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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;jamesicus, post: 3318027, member: 14873&quot;]Collecting and researching Japanese Samurai swords (Nihontô) is another (very expensive) Hobby of mine.</p><ul> <li>Here is an Edo period short (wakizashi)</li> </ul><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki02.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Blade made by an unknown smith (kaji) of Satsuma Province (probably during the Edo period (1603 to 1868). The various mounting components (koshirae) are most likely from different locations and production periods (particularly the kozuka kogatana). The scabbard (saya), has a high gloss vermilion lacquer finish (shu-urushi).</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki45.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The blade has a shallow curvature (sori) and is wide, thick and heavy. The blade retaining collar (habaki) is overlaid with gold foil.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki23.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The blade surface pattern (jihada) is very fine wood grain (kô-itame) and is in a good natural&nbsp; sashikomi polish that does not obscure the activity in the temper line (hamon).</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki14.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The tang has been shortened and is consequently unsigned and has two peg holes (mekugi-ana).</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki08.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>A utility knife - kozuka (handle) kogatana (blade) - is in the slot on the (omote) side of the saya.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki09.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The kozuka bears a depiction on both sides of a full Autumn Moon (aki no tsuki) with a deer (Sika) lying down in marsh grass.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki01x.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The omote of the kogatana is finished by filing in the traditional way and is boldly inscribed (signed) Tango No Kami Kanemichi - a new sword period (shintô) Mishina province smith (kaji) active in the early to late 1600s.</p><p><br /></p><p>Many collectors and scholars hold that kogatanas were not made or signed by the smith who produced the blade - those tasks instead being assigned to assistants or apprentices.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki01.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Although slightly scuffed from use, the ura of this kogatana is in good polish with an irregular wavy (notare) temper line (hamon).</p><p><br /></p><p>The hilt (tsuka) binding (ito) is black silk over ray skin (same). The upper pommel (fuchi) and the en-suite Tachi style (handachi) helmet shaped (kabuto-gane) lower pommel (kashira) are made of shakudô - an alloy of copper and gold.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki50.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The hilt ornaments (menuki) depict Autumn pine mushrooms (Matsutake)</p><p><br /></p><p>The surfaces of the shakudô upper pommel (fuchi) and lower pommel (kashira) are textured with a fish roe pattern (nanakô) and patinated to a dark violet/black color</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki26x.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki26y.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The upper pommel (fuchi) is decorated with gilded high relief temple guard lion dogs (shishi) and peonies (botan).</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="http://jp29.org/0awaki47.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The Bushû school pierced iron guard (tsuba) has finely carved Japanese cherry blossoms (sakura).[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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