Tanto : Ushu O-izumi Ju Kiyondo Tsukuruno/Meiji 3 nen 2 gatsu Oite Tokyo
2017/01/28
Tanto in Shirasaya, with Koshirae (NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper)
Signature : Ushu O-izumi Ju Kiyondo Tsukuruno
Meiji 3 nen 2 gatsu Oite Tokyo
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jyojyo saku ranking.
The blade was polished.
Habaki : Gold single foiled habaki
Blade length : 22.8 cm or 8.97 inches.
Sori : 0.4 cm or 0.15 inches.
Mekugi : 1
Width at the hamachi : 2.12 cm or 0.83 inches.
Kasane : 0.60 cm or 0.23 inches.
Era : Late Edo period to Early Meiji Period.
Shape : This is very rare Osorakuzukuri made by Kiyondo.
There are Bo-Hi and Soe-Hi engraved on both sides.
Jitetsu : Koitame hada well grained iwth jinie attached. It is clear jigane.
Hamon : Nie Deki Gunome Midare. In Ha, there are Sunagashi and long Kinsuji work seen.
Special feature : Kiyondo was born in Uzen Shonai Atsumi Onsen which is now Yamagata prefecture(North east Japan).
At Kaei 5th year(1852), when Kiyondo was at age of 26th year, he has moved to Edo
to become the student of Minamoto Kiyomaro.
After being a student of Kiyomaro for two years, Kiyomaro commited suicide by the sword.
After Kiyomaro's death, Kiyondo has worked hard on paying back his mentor's
dept by forging 30 swords Kiyomaro has left to pay back for his dept.
This heroic tale of the noble sword smith repaying his mentor has been passed down until now.
This story shows how much Kiyondo has respected his mentor. For those story, Kiyondo is still a popular sword smith today.
He has received the post of Buzen no kami at Keio 3rd year.
This sword has been requested by the Honma family of Shonai ward to make sword.
The descendent of the Honma family is Honma Kunzan sensei
who has been a chairman of NBTHK sword museum.
This sword was a loved sword of his ancestors.
After war this sword was with the resided army at the time with the United States Armed Forces.
Generally speaking, most of Yari are not good quality like this item.
Koshirae :
Fuchikashira : Black horn, there are a few flaws around Koikuchi.
Saya : On the red color saya, family crest are engraved.
Menuki : On solid gold plate, tiger design is sculpted.
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper
Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.
Price : 1,550,000 JPY-
