Katana, Shirasaya

[ Signature ] omote : 兼元　ura : -

[ Size ]Blade length: 66.8 cm (2 feet 2 inches 0.4 cm), Curvature: 1.9 cm (0.62 cm), Width at the base: 2.98 cm, Thickness at the base: 0.53 cm, Width at the tip: 2.15 cm, Thickness at the tip: 0.39 cm, 3 mekugi holes, Blade weight: 595 g, Total length of shirasaya white scabbard: 96 cm

[ Province ] Mino

[ Feature ]
Form : Shinogi-zukuri, with an iori-mune ridge; standard width and thickness; deep curvature with a pronounced tip curve; the tip extends slightly.
Engraving : The engraving features straight grooves running along both the front and back surfaces.
Nakago : The nakago tang is advanced; the file marks slope downwards; the tip is cut off; there are three mekugi holes.
Jigane : The jigane has an itame-hada surface with some Mokume-grain patterns intermingled, flowing with a slight texture, showing ji-nie and a white reflection.
Hamon : The hamon consists of a mixture of interlocking and pointed patterns, with ashi footed sections; fine ko-nie is well developed, and fine sunagashi patterns are present.
Boushi : The boushi is irregularly shaped, Jizo-style, with a sweeping tip.

[ Highlight ] Magoroku Kanemoto is renowned, alongside Kanemitsu, as one of the leading swordsmiths of Mino during the late Muromachi period. Although the same signature was used by several generations of the family, the second generation—regarded as the most technically accomplished—is specifically referred to as ‘Magoroku Kanemoto’ and is highly prized by connoisseurs. This piece is attributed to Magoroku. Whilst it is based on the ‘Sanbonsugi’ pattern—a series of pointed, alternating hamon—which was a speciality of the Kanemoto family for generations, the movement of the wavy blade pattern is not uniform; instead, the tips of the alternating patterns are rounded, displaying variation. This is why it has been identified as a work by Magoroku. It has been advanced down to approximately three and a half sun in length, and it is thought that the original blade was over two shaku and five sun long. The strength of the signature characters is also a distinctive feature.

[ Conditions ] Polished. New shira-saya. There is a slight forging crack in the jigane near the tang on the reverse side. There is one small chip on the blade near the monouchi, point of cutting. Otherwise, it is excellent.

[ Attachments ] Habaki( suaka-ji, gold foiled, single), shirasaya, bag of shirasaya and NBTHK Tokubetsu hozon paper (issued on 15th Dec. Reiwa 5(2023))

[ Item number ] A080526 [ Price ] JPY 3,200,000- (shipping and insurance fee are not included in the price)

Copyright © 2009- Touken komachi All rights reserved.