Kanefusa Tanto
A Tanto of the Mino Tradition:
This tanto has recently papered to the famous Kanefusa, a historically important smith of the Mino Province.
With the Mino tradition finally established, it’s productivity began to increase rapidly, as swordsmiths of the Mino province worked late into the Muromachi Period. To meet the demand for the large quantity of swords needed for ongoing warfare, new methods of swordmaking were developed, and these seem to have attached greater importance to tactical use and functionality, rather than aesthetic concerns. Mino province swords were, from the start, famous for their sharpness. In fact, many Samurai of the day took Mino swords into battle and held them in high regard.
Smiths centered in the town of Seki are representative of the Mino Tradition during the later half of the Muromachi Period. Swords produced by these smiths are known as Sue Seki, [probably] because of the prosperity of the town of Seki. (Kokan Nagayama)
Many excellent smiths came out of the Sue Seki school. One of the most notable Sue Seki schools is that of the Kanefusa line of smiths.
Seizaemon Kanefusa (1455) has lineage that purportedly can be traced back to Zenjo Kaneyoshi, a student of the Tegai school in Yamato. With this background it is easy to understand why his forging skill set him apart. Several generations of smiths used the Kanefusa name and produced many fine swords.
Wakasa no kami Kanefusa (1558) is said to be the famous Wakasa no kami Ujifusa before he changed his working name. Interestingly, his son, Hida no kami Ujifusa, became a Samurai page under Oda Nobutaka, Ronin, and a great swordsmith who is counted as one of the Owari San Saku, The Three Great Smiths of Owari.
Kanefusa swords are characterized by a distinctive hamon called Kenbo Midare, a type of chogi gunome. Other smiths, including the famous Nosada (Kanesada), also used this type of hamon, but it was Kanefusa that became noted for it. As in other Sue Seki swords, the hada is coarse mokume mixed with masame.
As one can see from this sword, an attribution to Kanefusa is valid, because of the Kenbo Midare type hamon.
This is a beautifully forged hirazukure tanto, the condition of which, is as shown. It recently received NTHK Kanteisho to Kanefusa and a recent polish.
The koshirae is all original. Finding swords like this in original koshirae is becoming quite rare. The kodogu are all matching shibuichi (silver). The menuki are of Shishi, carved in fine detail. The saya is cracked with chipped lacquer.
Together this is an attractive set, with aesthetic, as well as historical value.
Price: SOLD
Mino Tanto:
Nagasa: 26.3 cm
Motohaba: 2.4 cm
Kasane: .4 cm
Nakago: Ubu, Mumei.