AS25359 Wakizashi: Tegarayama Ujishige(NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Wakizashi in Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Token)

Signature: Tegarayama Ujishige 手柄山氏繁 (Masashige, 正繁)

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

Habaki: Single-layered gold-foil habaki
Blade Length: 46.7 cm (18.39 in)
Curvature: 1.2 cm (0.47 in)
Mekugi Hole: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 3.06 cm (1.20 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 2.29 cm (0.90 in)
Thickness of rim (Kasane): 0.60 cm (0.24 in)
Sword Weight: 495 g

Era: the late Edo period, 18th century
Shape: Wakizashi with small curvature and long kissaki.
Jigane: Koitame hada looks like plain Jigane.
Hamon: Nie base Toranba-like Gunome midare with thick nioikuchi.

Features:　This swordsmith, Tegarayama Shigeshige, was active in Himeji and is thought to be the 4th generation Shigeshige, also known as Masashige.
Masashige was retained by Matsudaira Sadanobu, the lord of Shirakawa domain in Ōshū.
He is well known for creating dynamic Gunomemidare and this piece is also a splendid example, featuring a brilliant ō-gunome midare with a deep nioiguchi.

Koshirae:
Tsuba: Round-shaped iron tsuba carved with chrysanthemums.
Fuchikashira: Shakudonanako base carved with a dragon
Menuki: a picture of Samurai
Kozuka: Shakudo base with paulownia familycrest.

NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate
Aoi Art estimation paper with whole oshigata