Vermithrax Collection

I don't swing by here much. Between work, another Patriots Superbowl win, chasing nihonto, and general life, it's hard to check in everywhere all the time. Putting this post here in my collection thread as another way to store the memory. Originally posted on NMB on 1/21/2019.

Across The Eras - New Masame Family Addition

In Nihonto, things go really, really slow. Until they go very fast.

Most longer term members know I have a masame hada addiction. It took me a long time to settle on a purchase last early summer, an outstanding katana by the Mito master Suifu Ju Katsumura Norikatsu. You can read about it here:
www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/26019-masame-hada-sword-search-finally-over/?hl=norikatsu

When I started really going into this study I favored Ishido school swords (still love them) and some other works. I saw my first masame sword right here on NMB, and I was lost to the art. Something just speaks to me about the flow and structure. Who can really explain their own desires? It is what it is for me.

I posted here late last year about looking for another masame sword, thanks to all that reached out. I was fully prepared for another year long search and waiting period.

But, what if the very sword that I saw here on NMB was a possibility?

When I saw Moderator Jean was moving on from his Gokaden Collection, I was scared. I was scared because the VERY sword that ignited my love and pursuit of masame works started right there. It's here in this thread:
www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/17414-achieved-collection-gokaden/?hl=kanekiyo

Longer story short, I was able to work with Jean (with help from a couple of friends) and arrange for myself to become the next care taker for this sword. It's an honor.

I won't re-tell the whole story on this sword, though it's an amazing one. The sword also came with a Tensho koshirae that is so menacing looking, it almost looks like it wants to get into a fight. So well done.

I welcome the newest addition to my Nihonto family, a Yamato Hosho/Tegai Kanekiyo masame work.

Please review Jean's older thread about the sword, it's interesting and a good education on attributions.

The sword has two sayagaki. The first is by Dr. Honma (Kunzan) in 1972:

Yamato Hosho

Greatly shortened

Blade length ~ 66.3 cm

Written by Kunzan [Honma Junji] in December of the year of the rat of the Showa era (1972) for

Sakurada Mitsuha + monogram


On the other side is Tanobe Michihiro and his comments from 2011:

Hosho from Yamato Province

Greatly shortened and unsigned, dates to the end of the Kamakura period.

This is a masterwork whose ji and the ha show the characteristic features of this school.

Addendum to my former teacher Kunzan’s [Honma Junji] inscription, written by Tanzan Hendo

[Tanobe Michihiro] in June of the year of the hare of this era (2011) + monogram


The sword was submitted to NBTHK Shinsa and came back as Tegai Kanekiyo. Early Tegai works showed excellent masame so it's not a huge jump from Hosho.

In hand I can't explain (and can't photograph for crap, as I learned tonight.....) the vivid masame that flows through the sword. Held from nakago and in correct light angle, it runs and flows along the blade. At the kissaki, the lines of the masame condense and turn up to tip of the kissaki. As this sword is suriage, cannot see if masame turned down at hamachi. The nie deposition is heavy. Sungashi abound in hamon, long kissaki, I could go on.

I can't be more happy. An almost 700 year old sword, it's in perfect condition. And what a way to bookend masame works, my Norikatsu was made in 1867 and the Hosho/Tegai was made in late Kamakura or early Nambokucho, red circles below:

My pictures don't do it justice, will try for better photos soon:


The new sword on top, then Norikatsu below, masame set:


Tensho Koshirae: