Kikuchi yari, Koshirae

[ Signature ] omote : no signature　ura : -

[ Size ]Blade length: 20.7 cm (6 bu 8 rin), no curvature, base width: 1.97 cm, base thickness: 0.95 cm, 1 mekugi hole, blade weight: 152.5 g, total length of outfit: 37.5 cm

[ Province ] Higo

[ Feature ]
Form : Forged in the ‘U-no-kubi’ style, with a thick layer of grain, of ordinary width, no curvature, and a slightly fukura-withered appearance.
Nakago : Raw stem, file-cut kiri finish, rising blade tip with a chestnut-shaped end, one mekugi hole.
Jigane : The jigane has an itame-hada texture with a flowing pattern, showing ji-nie and a whitish hue.
Hamon : The hamon is a straight blade with a tight nioi-kuchi, featuring small ashi and small nie.
Boushi : The boshi is straight, then slightly rounded, sweeping o outwards at the tip and curving back slightly.

Cloud-patterned, black stone-grain lacquered, stiletto sheath(aikuchi-koshirae)

[ Highlight ] The single-edged spears forged by Enju swordsmiths in Higo are known as Kikuchi spears; they are also referred to as the ‘Kikuchi Thousand Spears’ due to a legend that states they were issued to a vast number of soldiers. Although the *Higo Kokushi* states that its origins are unknown, legend has it that long ago, the Kikuchi clan commissioned the Enju swordsmiths to forge a thousand spears. Using two oni demons, they forged the Kikuchi Spears in a single night. An ancient well known as ‘Onimizu or Kisui’ remains on the site of the Enju swordsmith’s former residence; it is said that the oni shaped the red-hot iron with their bare hands, moulding it into spears as if crafting candy, then quenched the blades in the water from this well—such is the legend that remains in the local area of Shimizu-machi Naga, Kikuchi District, Kumamoto Prefecture. This piece features a thick layer of grain with a ‘cormorant’s neck’ profile and a slight degree of curvature, displaying the characteristic features of the Enju school on the base. It is mounted in a late Edo period ‘aikuchi’ sheath with a magnificent cloud pattern.

[ Conditions ] Already polished. Both blade and koshirae are excellent.

[ Attachments ] Habaki(suaka-ji, copper single), koshirae(w/o kozuka), bag of koshirae.

[ Item number ] A041225 [ Price ] JPY 350,000- (shipping and insurance fee are not included in the price)

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