DAI NAGINATA Large fighting NAGINATA - Lot 5

DAI NAGINATA Large fighting NAGINATA SHIN SHINTO Signed: SEIBI TOJO JU KOJIMA NOBU KUNI SAKU Dated: KEIO SAN HINOTO-U NIGATSU KICHI JITSU (February 1867) Length of shaft and blade 2.47m Nagasa: 40.8 cm, total blade73cm Construction: Unokubi zukuri, iori mune Moto Haba 7,1mm, Saki Haba 6,5mm, Sori 1,8cm Hamon Suguha, Hada Muji Nakago, Ubu ketai, keisho yasuri mei Sujikai, Katayama Kengyo Small round shakudo tsuba on red copper Black lacquered fighting staff, copper fittings, iron heel, 2 inconspicuous golden kamon Gilded saya Repolished blade In good condition. The type of kanji used suggests that this is a samurai blacksmith of the AKI clan, vassal of the daimvo ô Asano Nagakoto of Hiroshima. This blacksmith is not referenced in any specialized work in Japan, and would be at home in the Toko Jiten more. These details come from Mr Ayata Tsuruta (aoi art) and Ms Shiho Tsukada (Token komachi), two eminent Tokyo specialists. Dating the forging to the last year of EDO, February 1867, places it at the end of the Boshin Wars, just one month before the abdication of the last Shogun, YOSHI NOBU. This blacksmith, unknown in Japan's specialized literature, makes this Naginata a historical and atypical weapon, two unique elements for a collector.