Wakizashi: Nagasone (Kotetsu) 'Saidan Mei'
2017/01/28
Wakizashi in Shirasaya (NBTHK Tokubetus Hozon paper)
Signature : Nagasone Kotetsu
Saidan Mei : Kanbun 8 Nen 8 Gatsu 29 Nichi 2 Dou Saidan Yanamo Kankurou Naruhisa (Kao)
Shinto Saijosaku : Saijo Owazamono cutting test ranking.
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijo saku, Jojo saku, Jo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jojo saku ranking.
The blade is polished.
Habaki : Gold foiled copper Habaki
Blade length : 45.5 cm or 17.9 inches.
Sori : 1.2 cm or 0.47 inches.
Mekugi : 3
Width at the Hamachi : 3.16 cm or 1.24 inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 2.25 cm or 0.89 inches.
Kasane : 0.65 cm or 0.26 inches.
Era : Early Edo period.
Shape : Wakizashi with thick and wide blade.
Jigane : Ko-Itame-hada well grained with Mokume-hada mixed, deep Jinie attached with Chikei appear on surface.
Hamon : Gonome-Midare Kinsuji work well bright and wonderful Hamon.
Special feature : Nagasone Kotetsu were the craftman of Armor and Kabuto but came to Edo to become swordsmith and studied under Hojoji school.
He is famous for his researchs about iron and forged a lot of great Jigane blades. He used materials like old Kabuto, or the spikes found from ancient shirines and temples, and mixed with Tamahagane called Tatara-Tetsu and made extremely tough blades.
He had friendship between Yamanoka Zaemon, whom the teacher of Yamada Asaemon the first generation so the many Kotetsu blades were used for cutting tests.
I’ve seen several Kotetsu blades. Some person living at Hawaii showed me the blade with Saidan-Mei and the other one sold at auction at London was having so bright Hamon brilliant blade.
There are many Kotetsu blades as important cultural properties. Daimyo such like Tosa-Yamauchi clan, Owari-Tokugawa clan, Ii Naosuke the Tairo of Shogunate chose Kotetsu as Sasiryo.
(*Important : This blade takes a additional month or more for export, because additional registration is neccesarry for this item. Thank you for your understanding.)
NBTHK Tokubetus Hozon paper
Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.
Price : JPY ¥5,000,000-.
