UK Sword Register

No. 38

Oshigata no38.jpg (52,117 bytes)

Type
Gendai Katana

Nagasa
64.3cm

Moto Haba
2.9cm

Saki haba
2.0cm

Sugata
Shinogi-Zukuri with extended chu-Kissaki. Low Iori-mune, shallow Tori-zori.

Jihada
A compact and fine ko-mokume with some masame particularly visible on the lower part of the omote.

Hamon
Saka-gunome midare in nioi-deki. Many thick nioi-ashi extended to the ha-saki. A small amount of sunagashi in the habaki-moto. The boshi is slightly midare-komi with chu-maru and a short kaeri

Nakago
Ubu with one mekugi-ana. Yasurime are o-sujikai with kesho finish. The mei is on the omote and reads HOKKE SABURO NOBUFUSA

This sword is believed to have been made in the first part of the Showa period (about 1940). It is a sword of the 7th generation Nobufusa, but is dai-saku and dai-mei by the 8th generation. That is to say that it is both made by and signed by the 8th generation whilst he was substituting for the 7th generation who died in 1958. This swordsmith has been discussed extensively in recent issues of the Programmes so I will confine myself to comments simply on this sword.

The sword appears to be quite a masterpiece of modern swordmaking, equal to and better than many shinshinto works. It has a strong shape that is similar to that of Keicho shinto and good balance, giving the impression that it would be an effective weapon. It is also in an excellent state of polish which enables it to be fully appreciated. The jihada is very healthy and is mainly an attractive, compact and homogenous ko-mokume which has no flaws or tata-ware. Towards the lower end of the sword, on the omote side, a larger, slightly undulating, masame-hada is visible. The shinogi-ji is also in masame.

A distinct feature of this sword is the many ashi that are present, mostly slanting and in many cases reaching right down to the ha-saki or fine edge of the blade. These, like the rest of the hamon, are formed of nioi and for the most part are very thick and wide. They form many slanted gunome, which in a few cases appear more like choji. There are few other hataraki visible other than a small amount of sunagashi right at the beginning of the hamon (in the habaki moto) on the omote side of the blade. The hamon reminds one somewhat of the kataochi gunome of Kanemitsu or the saka-choji of the Fukuoka Ishido school and is skilfully constructed and controlled whilst still giving a natural and unaffected impression. The boshi is slightly midare-komi and on the ura there is a small tobiyaki which looks as though the head of a gunome has slightly separated from the main hamon and on this side, although ko-maru, the boshi has the feeling of being slightly pointed.

The nakago is well formed and has sujikai yasurimei that are finished in a kesho style. These are slightly rubbed on the omote but perfectly preserved on the ura style. The inscription, which is in a semi-cursive style seems to have been confidently carved with a fairly wide chisel. I wonder if "HOKKE" is a reference to the Nichiren Buddhist sect?

 
Copyright ©1996 Clive Sinclaire. All rights reserved.
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