by Moses Becerra | May 15, 2022
(MINO) DAIDO (fss-905) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale Shodai Daido was a smith working in the Mino tradition, and achieved the title of Mutsu no Kami in 1574. His work period dates to the transition years in the Keicho era where Koto gave way to Shinto. His history states that he was the personal swordsmith to Oda Nobunaga who employed smiths of the Mino tradition (the rise of his armies contributed to the spread of the Mino style throughout Japan, and its large contribution to what would become the Shinto style). He reportedly moved to Kyoto with his sons Iga no Kami Kanemichi (Jo-saku), Rai Kinmichi (Jo-saku), Tanba no Kami Yoshimichi (Jo-saku), and Etchu no Kami Masatoshi (Jo-jo saku) making swords for Nobunaga. They would become the Kyoto Gokaji, or the Five Swordsmiths of Kyoto. All of them have sharpness ratings of at least wazamono, so they made blades well in keeping of the warrior tradition of Mino, and from the success and fame of his sons it would seem that Daido was a very good teacher. Daido began his career with the name of Kanemichi, which explains the names of several of his sons. He was granted the “O” character 大from emperor Ogimachi. After using the name O-Kanemichi, he later changed to “Daido”, using the alternate reading of the 大 character. Fujishiro seems to interpret the two signatures as two different smiths, though he records this story under Kanemichi. Kanemichi is dated to 1558 (Eiroku) and listed at Chu-jo Saku and Daido to 1596 (Keicho) at Jo-saku so there was an improvement in skill over time. SHIN-GUNTO SWORDS...
by Moses Becerra | Apr 14, 2022
Fujishima Tomoshige Den (fss-902) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale This sword was awarded the kanteisho prior to polish. It received an attribution to TOMOSHIGE. There is a red Shumei at the bottom of the tang attributing it to YOSHINOBU. This blade if resubmitted may be attributed to an even higher ranked smith now that its in pristine polish but it’s not a necessity. The hada is a beautiful swirling mix of itame and mokume loaded and covered in ji-nie. Chikei abounds! The hamon is nie laden with brilliant streaks of sunagashi and kinsuji. The boshi is Kaen with hakikake. The koshirae is equally impressive. The saya is in a Ishime finish. The fittings are all adorned in a motif of samurai and horses. The Nanako is very nice on the tsuba. The tsuka ito is a bright orchid color over a black lacquered same (rayskin). The sageo is a purplish red hue. The seppa are gold washed. The kodzuka is of a man with horse in fields. The Habaki is gold foiled and is of high quality also. This Koto era sword comes with NTHK KANTEI-SHO papers. A koto period wakazashi by the Fujishima Tomoshige line of smiths who had ten generations of the name during the Koto period and six generations up until the Shintoshinto period. A splendid wavy gunome togariba majiri hamon (temper line) typical of the Fujishima School captures the eye and imagination. Hailing from the artistic province of Kaga (now Kanazawa), the Fujishima School is considered one that combines characteristics of the five major traditions. Fujishima school is a descendant of Rai school that moved to Gaga province. They...
by Moses Becerra | Jan 14, 2022
Settsu Shigetora (fss-893) New Item Available Sold On Hold Special Sale This wakizashi is signed “Settsu (or Seshu) Ju Shigetora. He was a student of Kaneyasu and is know to work in 1673. He was from Settsu Provence. This interesting wakazashi from Settsu provence made by Shigetora and has a bit of a soshu feel to it. Sesshu or Settsu is the same Provence. There is a sugu-ha yakidashi and It is in a very nice pristine polish. The overall sugata of this sword has a slight sori and the hamon is loaded with activity. The hamon contains an abundance of beautiful activity of ashi with a thick nioi-guchi, and the hamon is in a gunome / choji midare style . Ji-nie and chikei can be found and is well made. The hada has a tightly forged itame / mokume mix and covered in ji-nie. The kissaki is a longish chu-kissaki and ko-maru boshi with a bit of kaen. This blade comes with mountings. The furniture of the koshirae are made of iron with a gold floral motif. The Tsuba is iron also with a floral design and basket like weave in gold with a butterfly. The set of tsuba, fuchi,kashira is matching and made by the same person. The menuki are birds to compliment the floral motif. The Sageo is gold and the Ito is black over an old patina’d rayskin and the saya lacquer is finished in a black lacquer. The silk on the handle is original and old and the saya is also and has wear. There is a shirasaya for the sword as well as a tsunagi for the koshirae. We the signature is good signature and not fake. The habaki is...