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Hamon : Hitatsura of the Soshu tradition mixed with choji-midare. The nioi-guchi is deep and very thick. Hataraki such as ko-nie, kinsuji and sunagashi are plentiful.
Boshi : Midare komi with kinsuji, inazuma, sunagashi and abundant ko-nie
Kitae : Stunning matsukawa hada mixed with uzumaki hada that becomes masame hada below the shinogi. Ji-nie and chikei can be seen everywhere.
Horimono : Goma hashi on the omote and a koshi bi on the ura.
Norifusa was the 15th generation descendent of the famous Soshu School Smith, Etchu Norishige, one of Masamune's ten students. Considering this blade's outstanding matsukawa hada, which is packed with chikei and ji nie, the jigane of Norishige can be said to be fully alive in this work. Norifusa is rated highly at 3.5 million Yen in the Tokotaikan ( page 501). Works that can be traced to Norishige are quite sought after and Norifusa's work in particular is very rare. This blade was polished by Jimmy Hayashi and the double gold foil habaki and shirasaya were both made by Brian Tschernega. Jimmy Hayashi apprenticed in Japan for eight years in the Honami school of sword polishing. The waiting list to have a sword polished by him is five years. Brian Tschernega participates at the NBTHK annual competition has received many Doryokusho and Yushusho awards. He has received the Tokusho award three years in a row and this indicates that he may be the next Mukansa. It is fortunate that top level artisans did the restoration work on this precious sword and the results are breathtaking.
The following is a translation of the Norifusa information on pg 501 of the Tokotaikan:
Norifusa Jidai: Meireki (1655), Area: Musashi, Ranking 3.5 million Yen [Etchu Kuni Fujiwara Norifusa] [Setsu Ju Fujiwara Norifusa, Ite Bushu saku kore] [Etchu Kuni Fujiwara Norifusa Fuji] Native country: Etchu. Norishige's 15th generation descendent. He made swords in Setsu, Tosa and became retained smith for the Mito-han making swords at the lord's estate of Koishikawa of Edo. His work style was dominantly Soshu with strong chikei that looks like Norishige's matsukawa hada and inside the ha a clear hada pattern can be seen. His hamon is of toranba style with big gunome midare. The nie and nioi are deep and the result of an expert smith (Jote) making gorgeous work. Active from the later part of Kanei (1624-1644) to Tenna (1681- 1684).
Price: $8950
Note : Hitatsura (full temper) hamon with abundant nie hataraki
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The Lineage of Norishige. The information below was painstakingly extracted from the Tokotaikan and Token Bijutsu #498, July 1998. A genealogy chart showing the important relationship of Norishige to the listed smiths has not previously been published in any book. This sword is by the second smith on the list, Norifusa, he is the 15th generation direct decendant of Norishige.
Please reference the article"Ura Nihon no Toko" by Yoshikawa Kentaro and make special note of the section concerning Kashu Yukimitsu and Hata Nagayoshi. The hamon of this Norifusa is fully tempered in the same way. The polisher's hadori skill presents this hamon with the flavor of a stunning gunome midare. This Norifusa is highly representative of the Soshu style smiths of Ura Japan in every way. Yoshikawa's article makes a wonderful compliment to its appreciation.
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Oshigatas of blades with a jiha like this Norifusa. These are from various NTHK magazines.
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Page 501 from the Tokotaikan. The two highlighted areas are the entry for Etchu Norifusa.
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