|
Type |
WAKIZASHI |
|
Smith |
"KONO SADAMITSU" |
|
Papers |
|
|
Body Test |
|
|
Other |
SHINSAKUTO |
|
Sugata (shape, form) |
SHINOGI ZUKURI |
|
Mei (signature) |
URA: TAMA YAMANO GENTARO SHI, OMOTE: TOYO JU KONO SADAMITSU KIN
HORIDO SAKU |
|
Date |
SHOWA GO JU KYU NEN ROKU GATSU KITSU JITSU (06 / 1984) |
|
Nagasa (blade length) |
56.56cm (22.625") |
|
Overall length |
74.38cm (29.75") |
|
Mihaba (blade body width) |
3.28cm |
|
Kasane (blade thickness) |
0.625cm |
|
Sori (curvature) |
1.25cm |
|
Nakago shortening |
UBU |
|
Mekugi Ana (nakago holes) |
ONE |
|
Yasurime (nakago file marks) |
KEISHO YASURI |
|
Mune (blade back) |
IORI |
|
Hada (skin texture) |
TIGHT FINE KO-ITAME |
|
Hamon (temper) |
GUNOME MIDARE |
|
Boshi (point temper) |
KO-MARU |
|
Horimono Omote (front carving) |
SUKEN, BONJI AND FUTASU HI |
|
Horimono Ura (back carving) |
HATOHOKO WITH STANDARD, AND FUTATSU HI |
|
Habaki (collar) |
TWO PIECE GOLD FOIL |
|
Saya (scabard) |
SHIRASAYA |
|
Saya notes |
|
|
General notes (Photo by Ed Marshall, click below for more
photos) |
CUSTOM ORDER O-WAKIZASHI
This sword is technically an o-wakizashi (1 shaku, 8 sun, 6.7 bu)
and only lacks 1.5 inch being a katana. However, due to it's
mihaba of over 1.25" and kasane of 0.25" it feels like a katana
in hand. This sword was made in the tradition of Soshu Sadamune,
and has a strong, powerful sugata as one would expect. There are
wonderfully cut Horimono of Suken, Bonji, Hatohoko and Futatsuji
Hi. The hada is tightly forged Itame with bright ji-nie, and
reminds one of Hizen Konuka Hada. The Hamon is a wide and
billowing Gunome done in Nie Deki. A multitude of activity can
be found within the Hamon such as nijuba, inazuma, sunagashi,
kinsuji and ashi.
As previously stated, this sword was a custom order and was made
for "Yamano Gentaro", which is inscribed on the Ura Nakago. The
Nenki or date is inscribed into the mune of the Nakago. The mei
indicates that Sadamitsu not only forged the sword but carved
the horimono as well. The Mitsuya Mon of three arrow fletching's
is carved into the nakago.
A beautiful example of the quality of swords being produced in
our life time. This custom order O-Wakizashi was forged by the
sword smith Kono Sadamitsu. Kono Sadamitsu whose name is Kono
Hiroshi, resides and works in Fukuoka Japan. He was born in
1950, the eldest son of sword smith Kunimitsu. Upon graduating
college in 1975 he became an apprentice to Living National
Treasure, Gassan Sadaichi. In 1980 he was given the use of the "Sada"
character by his teacher Sadaichi. This was combined with the "Mitsu"
character from his fathers art name. In 1981 Sadamitsu became an
independent sword smith setting up shop in his home on the
Island of Kyshu, in Southern Japan. Sadamitsu enjoys working in
the Soshu tradition, especially replicating the works of
Sadamune, which is evident in this sword. He is also highly
skilled at carving Horimono. |
|
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