Sword: HEL/ARM.283

Awaiting location update

Maker(s)

Entities

Description

Sugata: [configuration]: moroha zukuri, slight curve
Kitae: [forging pattern]: fine ko-itame with discontinuous utsuri
Hamon [tempering pattern]: suguha with ko-nie
Boshi [tip]: ko-maru with hakikake and a long return leading to muneyaki
Horimono [carving]:none
Nakago [tang]: suriage, deeply curved-back, indistinct file marks, two holes, shallo kurijiri tip
Habaki [collar]: single silver
Nagasa [length of blade]:blade 25.4cm, tang 8.8cm, curvature 0.2cm
Koshirae [mounting]: tsuba-gatana mounting, black lacquered scabbard finely engraved with stylized snowflakes with an inlaid copper bird with details in shakudo and gold, the hilt bound with fine rattan, the kurikata, menuki, fuchi-kashira all with millet in shakudo and gold inlay, kozuka of shibuichi also with millet in high relief with gold inlay, the tsuba iron with stylized snowflake design and scrolling engraved and with gold nunome-zogan and a little detail in gold.

Dating

Muromachi Period (1336-1573)
16th Century
1500 - 1599

Note

The Inscription implies a 13th century smith, Kunimitsu, Kunitoshi, or similar of the Rai school, but the blade appears to 16th century.

Components of the work

Scabbard composed of lacquer ( black lacquer) copper ( decoration, including shakudo copper) gold ( gold inlay) rattan ( hilt binding)
Mounting composed of copper ( decoration, including shakudo copper) gold ( gold inlay)
Tsuba composed of gold ( decoration) iron
Collar composed of silver ( single silver)
Blade Length 25.4 cm
Tang Length 8.8 cm
Curvature Width 0.2 cm