A KANENOBU UJIFUSA WAKIZASHI
This sword was sold at the Okinawa Sword Show III (November 2011)
Overview (full text description follows photos)
Type: Wakizashi (Unsigned)
Item No.: ujwa050
Swordsmith: Kanenobu (Tokubestu Kitcho by NBTHK)
Swordsmith: Ujifusa (Hozon by NBTHK)
Period: Late Muromachi Period (circa 1500~1600)
Length: 51.2cm
Curvature: 1.3cm
Hamon: Gunome (wavy temper line)
Koshirae: All original Edo-period matching koshirae featuring dragons for the fuchi-kashira (collar/pommel)
Habaki: Gold inlay on copper base
Certification (blue): NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Kicho (A sword designated as Precious by the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords)
Certification (yellow): NBTHK Hozon (A koshirae designated as Worthy of Conservation by the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords)
Included: Certificates, Edo-period koshirae (mountings), traditional katana carry bag, sword maintenance kit, illustrated maintenance guide, sword stand, full exportation support to send sword to home country
Price (in cash or direct bank transfer): SOLD
Photos (click for larger view)
*All photos taken professionally by Eric Bossick for Unique Japan
Description:
As this sword does not have a signature on the tang, Samurai sword experts review all the characteristics of the blade and pass on who they think the swordsmith was.
The original certification (Tokubetsu Kitcho, meaning especially precious) surmised that Kanenobu created this sword. However, years later a second opinion granting the sword Hozon status from the NBTHK organization felt that Ujifusa was the swordsmith.
The over-sized o-kissaki (tip of the blade) is a magnificent focal point to this wakizashi, first seen on swords from the great Nambokucho period (1333-1392). And paying compliment to the construction is a wonderfully wavy gunome hamon (temper line).
The koshirae (mountings) are truly first class. All pieces depict the Yonezawa castle in the Yamagata prefecture. The Daimyo family controlling this castle could very realistically owned this exquisite piece.
Another amazing feature to this sword is it’s torokusho (registration card). It is numbered at only “31”. This is one of the very first swords registered in Japan when they began registration in 1951 (Showa 26).
An important Daimyo family owned this wakizashi without a shadow of a doubt. PK
Questions?
To request further information on securing ownership of a sword from Unique Japan, please contact me, Pablo Kuntz.
For steps toward sword ownership including all payment options, visit 5 Steps to Owning an Authentic Japanese Samurai Sword.
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If you have the pleasure of living in Japan or visiting the country, we strongly recommend that you come to one of our upcoming sword shows.
At each show, we have dozens of beautiful Japanese swords to you to discover and secure for your immediate ownership.
If you cannot make it to a show, but you see something you would like to own from our website please contact me for purchase inquiries.
Legal Exportation from Japan
Unique Japan has safely sent dozens of swords from Japan to countries all over the world. All legal exportation paperwork is included with every purchase. Please allow about 4 weeks for us to process and ship an order from Japan.