Kikumon Omi no Kami Minamoto Hisamichi Naginata

[watsonmil]

Usually if I post something it will be in relation to some unusual item, or a Tanegashima that I am working on. So I thought just in case you guys think I am on the wrong forum, ... here's a very nice Naginata from my collection for everyone's enjoyment. It is I believe a First Generation ..... Kikumon Omi no kami Minamoto Hisamichi. It would appear from examination of his signatures to be a later work circ. 1695 - 1705. I particularily enjoy the Mishina School Smiths and if opportunity presents itself I try to aquire examples. I am not an expert in photograhing blades, but I think at least some of the many workings in the blade will present themselves. Anyway it is a shown here for your study and enjoyment. If someone knows the family name for the styalized cross in a circle mon, I would appreciate identification, as I have come up empty in my reference book on " Mon ".

Kind regards, ... Ron Watson

[sensei215]

A beautiful piece. I would appreciate if you could supply some measurements of the nagasa and overall size etc. Congradulations I would gladly own it.

Tim S

[Mark Green]

Very Nice!!! Thanks for the pics. They look fine. Nice fittings too.

 

I love Japanese pole weapons

[drbvac]

Nice Ron:

 

Were the fittings with it when you got the naginata, or did you put it together? the only Mon I could find with any cross was Marunisujikai and not stylized at all. It is kind of a funny informal crest compared to many!

 

everyone have this site:

 

http://eps.crest-Japan.net/index_en.php

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

I don't think this naginata is by the shodai Hisamichi, maybe a Daisaku mei by the nidai, a clear large picture of the mei can be helpful.

[watsonmil]

To answer a few queries : The Overall length of the Nagina including the nakago is 36 3/16 inches. The Nagasa is 18 1/2 inches.

The Nakago is ubu ( 2 ) mekugi ana, ... the yasuri is o-sujika. The Kitae is Ko-itame. To answer Jacques, ... the mei is a carbon copy of Shodai Hisamichi ....... page 56, figure 27 .. Art and the Sword volume seven. All of the workings, the boldness and confidence of the signature, plus examination by what few other collectors who have examined the signature lead me to believe it is OK. Of course that is only opinions. The mountings are original to the Naginata as are all fittings except for the pole tip which is a replacement, .... now having said this the naginata was obviously previously mounted at some time as there is only one mekugi ana on the pole, but two on the nakago. There is no doubt that the pole currently with the naginata was made for this naginata however as everything lines up perfectly. Anyways I thought I would share it with other members. By the way I am open to critizism ( signatures or whatever ) so long as they are constructive and reasonable. It has not been presented to shinsa as of yet, .... and no doubt the Japanese would find the style of polish not to their taste, .... which is yet another arguable choice that I made and for which I have no regrets. Kind regards, ... Ron Watson

[ottou812]

Perhaps the mon is this.

[John A Stuart]

Hi Ron, A great naginata, the ebu has superb lacquerwork. In the thread viewtopic.php?f=9&t=6775 the 'ju' form kamon is briefly discussed. As the ebu is probably late Edo the kamon wouldn't be a Kirisitan symbol I believe.You'll notice it isn't the only kamon. John

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

the mei is a carbon copy of Shodai Hisamichi ....... page 56, figure 27 .. Art and the Sword volume seven

 

I've seen this one and in gassaku the mei is engraved by the nidai (look attentively at the lower horizontal stroke of the kanji Michi).

[watsonmil]

Hello James,

The mon you picture is quite close, but not really close enough. I too spotted that one in an older book ( your reference # 2164 ). My understanding is that " mon " are quite specific in detail, and although very similar just too much different.

 

Hello John,

The article on Christian symbols was an excellent read. I once had a wonderful Christian theme tsuba which I foolishly sold without realizing the story relating to such tsuba. I fully agree, ... this is much more a likely a Ju character. To have openly displayed a Christian symbol as blatanly as this would have been an invitation for trouble.

 

Thank you all, ... Ron Watson

[watsonmil]

Jacques, ... Firstly I respect your opinions on the subject of swords about as high as anyone. You may be correct that this is a ghost work by the Nidai, ... but having looked at oshigata of known examples of the Nidai ghost signatures, ... the mei on this naginata is to my eyes quite different from the way the Nidai signed for his father, whereas once again I refer to the same reference book only this time to page 88 and 89 wherein the same sword is again pictured . Paragraph 7 states .... " Each of the signatures was signed by each of these two smiths ( including the mon )." I do not have your knowledge and I most certainly respect your opinion, ... but on the basis of my studies I must disagree with you on this one. ... Amicalement, ... Ron Watson