Ordering number: 22137
Wakizashi in Shirasaya(NBTHK Hozon Token)
Signature: Bizen Kuni Ju Sukesada Hikobei Jo Saku
Tensho 5 Nen 8 Gatsu Hi
備前国住祐定彦兵衛尉作
Sue Koto: Josaku: Bizen
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jyo-saku ranking.
habaki: Gold foiled single habaki.
The blade was polished.
Blade length:48.9cm or 19.25inches.
Sori:0.8cm or 0.31inches.
Mekugi:2
Width at the hamachi:3.02cm or 1.18inches.
Kasane:0.7cm or 0.27inches.
The weight of the sword:440grams
Era: Tensho 5, the Azuchi Momoyama period.(1578)
Shape: Very rare Hiradukuri work with 2 lined Hi on the front and Ken between Bohi and Sanskrit on the back.
Jigane: Itamehada mixed with Mokumehada and Chikei. Hadame is visible. Utsuri appears in Ji.
Hamon: Niedeki, mainly Suguha with Ashi. Somehow became like Soshuden. Boshi is Midarekomi.
Special feature: Bizen Kuni Ju Sukesada Hikobei Jo is a swordsmith
who flourished between the late Muromachi period and the Azuchi Momoyama period.
However, a giant flood occured to Osafune village in Tensho years,
almost all swordsmiths were dead. There, Toshiro Sukesada survived and lived there.
After the war of the Muromachi period ended, the demand for swords decreased extremely,
and swordsmiths had harder times than ever.
From Aoi Art: This work was made by Hikobei and he used to use Osafune like his surname
in those days. In the Genki or Tensho era, some more carving methods could have been. However,
Jigane is elaborate and beautiful surface comes in.
NBTHK Hozon Token paper
Aoi Art estimation paper: whole Oshigata by Ayaka Tsuruta