Japanese Sword Online Museum

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Wakizashi

Wakizashi: Hokuetsu Muramatsu Ju Shigehide/Bunnka 2nen 8gatsu Hi

Ordering Number: 13533

Wakizashi in Shirasaya

Signature: Hokuetsu Muramatsu Ju Shigehide
Bunnka 2nen 8gatsu Hi (August 1805)

Shinshinto: Echigo
The blade was polished.
Habaki: Copper habaki
Blade length : 39.4cm or 15.52 inches.
Sori : 0.5cm or 0.19inches.
Mekugi: 2
Width at the hamachi : 3.14cm or 1.24inches.
Kasane : 0.62cm or 0.24inches.
Weight of only blade:338g
Era : Late Edo Bunka period.
Shape : It is wide and thick Mitsumune style wakizahsi.
There is a deep engravement of a sword and there is a rare
naginata style engravement on the bank.
It is rare hori with sakizori. It is firm hirauchi style wakizashi.
Jitetsu :Itame hada well grained with jinie attached.
Hamon : It is deep nioiguchi suguha base

Special feature : Shigehide is a smith from Echigo province.
His pieces has strong nie with wild hamon. This piece has strong nie
that is in hitatsura style(almost full temper.). There are many
activities in the ha such as sunagashi and kinsuji and nijyuuba, Boushi is
hakikake style. From the condition it seems to be like Hasebe Kuninobu
piece of Hasebe school. It is absolutely fine sword.
It is good condition piece so it would be quite if it is
polished again.

Historical background: 1804 year envoy of Russia NIcholas arrived to
Nagasaki by ship for commerce.
At Nagaoka city, Niigata, there was a gigantic pine tree that was called 'view point pine tree"
It is said that during the Hokuetsu Boshin war, the new government army that has been leaded by Ariake,
has placed a camp at this area. The armies has climbed the tree to see the enemy.
Most regretfully, this old giant tree was cut at Showa 34th year however, there is a stella that was
build as a memorial.
It is impressive to see that Shigehide has made a firm flat(hIrate)wakizashi in such an environment.
He is not a famous wordsmith, but we could observe that he has learned from Suishinnshi Masahide and
even inherit a part of the signature from Masahide.

Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.

Price : 250,000 JPY –


-Wakizashi