AS21681 Naginata: Hishu Kikuchi Ju Kuniie(Sue Enju)

Ordering number: AS21681
Naginata in Shirasaya(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature : Hishu Kikuchi Ju Kuniie(Sue Enju)
肥州菊池住国家(末延寿)

(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyo-jyo saku, Jyo saku, and regular
saku)
This sword belongs to the Jyo saku ranking.
The blade was polished.
Habaki: Gold foiled double habaki.
Blade length: 41.6cm or 16.37inches.
Sori: 1.7cm or 0.66inches.
Mekugi:2
Width at the hamachi:2.76cm or 1.08inches.
Kasane: 0.745cm or 0.29inches.
The weight of the sword:575grams.
Era: The early Muromachi period.
Shape: Otoko-Naginata. Very long Naginata.
Jigane: Koitamehada mixed by Mokumehada. It has lots of Jinie and vague Utsuri
appears.
Hamon: Niedeki, Ko-Midare from Hamachi, Nioikuchi gets deep from near Monouchi.
Hamon is high with broad Nioikuchi and goes beyond with deeper Nioikuchi.

Special Feature: Works of Kuniie with Mei are really rare and this is from the early Muromachi period. The Nihonto Meikan says that it is around the Joji era, and we suppose it would be correct. In any case, it is a magnificent Nagamaki work. We can see some sword smiths who were active in the Shitoku era with the name of Hishu Kikuchi Ju Kuniie, but Tsuruta thinks that it is from the late Nambokucho period.

From Aoi Art: This sword smith is the last sword smith of Enju school in the Nambokucho period. There is a loosening of Jigane but it is still appraisable. This is a really interesting work which we truly recommend for you.

NBTHK Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper: whole Oshigata by Ayaka Tsuruta