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Hamon : Nioi deki gunome choji midare in the Yokoyama style. The nioi guchi is tight and vivid. There are ashi at the tani of each gunome. Classic Yokoyama style sugu-yakidashi.
Boshi : Orderly o-maru that is deeply tempered with a short kaeri.
Kitae : Tight ko mokume hada becoming muji-hada.
About this sword : This is a fine wakizashi by Bizen Yokoyama Sukekane. The Yokoyama Bizen smiths are renowned for this unique jiba of nioi-deki choji gunome midare with ko-mokume hada. The nioi line is even in both brightness and width throughout the entire length of the blade. This style of nioi deki is tightly controlled and appears as a vivid, luminous perfect line. There are no breaks nor thinning and there is no clumping of nie. The boshi is a robust o-maru with a short return and smooth rounded ending. The jigane is healthy and there are no kizu. This style of sloping sugu-yakidashi is a Yokoyama Bizen trait. Also, the shape of the ubu nakago is also in the Yokoyama Bizen style.
Sukekane was the adopted son of Yokoyama Sukemori. He had also been known as Yokoyama Toshiyuki, A tradtion of stating lineage from Ko Bizen Tomonari had begun with Yokoyama Sukenaga and this continued for several generations. Sukekane added "Tomonari go ju hachi dai mago" ( 58th generation decendant of Tomonari ) to the mei of his works. The nakago of this wakizashi includes this statement as well as the date that it was made, February 1857. Sukekane is a well regarded smith as is really seen at a higher level that some older rankings may indicate. His work is typically valued as much or more than Jo Saku shinshinto. In addition to the high quality of his work, another factor adding to his reputation is that his student, Minamoto Kanenori was nominated as Teishitsu Gigei In (Imperial Household Artisan). Kanenori received this honor in 1906 along with Gassan Sadakazu.
The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper states that this mei was cut by Yokyoyama Sukeharu. Indeed, study of the mei shows clear mannerisms of Sukeharu's tagane style. Thus, here is a work that has quite substantial study value and serves to establish the working relationship between these smiths. This is a particularly exciting opportunity for comparative study. Sukeharu was senior to Sukekane and active around Tenpo (1830-1844) - Ansei (1854-1860). He was the 7th generation of the Yokoyama Sukesada line and signed his own works as the 56th generation Tomonari.
The blade is in good old polish. There are some surface blemishes and light scratches, but there is no need for restoration to appreciate and enjoy this blade. This wakizashi was awarded a Tokubetsu Hozon paper by the NBTHK. This is an exciting sword that is ubu, signed, dated, wide mihaba, healthy, well known maker, and with a high level paper. This blade is priced quite attractively by the owner. A fantastic opportunity to add a fine shin shinto blade to one's collection.
SOLD
