UK Sword Register
No. 26
Type
Koto Wakizashi
Nagasa
49.2cm
Saki-haba
2.0cm
Moto-haba
2.9cm
Sugata
Shinogi-zukuri, Shallow Tori-zori, Chu-kissaki, Iori-mune.
Jihada
Itame-gokoro
Hamon
Nioi-deki, Togari-gunome, Nie-kuzure, the Boshi has a slight
Notare, Ko-maru and a short Kaeri.
Nakago
Suriage, 2 Mekugi-ana (one filled), Okuri-machi, signed
KANEMOTO
This sword has been shortened in the Nakago but retains the 2 character Mei and has had the Machi moved by approximately 7cm. It still Josun (correct length) for Wakizashi. The Jigane itself has a noticeable whitish colour and is Shirake-like. The Jihada is quite large and loose but becomes tighter towards the Monouchi area. The Hamon at first glance appears to be a typical Sanbon-tsuji (as indeed it was catalogued in the sale catalogue) and whilst it hints at this, on closer inspection it will be seen that there are many Gunome mixed in with the Togari-ba and it is far from a regular Sanbon-tsugi style of Hamon. This particularly applies at either end of the blade although in the middle the Togari are more pronounced. The Hamon is formed in Nioi with deep clusters in the Tani (valleys) where many short Sunagashi may be seen. The Boshi, with its Notare begins to look like Jizo Boshi, but like the Sanbon-tsugi, is not fully developed. The Hamon is strong and clear throughout and there is strong Masame in the Shinogi-ji.
This sword is Sue Koto in Mino-den and has the famous Kanemoto 2 character signature. The Shodai Kanemoto worked in Seki in Mino province and is believed to have been the son of either Kanekuni or Kanemune and he was active around the end of the 15th century. His son is known as Magaroku Kanemoto and is therefore known as the Nidai Kanemoto or Shodai Magaroku Kanemoto. It is this Magaroku Kanemoto, who lived in Akasaka in Mino, who established a high reputation for the Kanemoto name and is rated as Saijo-saku and Saijo Owazamono by Fujishiro. He is also credited with inventing the Sanbon-tsugi Hamon although, I believe few of his works show the fully developed style and they are more akin to the present swords's Togari-gunome-midare and it may have been later generations who are most commonly seen with this style of Hamon. Indeed it would seem that in the works of the Sandai Kanemoto (Nidai Magaroku) the Sanbon-tsugi was fully developed. This popular style of Hamon was used throughout the Shinto-Seki school and indeed, right into the Shin-Shinto era by swordsmiths working in Mino-den.
Whilst I am sure that the present sword is not by the Shodai Magaroku, as there are distinct variations in the Mei, I hesitate to attribute it to a particular generation and would rather say that it is either the Nidai Magaroku Kanemoto (Sandai Kanemoto) or a later generation of the Sue Seki smiths of this name.
This sword, with attractive Han-dachi Koshirae is ex Carlo Monsini collection.
Clive Sinclaire, Bexley, July '96.
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