well this is not something you see every day

[Darcy]

This is full length Kinai bori on an Echizen katana. The sword is very interesting and contains many sweet nugget hints of special things... I wrote about 3x longer than my longest article on this sword.

 

It will come out soon. Kinai horimono may not be to everyone's tastes but they are very original and a hallmark of this school. The theme on this katana is on 3 Juyo works by Echizen Yasutsugu and one Tokuju work. It is on one of the Nidai's as well.

 

This blade has a cutting test, and what seems to be a name, Sword of the Last Days. This is maybe some kind of invocation as it happens on these school blades when they were given to Honda Narishige.

 

This image would axblode the NMB so you just have to click.

 

http://www.nihonto.ca/echizen-sadatsugu/sugata-l.jpg

[Ken-Hawaii]

Darcy, the link says the image cannot be shown because it contains errors.

 

Ken

[Robert Housley]

The link worked for me.

Robert H.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Well, that is interesting. The image refuses to show up in Firefox, but works fine viewing it in an IE-rendered window.

 

What amazes me about that horimono, Darcy - besides the fact that it's the most extensive I've ever seen - is that the carving remains smooth even when it dips into the much-harder hamon.

 

Ken

[Toryu2020]

Truly something we do not see everyday.

 

Thank you for posting.

-t

[Robert Janssen]

thanks for sharing Darcy, truly amazing craftsmanship!

 

Would anyone like to enlighten me which is the other representation of the tree? I see bamboo obviously, but which tree or plant is represented on the other side?

[Ted Tenold]

It is a stylized plum tree (ume). Near the monouchi you will a group of five circles around a central sixth, which is the plum blossom. Another is about center the length of the blade.

 

The bamboo and plum, along with the cherry tree are the "three friends of winter" or "Shochikubai".

[ROKUJURO]

Darcy,

 

thank you for sharing these spectacular photos of a blade! Amazing!

 

I have never been very fond of HORIMONO except BOHI, but this is another exception! Especially the bamboo fits nicely to the shape of the blade. The execution of the plum tree very close to the HAMON is masterfully done.

 

In my opinion, the signature on the NAKAGO is in contrast to this work. It looks as if someone made his first trial with hammer and chisel!

[cabowen]

It is a stylized plum tree (ume). Near the monouchi you will a group of five circles around a central sixth, which is the plum blossom. Another is about center the length of the blade.

 

The bamboo and plum, along with the cherry tree are the "three friends of winter" or "Shochikubai".

 

Actually, the "three friends of winter" (shochikubai) are the pine, bamboo and plum as they do not wither as the cold days deepen into the winter like most other plants/trees...

[Ted Tenold]

Yup, you are correct. For some reason I had cherry trees stuck in my head when I answered. My bad...

[runagmc]

I've seen Shimosaka tanto and wakizashi with these horimono, but not a daito. Mei looks like Echizen Kuni Shimosaka Sadatsugu...

 

Can't wait for your write-up...

[Robert Janssen]

It is a stylized plum tree (ume). Near the monouchi you will a group of five circles around a central sixth, which is the plum blossom. Another is about center the length of the blade.

 

The bamboo and plum, along with the cherry tree are the "three friends of winter" or "Shochikubai".

 

Actually, the "three friends of winter" (shochikubai) are the pine, bamboo and plum as they do not wither as the cold days deepen into the winter like most other plants/trees...

 

Thanks for enlightening me guys, I'm actually very fond of the bamboo and plum theme on tsuba. Nice to see them in horimono as well.

[Guido]

I'm especially fond of this type of Shōchikubai … :D

[Darcy]

Darcy,

 

thank you for sharing these spectacular photos of a blade! Amazing!

 

I have never been very fond of HORIMONO except BOHI, but this is another exception! Especially the bamboo fits nicely to the shape of the blade. The execution of the plum tree very close to the HAMON is masterfully done.

 

In my opinion, the signature on the NAKAGO is in contrast to this work. It looks as if someone made his first trial with hammer and chisel!

 

Ah welcome to the wonderful world of Echizen signatures.

 

Actually a lot of koto smiths look like they were illiterate (probably were), and the "rustic charm" of these kinds of signatures is appreciated vs. the super perfect examples you will see from the mid Edo and later.

[paulb]

Hi Darcy

thanks for posting this. I am also a Koto lover. having said that one sword I sold some years ago I still remember with great fondness .It was a mumei wakazashi (23.5" ) and was a really beautiful thing. I was recently in touch with the current custodian and I am glad to say he continues to enjoy it.

I have just, within the last two days, sold an Echizen blade for a friend and again I was smitten by it. The shape, the horimono and the beautiful interaction between hada and nie make it a really beautiful sword.

I think it just confirms that there are really good swords throughout manufacturing history. regardless of when where and who made it every sword has to be judged on it's merits and not viewed with the prejudice of the stated intelligence.