Description
Authentic Nihontō Japanese Sword Katana Attributed to Ryo Hisanobu 了久信 NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN Certificate
Although 久信 (Hisanao) is not listed in the known swordsmith directories, it is suggested that he was a local swordsmith. If you have any information about this swordsmith, please share it.
久信 (Hisanao) is also known by the common name 九郎左衛門尉 (Kurozaemon no Jo). His son was the first-generation 信国 (Nobukuni). 了久信 (Ryokushin) also went by the common name 九郎左衛門尉 (Kurozaemon no Jo). There is a record of a naginata housed in the Tokugawa Art Museum (Owari Tokugawa family) that states, “Made by Ryokai's son Hisanao on October 6, the third year of Tokuchi (1308),” confirming that he was the son of the first-generation Ryokai, the brother of Rai Kunitoshi. Existing works with date inscriptions include those from the 嘉元 (Kagen), 徳治 (Tokuchi), and 延慶 (Enkei) eras. His work style, which resembles that of his father Ryokai, features a mix of small itame with straight grain, straight hamon with small gunome, and slightly moist nioiguchi. However, signed works by him are extremely rare.
This sword is slender with a slightly high shinogi. The tightly forged small itame has areas of standing grain, showing shirake utsuri. The hamon is a fine suguha with a slightly moist nioiguchi, mixed with small gunome. The edge has long, thin utsuri appearing as a double-edged blade, with visible kinsuji in the ha. The boshi is straight, with a rounded tip and some areas of running out, showing subtle but intricate activity, making it a tasteful piece despite its quiet suguha.
Bare weight: 468 grams.
Nihontō Information
Name 名称 | 無銘 (了久信)- Mumei (Ryo Hisanobu) |
Blade Length 刀長 | 二尺一寸一分九厘八毛 / 64.23 cm |
Sori 反り | 三分一厘弱 / 0.95 cm |
Blade Width 元幅 | 26.6 mm |
Blade Thickness 元重 | 5.7 mm |
Tip Width 先幅 | 物打20.7 mm 横手位置16.9 mm |
Tip Thickness 先重 | 物打4.4 mm 松葉位置2.8 mm |
Mekugi-ana 目釘穴 | 2個 |
Age 時代 | 鎌倉後期嘉元頃(1303~) The latter period of Kamakura era (14th century) |
Certificate 鑑定書 | 特別保存刀剣鑑定書(NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON TOKEN Certificate) |
Registration 登録 | 令和3年4月22日 岡山県登録 Registered on April 22, 2021, in Okayama Prefecture |
Included 附属 | 素銅地金着はばき Copper Habaki with Gold Plating |
白鞘 Shirasaya Case | |