Archived Nihonto.ca (Yuhindo.com): Omi Tsuguhiro

Omi no Kami Tsuguhiro

 

period:	Shinto (ca 1661)
designation:	none
nakago:	ubu, one mekugiana
mei:	越前國下坂繼廣 Echizen no Kuni Shimosaka Tsuguhiro
nagasa:	46cm
price:	N/A

click here to view the 16 picture slideshow for this sword.

This is a nice wakizashi featuring an O-kissaki and naginata style horimono, by the Kanbun era (1661) Echizen smith Tsuguhiro.

Fujishiro rates him as Chu-jo saku for above average skill, and his swords have obtained a rating of Wazamono for a high degree of cutting ability. Fujishiro also notes the following:

 

ECHIZEN KUNI SHIMOSAKA TSUGUHIRO – The swordsmiths of Echizen around the time of Kanbun did not inscribe the “Kuni name” on the omote, and there were many who inscribed “ECHIZEN JU” on the ura. This is in Hirotaka, Shigetaka, Kanenaka and Tsuguhiro. The oshigata shown here can be said to be very unusual in this point.

This sword, signed in a similar manner, would fall into this group of unusual signatures.

This sword is in old polish, and a “found” sword so it will need at least a shiage or else a year’s worth of slow uchiko work to bring its appearance up to its best level. It has not been submitted to the NBTHK for paperwork, but I believe the signature to be genuine based on examples I’ve looked up, and the fact that at his skill level (above average), he is not a profitable target for gimei works which tend to focus on the master smiths.

The old and problematic state of polish means that the photography is difficult, but the sword shows signs of having a nice jihada and pleasant activities in the hamon. The naginata style hi are nice, but the soebi on one side curves with the shinogi while on the other side it is straight.

 

Accompanying the blade are some elements of a nice set of koshirae. At some point someone disassembled them to remove the menuki and kogatana, which is a shame. Otherwise, the koshirae carries the Tokugawa Aoi mon, and the tsuba, fuchi and kashira appear to be good quality later period Mino Goto work (or at least in style). The habaki was at one time a gold foil two piece work, but one of the two pieces is now missing.

So this is a nice little project piece with good components, for someone who wants to give it some TLC and bring it back up to speed.