Ujinobu Wakizashi
S0326
HOLD
A wakizashi by Owari Ujinobu. Ubu nakago signed Owari Kore Ju Ujinobu Saku / Genna go nen ni gatsu kichijitsu (a fortunate day in February 1619). Hawatare: 1 shaku 2 sun 7 bu 38.483 cm / 15.15"). Large gunome midare based in konie. Fairly long yakidashi. Hanie, sunagashi, kinsuji, nado. The boshi is a sharp turn back, with a extended gunome kaeri. The jigane is an itame nagare, with jinie as pronounced chikei. Masame in the shinogi ji. Mounted in shirasaya with an excellent niju shakudo habaki. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon kanteisho. It had been in perfect polish, until it was dropped, causing the damage to the edge shown below.
There are no records of kaji during the Kamakura period, and only two or three kaji of moderate skill are noted in Nambokucho. There style was that borrowed from the adjacent Mino province. There seems to be a good deal of traffic between Mino and Owari, and in Muromachi there were many Kaji in Owari. However, none stood out from the rest, all producing honest, but not exceptional swords. Then in Edo, there was suddenly a flourishing of exceptionally talented kaji. Masatsune, Ujifusa, Nobutaka, nado.
While there is little information about this particular smith, his work shows a very skillful execution of the Mino tradition. Because of the slight damage, I am listing this blade for $800 less than intended, and no profit for myself. So if you can live with this small problem, it is a chance to purchase a very nice item at below market price. $1,000
Damaged edge.
Edge damage from mishandling.
Pronounced chikei.
Damaged edge.
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon
Chris Grant.