AS24849 Katana：Kurihara Chikuzen no Kami Taira Nobuhide Dated: August, Keio 3 (1867)(The 21st NBTHK Juyo Token)

Katana in Shirasaya with Koshirae (The 21st NBTHK Juyo Token)

Signature: Kurihara Chikuzen no Kami Taira Nobuhide
Dated: August, Keio 3 (1867)
栗原筑前守平信秀
慶應三年八月日

Shinshinto: Jyojyo Saku: Musashi
We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku and Regular Saku.
This work is ranked as Saijyo Saku among the works by Kurihara Chikuzen no Kami Taira Nobuhide.

Habaki: Double-layered, gold-plated
Blade Length: 2 shaku 3 sun 3 bu – 70.6 cm (27.80 in)
Curvature: 6 bu – 1.82 cm (0.72 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.20 cm (1.26 in)
Width at Tip: 2.29 cm (0.90 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.81 cm (0.32 in)
Sword Weight: 755 g
Era: Edo period, Keio 3 (1867)
Shape: The blade is wide, thick, and deeply curved.
Both sides have a bohi groove, and near the base is a dense and skillfully carved horimono.
Jigane: Small itame-hada with tightly packed small mokume-hada, well-forged and of excellent quality.
Hamon: Nie-deki gunome-midare with gentle jigane.
Inside the blade, sunagashi and kinsuji are active.
The boshi is midare-komi, ending in a pointed return.

Features: Kurihara Chikuzen no Kami Taira Nobuhide is often compared with Kiyomaro.
His work is characterized by a long boshi and active kinsuji.
This blade features a bohi on both sides, with a carved dragon and Kannon on the front and a Sanskrit character on the back.
He studied under Kiyomaro, who lived in Yotsuya, Edo at the time, and became his leading disciple.
His previous experience as a mirror craftsman benefited his horimono skills, laying the foundation for his intricate carvings.
He is also said to have studied under Kano Natsuo, and his carving style changed significantly after the first year of Meiji, becoming more shallow and rounded.
This sword is a fine example of his workmanship, with remarkable jihada and hamon, and carvings that exhibit Nobuhide’s unique style.
Interestingly, while Kiyomaro never carved into his blades, Nobuhide actively pursued horimono and took pride in his carving technique.
In any case, he became the top disciple of Kiyomaro, likely due to mutual trust and respect.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Large nagako iron plate with openwork wave design, featuring gold-inlaid trees.
Fuchikashira: Shakudo nanako base, with cherry blossoms and human figures.
Saya (Scabbard): Black striped design saya.
Menuki: High relief peony design, with gold iroe.

Aoi Art’s Comment:　It is believed that he ceased forging swords after the Haito Edict.
While he left behind many excellent blades and was one of the finest horimono masters, it is truly unfortunate that he stopped creating them.

The 21st NBTHK Juyo Token
Aoi Art estimation paper ： Whole Oshigata