SHINSAKUTO

"KONO SADAMITSU"

This custom order O-Wakizashi was forged by the sword smith Kono Sadamitsu. Kono Sadamitsu whose name is Kono Hiroshi, resides and works in Fukuoka Japan. He was born in 1950, the eldest son of sword smith Kunimitsu. Upon graduating college in 1975 he became an apprentice to Living National Treasure, Gassan Sadaichi. In 1980 he was given the use of the "Sada" character by his teacher Sadaichi. This was combined with the "Mitsu" character from his fathers art name. In 1981 Sadamitsu became an independent sword smith setting up shop in his home on the Island of Kyshu, in Southern Japan. Sadamitsu enjoys working in the Soshu tradition, especially replicating the works of Sadamune, which is evident in this sword. He is also highly skilled at carving Horimono.

SUGATA: SHINOGI ZUKURI

MEI URA: TAMA YAMANO GENTARO SHI

MEI OMOTE: TOYO JU KONO SADAMITSU KIN HORIDO SAKU

DATE: SHOWA GO JU KYU NEN ROKU GATSU KITSU JITSU (06 / 1984)

NAGASA: 56.56cm (22.625")

OVERALL: 74.38cm (29.75")

MIHABA: 3.28cm

KASANE: 0.625cm

SORI: 1.25cm

NAKAGO: UBU

MEKUGI ANA: ONE

YASURIME: KEISHO YASURI

MUNE: IORI

HADA: TIGHT FINE KO-ITAME

HAMON: GUNOME MIDARE

BOSHI: KO-MARU

HABAKI: TWO PIECE GOLD FOIL

HORIMONO OMOTE: SUKEN, BONJI AND FUTASU HI

HORIMONO URA: HATOHOKO WITH STANDARD, AND FUTATSU HI

CUSTOM ORDER O-WAKIZASHI

This sword is technically an o-wakizashi (1 shaku, 8 sun, 6.7 bu) and only lacks 1.5 inch being a katana. However, due to it's mihaba of over 1.25" and kasane of 0.25" it feels like a katana in hand. This sword was made in the tradition of Soshu Sadamune, and has a strong, powerful sugata as one would expect. There are wonderfully cut Horimono of Suken, Bonji, Hatohoko and Futatsuji Hi. The hada is tightly forged Itame with bright ji-nie, and reminds one of Hizen Konuka Hada. The Hamon is a wide and billowing Gunome done in Nie Deki. A multitude of activity can be found within the Hamon such as nijuba, inazuma, sunagashi, kinsuji and ashi.

As previously stated, this sword was a custom order and was made for "Yamano Gentaro", which is inscribed on the Ura Nakago. The Nenki or date is inscribed into the mune of the Nakago. The mei indicates that Sadamitsu not only forged the sword but carved the horimono as well. The Mitsuya Mon of three arrow fletching's is carved into the nakago.

A beautiful example of the quality of swords being produced in our life time.