Hi, I have just bought this blade from Aoi Art (don't have it yet). They identified the blade as being a Kanesaki from Inaba in the Kanbun era with mei Kanesaki Saku. I have checked Markus Sesko"s Index of Japanese Swordsmiths and only 2 smiths listed have the mei us just Kanesaki Saku listed, one from the Tensho era (p160) and one from the Tenbun era (p161). I could not see one with that mei from Kanbun era. The smith from the Tenbun era is listed as an Inaba smith.
Any help with attribution to the correct smith would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Mike
Aoi description
Signature: Kanesaki Saku
兼先作(新刀)
Shinto: Cyujyo saku:Inaba.
(We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyo-jyo saku, Jyo saku, and regular saku)
This sword belongs to Jyo Jyo saku ranking.
The blade was polished.
Habaki: Gold foiled single habaki.
Blade length: 65.1cm or 25.6 inches.
Sori:1.5 cm or 0.59inches.
Mekugi: 1
Width at the hamachi: 3.16cm or 1.24inches.
Width at the Kissaki: 1.5 cm or 0.59inches.
Kasane: 0.73 cm or 0.28inches.
The weight of the sword: 725 grams.
Era: Edo period Kanbun era
Shape: Wide and thick sword with deep Sori and longer Kissaki.
Jigane: Ko-Itame-Hada well grained. Jinie attached beautiful Jihada. There are Utsuri around Habamoto.
Hamon: Ko-Niedeki Deki. From Habaki, Suguha then Choji-Midare and Funome- Midare mixed.
Special Feature: The sword has Mei as Kanesaki and from the style, we think this is Ianaba school’s Kanesaki.