A very interesting sword made by Kanetaka. This katana has a wonderful hamon that is very lively and loaded with hataraki/activity. The mixture of the activity and overall balance in this hamon make it a very fine example of Kanetaka work. You can find much ji-nie and temper in the ji area. Its very difficult to give a good example of the hamon in the pictures because of the older polish. I can only say that in hand its much more beautiful than the pictures can show. The hada is ko-itame and is very well forged and has no flaws. This katana is in an older polish with some scuffing but has no serious rust.
As for the mounts/koshirai, they are original to the sword. They came directly from the WWII effort. The handle is obviously the older katana handle with it’s fitting that date back over 100 years to the Edo era. The habaki is of copper with silver foil covering. These mounts were used and adapted to be carried during WWII. It’s a unique mount and very interesting to see the transition from the older fitting to the adaptation for the war. The saya was covered with leather to protect the older lacquer. The cover still has its strap and buckle, to hold the sword tightly in its scabbard. A hanger was also added in copper with a tassel. I find these mounts extremely collectable, there unique transition from older to newer adjustment for the war is fascinating.
Swordsmith information:
The NBTHK papers point to the first generation:
KANETAKA (金高), 1st gen., Bunroku (文禄, 1592-1596), Mino – “Bungo no Kami Fujiwara Kanetaka saku” (豊後守藤原金高作), “Kanetaka” (金高), “Bungo no Kami Fujiwara Kanetaka” (豊後守藤原金高), he lived in Gifu (岐阜), wide mihaba, elongated kissaki, itame mixed with mokume and nagare, ji-nie, gunome-midare in ko-nie-deki in Sue-Seki style
Other generations:
KANETAKA (金高), 2nd gen., Kan´ei (寛永, 1624-1644), Mino – “Bungo no Kami Fujiwara Kanetaka” (豊後守藤原金高), he lived in Gifu, chūjō-saku
KANETAKA (金高), 3rd gen., Genroku (元禄, 1688-1704), Mino – “Bungo no Kami Fujiwara Kanetaka” (豊後守藤原金高), he lived in Gifu, gunome or suguha in ko-nie-deki, there are some kogatana extant by him
- Mei: Mumei
- Date: Edo (1600’s-1700’s)
- Nagasa: 23-7/8 inches
- Sori: 12.0 mm
- Width at the ha-machi: 30.4 mm
- Width at the yokote: 23.8 mm
- Thickness at the mune-machi: 6.8 mm
- Construction: Shinogi zukuri
- Mune: Iori
- Nakago: Ubu
- Kitae: Itame/mokume
- Hamon: Gunome
- Boshi: Maru
- Condition: Older polish, good condition
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Kantei-Sho (鑑定書) – Appraisal
No 335410
katana, unsigned: Kanetaka (金高)
nagasa ~ 60.6 cm
According to the result of the shinsa committee of our society, we judge this work as authentic and rank it as Hozon Tōken.
July 7, 1994
[Foundation] Nihon Bijutsu Tōken Hozon Kyōkai, NBTHK (日本美術刀劍保存協會)
(shipping and insurance included)
Email us if your interested in this item and remember to include the order number for this item: fss-805.
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For Sale
