Kantei #7 -- Posted June 2010 (Corrected with proper description 6/21/2010.)

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DEN KANENAGA

Juyo Token, 47 th Juyo Token Shinsa

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DEN KANENAGA

Juyo Token, 47 th Juyo Token Shinsa

Length: 68.6 cm

Sori: 1.8 cm

Motohaba: 3.1 cm

Sakihaba: 2.3cm

Kissaki Length: 5.7 cm

Nakago Length: 12.1 cm

Nakago Sori: 0.1 cm

Keijo: Shinogi Zukuri, iori mune, rather wide mihaba, high sori, greatly elongated o-kissaki.

Kitae: Tight itame hada, with nagare masame mixed in towards the ha, with ji-nie, and chikei is applied.

Hamon: Gunome and togariba are mixed in a main tone comprising a large pattern notare, ashi and yo are inserted, with abundant nie, the upper half is tight, and there chikei.

Boshi: Midarekomi, the omote is ko-maru, the ura has a hint of togari, and both are hakkake.

Horimono: Bohi and renbi are kakinagasu on the omote and ura.

Nakago: O-suriage, saki is kiri, yasurime is katte-sagari, four mekugi-ana, one of which is plugged, mumei.

Commentary: It is said that KANENAGA was a member of the OSAFUNE NAGAYOSHI mon. Among extant zaimei products, there is a Juyo Bujutsuhin wakizashi with a JOJI GONEN (1366 Northern Dynasty dating) nenki, and in addition, there is a Juyo Token tanto with a nenki of SHITOKU SANNEN (1388 ND) and a Tokubetsu Juyo Token tanto with a nenki of KAKEI NINEN (1387ND). In the pieces made in SHITOKU and KAKEI, the nie is another level stronger than that in the piece made in JOJI, the activity such as kinsugi is remarkable, and there is a theory that these can be divided into works made by a shodai and a nidai, but there is room for further study.

This katana shows a large pattern sugata with a wide mihaba and elongated kissaki, and the Nanbokucho period can be detected. The jigane in which nagare masame is mixed in itame is usually seen in this same Ha, is not hadatachi, and is clear and not murky. However from the hamon with natural changes in a bold, large pattern notare, the special traits of the same smith and the same Ha are sufficiently seen, that it is to say, they support the judgement that this is by KANENAGA. This sword is accompanied by an uchigatana koshirae of superior workmanship.