The circle indicates the time we are discussing in this chapter.
After the live experience of the war of Jokyu-no-ran (Chapter 11), people started to move toward sturdier, grander, wider swords. The swords made around this time is called Ikubi Kissaki (猪首切先). Ikubi means a wild boar neck. Ikubi Kissaki style sword has a stout look like a wild boar neck. This is the era of the golden time of sword making. Many top swords smiths created wonderful swords during this time. It is said that there is no mediocre sword among Ikubi Kissai swords.
SUGATA (shape) —— Originally 3 feet or longer, therefore it is often shortened at a later time. Wide width, thick Kasane (thick body) with Hamaguri-ha (蛤刃). Hamaguri-ha means the thickness of the sword is shaped like a clam. The width at the Yokote line area and the width at the Machi are not much different. Shinogi (鎬) is high, and shinogi width is narrow. Illustration of the Cross-section of the sword below.
KISSAKI —— Ikubi kissaki. Ikubi means a wild boar neck. Wild boar looks like no neck, stout look shape. Short Kissaki but wide at the yokote line. The illustration below is exaggerated a little to show the idea
Hamon (刃文) —— Kawazuko-Choji (tadpole head shape). O- Choji (clove-like shape) and Ko-Choji mixed. Irregular waviness mixed with a straight line and choji, this is called suguha-choji.
Kawazuko-choji O-choji Ko-choji Suguha-choji (tadpole head) (large clove) (small clove) (straight and clove)
Boshi(鋩子) ——— Yakizume, that is Hamon ends close to the tip, as below. Nagamitu(長光), Kagemitu( 景光), Sanenaga(真長) created Boshi called Sansaku Boshi(三作鋩子). Sansaku Boshi narrows down at Yokote Line, Illustration below.
Ikubi Kissaki Sword Smiths
Fukuoka Ichimonji Group (福岡一文字) ————–Fukuoka Ichimonji Norimune (則宗) Kamakura Ichimonji Group(鎌倉一文字) ———— Kamakura Ichimonji Sukezane (助真) Soshu Bizen Kunimune Group(相州備前国宗)——– Soshu Bizen Kunimune (国宗)Bizen Osafune Group(長船)——————Bizen Osafune Mitutada(長船光忠) Nagamitsu(長光) Ugai Group————————————————————————- Ugai Unji (鵜飼雲次)
From Sano Museum Catalogue (permission granted) Osafune Nagamitsu(長船長光 )
Osafune Mitsutada(長船光忠) Osafune Mitsutada(長船光忠) *Were family sword This photo was taken by my father and writings on the white paper were written by him.
