AS26064 Wakizashi: Masahiro(attributed to Horikawa)(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Ordering Number: AS26430

Wakizashi in Koshirae(NBTHK Hozon Token)

Inscription (Mei): Masahiro(attributed to Horikawa)
正広（伝堀川）

We categorize our swords based on the craftsmanship into Saijyo-saku (highest quality), Jojo-saku (excellent), Jo-saku (good), and Futsu-saku (average). This piece is ranked as Saijyo-saku, indicating it is of the highest quality.
Polished.
Blade Length: 45.6 centimeters (17.95 inches)
Curvature: 1 centimeter (0.39 inches)
Mekugi-ana (peg hole): 1
Width at the Base: 2.98 centimeters (1.17 inches)
Width at the Tip: 2.28 centimeters (0.90 inches)
Thickness: 0.65 centimeters (0.26 inches)
Weight: 450 grams
Era: Edo period, around the Keicho era
Shape: A solid and well-crafted blade with appropriate curvature and a lengthening tip.
Jigane (forging pattern): Exhibits itame hada (wood grain pattern) with horikawa hada, showcasing the finest horikawa surface pattern.
Hamon (temper pattern): The hamon is choji midare with deep nie and fine sunagashi, exhibiting soft and fine kinsuji along the hamon edge.

Characteristics: This sword was approved by the examination of the Sword Museum as a work of the Horikawa (Kunihiro) school. In my personal opinion, due to the exceptional quality of the work, it is believed to have been crafted by a disciple of Horikawa Kunihiro.

Mounting (Koshirae):
Tsuba (guard): A wooden claw-shaped iron tsuba with high relief figures, adorned with gold coloration.
Fuchi Kashira (collar and pommel): Red copper ground with nanako texture, featuring high relief carvings of a cart, flower basket, and flowers, adorned with gold coloration.
Saya (scabbard): Black stone texture lacquered scabbard.
Menuki (ornaments): Menuki feature high relief carvings of flower baskets, adorned with gold coloration.
Kogatana (small utility knife): Red copper ground with nanako texture, featuring high relief carvings of flower baskets and flowers, adorned with gold coloration.

From Aoi ARt: At first glance, this piece appears to be the work of the Horikawa (Kunihiro) school, as the metal exhibits a “zanguri” texture, clearly reflecting the characteristics of the school. The deeply rounded choji midare hamon with a touch of sunagashi extends near the shinogi-ji area. Particularly, the soft and fine kinsuji along the hamon edge is marvelous, showcasing an extraordinary energy surpassing that of the master Kunihiro. We have determined that this sword belongs to the highest quality among the works of this swordsmith.

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

Please note: The price does not include the international shipping fees.