: 1.5cm (4 bu 9 rin), Base width: 2.91cm, Base thickness: 0.64cm, Tip width: 2.05cm, Tip thickness: 0.47cm, Pins: 1, Blade weight: 518.5g, Total length of koshirae with mountings: 85cm

[ Province ] Echizen

[ Feature ]
Form : Shinogi-zukuri with an an-mune profile, standard width and thickness, with a slight curvature and a medium-cut tip.
Nakago : The nakago tang is raw, with a file-marked finish sloping downwards. The tip is sword-shaped, with one mekugi-ana (peg hole). The habaki (blade mount) features an aoi crest (hollyhock crest) carved at its base.
Jigane : The jigane (base metal) exhibits a grain pattern intermingled with wood grain, showing a slight grain prominence, with ji-nie (fine surface texture) and chikei (fine surface lines) finely appeared, the colour being a slightly dark grey.
Hamon : The hamon (temper line) is in a straight pattern, shallowly undulating, intermingled with gunome-head patterns, with a deep nioi (temper line pattern) and small nie (temper line).
Boushi : The boshi (tip) is a straight small maru (round tip), sweeping finely towards the tip. It undulates shallowly, possessing a Mishina-style character.

[ Highlight ] The third-generation Yasutsugu of Echizen, known as Shiroemon, was the third son of the first-generation Yasutsugu, founder of the Echizen Shimosaka school of swordsmiths. The first-generation Yasutsugu, who initially served the Yūki family of Echizen, forged swords before Shoguns Tokugawa Ieyasu and Hidetada around the eleventh year of Keichō. As a reward, he was granted the hollyhock crest and the character “Yasu”. Thereafter, the Yasutsugu family alternated their service between Edo and Echizen every year. When the second Yasutsugu passed away, his biological son, Umasuke, was only seventeen years old. Consequently, a faction emerged advocating for Shiroemon to inherit as the third Yasutsugu, leading to a dispute over the succession. The matter was resolved by dividing the inheritance: Umasuke inherited the Edo Yasutsugu family, while his uncle Shiroemon inherited the Echizen Yasutsugu family. Thereafter, the two Shimosaka families settled and served separately in Edo and Echizen. This work follows the style of the second generation, featuring a grain pattern with intermingled grain and grain-like texture, a slightly raised surface, and a blade pattern combining a straight-edged style with shallow, wavy, interlocking hamon. The tang bears the flowing inscription ‘Echizen-ni Oite’.

[ Conditions ] The blade is in its original ground state, showing only very slight traces of minor rust and pitting, but is generally in good condition. The mounts exhibit partial flaking on the white shark-skin handle wrapping and the lacquered scabbard.

[ Attachments ] Habaki(suaka, double), koshirae, bag of koshirae and NBTHK hozon paper (issued on 15h Dec. Reiwa5 (2023))

[ Item number ] A040925 [ Price ] JPY 550,000- (shipping and insurance fee are not included in the price)

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