Hitatsura temper?

[patrick7813]

Guys

 

I recently encountered a blade with hitatsura temper that was mounted in a shin gunto koshirae. I’ve never encountered a “full” tempered blade let alone one in gunto mounts. I’ve found a reference to hitatsura being favored by smiths in the Soshu (Sagami) province during the Kamakura (no question this blade is much later than that era). This blade was forged by Kanetsura, a smith about which I’ve been unable to locate much documentation.

 

My question is this: What is or was there a specific purpose of a hitatsura temper? It does seem to be “rare” in usage.

 

Cheers and thanks,

[cabowen]

It is not seen in Kamakura but in late Soshu works. It is rare.

[Brian]

Do you have a pic of the mei?

Kanetsura sounds odd. Kanetsuna maybe?

 

Brian

[runagmc]

I have never heard of any purpose for a hitatsura hamon... maybe it was done as an aesthetic signature style or something...

 

I believe the hitatsura hamon is considered to have been created originally by the Soshu smiths, Hiromitsu and Akihiro, around the middle of the Nambokucho era

[patrick7813]

Here's the mei. I'm fairly confident it's Nakano Kanetsura.

[Lance]

Looks like Kanehiro, Showa period? if so hiatsura would be rare for his time period, I don't think I've ever come across one. Love to see photos of the blade if possible.

 

Regards,

Lance

[bubba-san]

The Hitatsura Hamon means basically " little temper all over " . Or something like that .

 

As a swordsmith I have achieved it on several occasions . Its very tricky as the clay is applied kind of a little bit all over .. It can be very beautiful ...... James

[patrick7813]

Here's the best blade pics I have and I don't have the sword "in hand" now.

[kunitaro]

兼貫　kanetsura

中野栄三 Nakano Eizo

 

Hamon is very unique !

The shape of hamon looks like Shinto.

still very high, over shinogi at monouchi !

Ichimai-boshi.

[cabowen]

Looks oil quenched.

[patrick7813]

Chris

 

These pictures don’t do the blade justice. When held "in hand" there is activity in the hamon but no hada. I'm unsure about oil vs water quenched. Maybe folded, forged, water quenched from western steel (haven't ruled out oil quenched yet). I believe this is likely a Showa blade but the use of a hitatsura temper is a head scratcher.

 

Cheers,

[b.hennick]

@Adam L.

I have a Hasebe Kunishige blade (ex Han Bing Siong) that is hitatsura that predates those smiths as Kunishige was a student of Masamune.

[Jacques]

HI,

 

兼貫　kanetsura

中野栄三 Nakano Eizo

 

 

Showa guntô smith...

[runagmc]

Hi Barry, yes, I have also seen a few Hasebe blades with lots of tobiyaki that could probably be considered hitatsura... I guess I should have said Hiromitsu and Akihiro were the first smiths to use this type of hamon regularly (as far as I know), and it has become sort of a trademark for them...

 

BTW, I really like Hasebe work, and especially that of Kunishige, so you are a lucky man... Here is a good example of Hasebe Kunisige, which is a national treasure, with lots of tobiyaki

[kunitaro]

@Adam L.

I have a Hasebe Kunishige blade (ex Han Bing Siong) that is hitatsura that predates those smiths as Kunishige was a student of Masamune.

 

MMM. I know the blade !

That is very beautiful master piece !

It is different from this Kanetsura katana,

 

I don't know much about Gunto,

I just thought the SHAPE of the hamon looks like Shinto, not Koto style.

 

@Adam L.

That is "Heshikiri Hasebe" Kokuho.

[Brian]

I expect that this "hitatsura" was a mistake, and a result of whatever clay or medium they used falling off during the firing, and not a deliberate attempt at hitatsura. Looks Showato to me.

Just my opinion...I am open to correction.

 

Brian

[cisco-san]

I guess Jacques and Kunitaro are talking about this smith:

Kanetsura (兼貫), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – „Kanetsura“ (兼貫), civilian name „Nakano Eizō“ (中野栄三), born November 23rd 1922, he worked as guntō smith

 

edit: Sorry just saw now that the blade is already in the "For Sale or Trade" section, and Typo!

[teddf98]

I enjoyed this thread and know it's a few years old but I'll add some pictures of my blade with hitatsura Hamon. Sword smith whom isn't very popular but I could not pass up the beauty of this hamon. Mid edo period approx 1720's. Sword smith is Sukeharu. If anyone knows more about him or the time period in which he lived I'd love to know more. Thanks everyone. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

 

Credit Aoijapan.com for purchase and photos

[cisco-san]

Hi,

 

I am not sure, but I guess it is this smith - from Markus book:

SUKEHARU (祐春), Enpō (延宝, 1673-1681), Settsu – “Mino no Kami Sukeharu” (美濃守祐春), “Settsu-jū Minamoto Sukeharu” (摂津住源祐春), real name Kora Kyūtayū (小寺久太夫), he also bore the name Komiya Kyūzaemon (小宮久左衛門), nephew of Hanabusa Sukekuni (花房祐国), midare, notare, chōji-midare in Bizen style, notare-midare

[Jamie]

My favorite hamon style. They are almost all interesting to a degree but if you really like them study the early pieces Also. Hitatsura is an extension of yubashiri. The early pieces are remarkable and less forced than the later pieces.

Enjoy your study. This is a nice blade.

[george trotter]

Looking at the mei and the hamon characteristics I would agree with Chris B and those who named it to Nakata Eizo.

This smith, using the name Kanetsura and worked as a gunto smith in Seki. He was made a Seki swordsmith on Showa 18 year /12 month / 30 day (Jinsoo Kim list).

Hope this helps,

[Bugyotsuji]

Just for the record, So-Shu Oumi no Kami Sukenao could also also do a full Hitatsura katana, early to mid Edo. (Just held one the other day.))

[shibeni]

Hello, I add link to my Mumei Wakizashi with nice hitatsura hamon.Probably Mino.

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/20857-finded-in-militaria-show-koto-wakizashi-with-hitatsura-hamon/?do=findComment&comment=212578

Regards,

Bojan S.