A shin-shinto wakizashi | Signed Okamoto Kame no Shin Masakuni | Edo period, dated Bunsei kyunen nigatsu hi (a day in the second month 1826)

The Property of a Gentleman

A shin-shinto wakizashi

Signed Okamoto Kame no Shin Masakuni

Edo period, dated Bunsei kyunen nigatsu hi (a day in the second month 1826)

Sugata [configuration]: shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, shallow tori-zori, ko-kissaki

Kitae [forging pattern]: flowing itame-hada, almost masame in places

Hamon [tempering pattern]: nioi-based choji midare hamon, yakidashi

Boshi [tip]: ko-maru boshi with kaeri

Nakago [tang]: ubu, ha-agari kurijiri, kesho file markings with triangular pattern on the omote, one mekugi-ana, the omote signed Okamoto Kame no Shin Masakuni, the ura dated Bunsei kyunen nigatsu hi (a day in the second month 1826)

Habaki [collar]: single clad, copper-gilt

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard]

Koshirae [mount]: the black lacquered saya finely decorated in gold hiramaki-e, takamaki-e, keuchi and inlaid in coral on an ishimeji ground, with sprigs of cherry blossoms , the shakudo and copper-gilt fittings and tsuba similarly decorated in low relief, the blade of the kozuka signed Bizen no kuni Osafune Ise no kami Sukehira, the copper-gilt and inlaid coral menuki in the form of further cherry blossom sprays

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 30.9 cm., 12⅛ in.

Sori [curvature]: 0.4 cm., ⅛ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 1.8 cm., ¾ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.8 cm., 1⅛ in. 

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Hozon Token [Sword Especially Worthy of Preservation], attributing the blade to Okamoto Kame no Shin Masakuni from Harima Province, no. 1010638 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 31 (2019)