Zatoichi (Sword cane)

[jesse]

A couple of people asked me to show more pictures of one of my Zatoichi sword canes.  Well, here you go.

 

Warrior (Chikuma) 雷 守 Iga Mamoru Fujiwara Kimichi (Five generations) (Reverse knife sword)

Japanese blacksmith, master wakizashi maker,  Kikumon raijo iga_no_kami fujiwara kinmichi nihon-kaji-sosho] (5 generations)

This sword was forged in the Meiwa era during the Edo period (1764-1772).

 

Iga Moriguchido (the first generation) was the eldest son of Seki Kaneko, and in the 2nd year of Bunroku era, He came to Tokyo with his father and four brothers. 
Iga Morigokudo (the first generation) accepts orders subject to the order of Sengoku Takeshi from Tokugawa Ieyasu right before the Sekigahara battle, subject to the order to put the blacksmith of the capital under the control of the Kimichi, 
Tokugawa Ieyasu's It receives the charter of 'Nihon Kinzyu' by intercession. 
Kimicho is a prestigious family that was inherited from generation to generation and continued to the eleventh by the end of the Tokugawa period. 
From the fifth generation he adds two characters of lightning to the inscription.

 

It came with new Shirasaya and twisted/braided Koshirae.

Length 69.5cm

Length (cutting edge): 53.6cm

Kasane: 0.38cm

Mihabi: 1.16cm

Sori: 0.4cm (reversed)

Koshirae length: 99cm

 

 

[jesse]

I would like to see other members' Zatoichi blades so feel free to post.

 

And if I put this is the wrong section please let me where I should put it.

 

Warm Regards,

Jesse

[jesse]

One more thing.

It is not for sale.

 

Warm Regards,

Jesse

[ChrisW]

This is a lovely piece! Thank you for sharing it.

[Michaelr]

WOW WOW WOW. I have never seen one in person. Yours is BEAUTIFUL. If I owned it I would also be proud to share it but would also be following it up with your last line “ it’s not for sale “.  Very nice and thank you for sharing

    MikeR

[jesse]

Thanks guys.  I bought it from the E-Swords website in 2018.

 

Michael, where is NJ are you?  I spent many years in South Jersey, around the Atlantic City area.

 

Regards,

Jesse

 

[Michaelr]

Jesse I am in Central NJ, about 1 hour north of Atlantic City 

[John C]

Jesse:

Beautiful sword! You are indeed fortunate. Living in California, I couldn't own one if I did find one. They are illegal here (although I suppose one could remove the cane part and buy the blade only). 

 

John C.

[rematron]

Jesse, that is a beautiful sword.  The hamon is quite striking. Thank you for sharing the history and more photos of it.  I'm keeping my eyes out for such a treasure.

[jesse]

John and Jeremy, thank you for those kind words.

And I will keep my eye out for you Jeremy.  If I find something worthwhile, I will let you know.

 

Regards,

[drbvac]

I had a sword cane with a very narrow Japanese blade and nothing like this beauty but it looked like a cane with a silver handle and the koshira had birch veneer all over. I actually sold it to an old friend from England, Henry Reeves and the only one I ever saw other than this was an exact copy in a movie where the bad guy used it in a fight on top of a gantry crane at a dock !! I was very elegant and you could not tell it was a blade as it was straight and the blade was only a little over half and inch in width. Illegal here in Canada as well but should have kept it !

[Brian]

Someone was asking about Henry on the forum a few weeks back. Anyone know what became of him? He was a delightful old guy.

[drbvac]

I believe he has passed away Brian - I used to converse with him on Facebook as well and no longer   He was born in 1937 so would have been 85 this year but I think he died around 4 years ago = great guy = interested in many things 

[John C]

@Brian Brian: Is there a memorial forum where one could leave condolences, stories, anecdotes, etc. for members? Would that be something you could entertain?

 

John C.

[Stephen]

From the folks who were searching for him.

 

We found Henry living in Stoke on Tent, Staffordshire

[rematron]

@jesseDo you know anything about the forging of this blade?  I mean, of course it was a long time ago, but I'm curious if you've heard any opinions, expert or otherwise, about the blade shape.  I'm wondering if it was formed with a deeper curve and the intent was for it to straighten out at quenching and it didn't or if this was truly the intentional shape.  The latter is probably more likely. It's just such a unique design.

[jesse]

Jeremy, 

The blade was intended and designed as a Zotoichi.

It is a very cool blade with a ton of character.

[rematron]

3 minutes ago, jesse said:

Jeremy, 

The blade was intended and designed as a Zotoichi.

It is a very cool blade with a ton of character.

I guess what I'm specifically asking is if it was intended to have a forward curve.  

[rematron]

Also, I'm getting confused between the term 'Zatoichi' and 'shikomi-zue' or 'shikomizue'.  Zatoichi is just the name of that character if I'm not mistaken and the true name for the type of blade presentation or format is 'shikomizue'?  Or is the name of the character derived from the type of sword?

[jesse]

Jeremy, sorry about the confusion.  Yes, Zatoichi was a character (blind masseuse) in a couple of movies and tv shows.

Your are correct about the term as 'shikomizue' is the proper identification.

 

Warm Regards,

Jesse