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Hamon : Choji ko-gunome notare based on suguha. The hamon is ko-nie deki and packed with nie-hataraki. There are saka-ashi, ashi, nizumi ashi and yo. Sunagashi and kinsuji are present.
Boshi : Yakizume.
Kitae : Mokume mixed with masame that is nagareru and hadatachi. The forging pattern is clear and there is strong chikei and ji-nie throughout the entire ji. Clear midare utsuri can be seen below the shinogi-ji along the length of the blade. Tobiyaki is present in the monouchi and boshi.
About this sword : A fine Soden Katana by Bizen Osafune Shigezane. He was active around the Kenmu 1334-1338 nengo. Shigezane was the son of the shodai Morishige and the younger brother of Motoshige. Shigezane is said to have also studied under Sadamune. There are dated works from Karyaku (1326-1329) to Enbun (1356-1361). His early swords are in the style of Motoshige with slim miihaba and hamaguri-ba. His mature works have a powerful Nanbokucho style and Soden traits, such as this example and with saka ashi. This blade is nearly 3 cm wide in the lower monouchi, conspicuous Soden nie-hataraki fully present and with saka-ashi mixed in. There are tiny kiri-komi on the mune and the ha. This blade wears the badge of the battle field and it's amazing to think of the stories it could tell.
Shigezane is a Jo saku smith, ranked at 9 million yen in the Toko-taikan and ranked at Ryo-Wazamono by the Yamada testers for the cutting ability of his works. This katana has a charming old shira-saya with a wooden habaki that is integral to the tsuka. This is the way shira-saya were made in olden days and it is a delight to "shake hands" with past connoisseurs when one studies this katana. There is a wonderful sayagaki added by Tanobe Michihiro which is translated below. Accompanied by its NBTHK Tokubestu Hozon paper and a storage bag.
Sayagaki by Tanobe Michihiro
Bizen no Kuni Osafune Shigezane
Naginata-naoshi mumei nari. Korai doko wa Motoshige mon to mo ototo to mo tsutau honsaku wa Nanbokucho-chuyo no nendai shikamo jiba ni doko no tokushoku o shimesu kahin nari. Nagasa 2 shaku 1 sun 3 bu kore ari. Koretoki kinoe-uma chusho Tanzan Hendo shirusu (kao)
This is an unsigned naginata-naoshi. According to tradition, the smith was a student of Motoshige but it is also said that he was Motoshige's younger brother. The blade dates to the mid-Nanbokuchô period and is a masterwork with the jiba showing the characteristic features of the smith. Blade length 64.5 cm Written by Tanzan Hendo in February of the year of the horse of this era (2014) (kao)
$15,000
