Kijimomo or Tanagobara?

[Xander Chia]

What the title says, is this nakago a kijimomo or tanagobara? Or is kijimomo only reserved for daito? Thanks in advance!

[Bugyotsuji]

Kijimomo were for the Efudachi of Efu courtiers from Heian to Kamakura, according to one source.

 

Tanago Haragata were from Muromachi and seen in Muramasa and his group.

[Xander Chia]

2 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said:

Kijimomo were for the Efudachi of Efu courtiers from Heian to Kamakura, according to one source.

 

Tanago Haragata were from Muromachi and seen in Muramasa and his group.

I see… thanks for the reply. The blade is a gimei muramasa. I wonder if the shape of the nakago and the mei were done by the smith or altered and added at a later date…

[Bugyotsuji]

26 minutes ago, Xander Chia said:

I see… thanks for the reply. The blade is a gimei muramasa. I wonder if the shape of the nakago and the mei were done by the smith or altered and added at a later date…

On balance I would imagine that you have already given the answer there. 

[DoTanuki yokai]

https://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords8/KY335276.htm
 

Description says it Is Gimei.

[Xander Chia]

I immediately started comparing the mei to know examples as soon as I saw this. I felt like it didn’t match any of those examples, especially the 正 character. Liked the koshirae though. Aside from that, I always thought these 2 styles of nakago were the same, being called “pheasant’s leg.” While the “fish belly” shape was more of a gradual decline in wideness.

 

Edit: referring to funa-gata. Looks more like an actual fish belly to me.

[IBot]

Kijimomo tangs had a specific function. They were used on blades fitted to a style of tachi { efu no dachi ] that had unbound hilts having a row of nails with rice bale shaped heads fastened into them. These nails were positioned along the lower edge of the hilt, as worn, and towards the kabuto gane. The kiji momo tang was in effect cut away to clear the points of the nails.

Ian Bottomley