NAGINATA IN KOSHIRAE

SUGATA: NAGINATA

MEI: BISHU OSAFUNE KIYOMITSU

DATE: TENSHO JU YON NEN NI GATSU BI (FEBRUARY 1586)

NAGASA: 79.06cm (31.125″)

OVERALL: 128.27cm (50.5″)

MIHABA: 3.334cm (1.3125″)

KASANE: 0.79375cm (0.3125″)

NAKAGO: UBU

MEKUGI ANA: TWO

YASURIME: SUJIKAI

MUNE: IORI

HADA: ITAME

HAMON: GUNOME MIDARE

BOSHI: MIDARE KOMI WITH SUNAGASHI

HORIMONO OMOTE: SUKEN, RENDAI (LOTUS PETALS), AND BONJI

HORIMONO URA: GOMA HASHI, BONJI

HABAKI:  1 PC. COPPER

KOSHIRAE

POLE LENGTH: (125.09cm) 49.25”

TOTAL LENGTH MOUNTED: (204.153CM), 80.375” (6.70’)

Koto period, Tensho era Naginata by Bishu Kiyomitsu. There are at least 6 Bizen Kiyomitsu listed as working in the Tensho era and there could have easily been more which were unlisted as Bizen was such a prolific area for sword manufacturing. Obviously, this makes pinpointing the exact Kiyomitsu difficult.

The NTHK Kanteisho authenticates the mei and date, however they did not provide any information narrowing down the particular smith. It suffices to know the mei and date are legitimate, and this is a genuine Koto Period Bizen Naginata.

Nagamaki vs. Naginata. Due to the blade shape being more katana like and not having the large upswept kissaki/boshi and a Yokote several individuals have voiced their opinion that this is a nagamaki. It is my understanding that the mounting determines whether it is naginata or nagamaki. To be a nagimaki it must be mounted in a koshirae similar to a sword, with a wrapped tsuka.

As you can see in the photos the nakago is ubu with two mekugi ana, yasurime is sujikai. Nagasa is 31.125” and overall it is 50.5”. Hada is itame, hamon gunome midare. Boshi is midare komi. Hataraki include sunagashi, ashi, yo Inazuma, chikei, and hakikake in the boshi. There are bo-hi and horimono including goma hashi, suken, bonji, rendai, and yoru kwannon or willow Buddha.

The blade is in excellent polish, papered and comes with a koshirae ie; pole and saya. The pole and saya is wood with brass and copper fittings in a karikusa design with inome or boar’s eye.

References:

Hawley’s KIY 190

Nihonto Meikan pg. 27

Sesko’s pg. 374

$18,500 OBO plus S/H and any additional associated fees (pp, wire, etc.)