AS25111 Katana: Fujiwara Kuhinide (Enryusai Kunihide)(1847)(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Ordering number:AS25111

Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK Hozon Token) (Consignment Sale)

Signature:　
Oite Toki Koka 4 Nen 2 Gatsu Hi (February 1847)
於時弘化四年二月日
Soshu Tanho Motte 7 Mai Kitae Saku 相州鍛法以 七枚鍛作
(Made using the Sōshū forging method with seven-layer construction)
Fujiwara Kuhinide
藤原国秀 (Enryusai Kunihide)

Explanation: Fujiwara Kunihide made this Katana in February1847. Forged with Soshu method using 7-layer folding technique.

We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Jyo Saku for Fujiwara Kunihide.

Habaki: Plain copper
Blade Length: 62.4cm (24.57in)
Curvature: 2cm (0.79in)
Mekugi-ana: 2
Motohaba: 2.73cm (1.07in)
Sakihaba: 1.75cm (0.69in)
Kasane: 0.77cm (0.30in)
Weight: 595g

Era: Around 4th year of Kōka era (1847)
Shape: made in Unokubi-zukuri, with the shinogi in the upper half of the blade cut off. The blade has been suriage and Machiokuri.
Jigane: Ko-itame mixed with Itame and Mokume.
Hamon: Nie-base, Gunome with much Sunagashi. Boshi is hakikake.

Features: Enryushi Kunihide was a student of Nakayama Ikkansai Yoshihiro. Around the Tenpo era, he worked as a retained swordsmith for the Itakura family of the Annaka Domain in Kozuke Province, and later moved to Kamakura. Like his master Ikkansai Yoshihiro, he produced a strongly textured jihada reminiscent of Norishige. It is also known that Sakamoto Ryoma commissioned a sword from him. His jihada is primarily ko-itame, with distinctive areas of large, prominent grain appearing within it.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: made of iron
Fuchikashira: shakudo nanako base carved with clematis.
Menuki: a design of Saihai(Commander’s batton)

NBTHK Hozon Token Certificate
Aoi Art estimation paper: Whole Oshigata