Hankei Wakizashi
S0038
SOLD
An ubu wakizashi signed nijimei, Hankei. Hawatare 1 shaku 6 sun (48.4852 cm or 19.0879"). The hamon is a chu-suguba-midare in the lower half of the blade, changing to gunome midare in the front. There is a great deal of ha nie, with ara nie mixed in, kinsuji, sunagashi, and long inazuma. The nioi habuchi is not glaring slightly shizumi. Contrarily, blades signed Hankei that are seen with a bright nioiguchi are mostly counterfeits. The boshi is hakikai and there are nie scattered throughout. While Hankei generally worked in itame, the jigane is a large masame with some o-mokume which is rarely seen. There are chikei. There are tate ware which is a characteristic of Hankei and is not considered a weakness in this smith. The masa is loose and there are three umegane.
Hankei started his career as a tepposhi, gun maker, and was in the employ of the Tokugawa, during that time he was called Noda Zenshiro Kiyotaka. There is at least one gun barrel signed Kiyotaka that has been designated juyo. There are stories that he studie sword making with Shoshu Tsunahiro and Shimada Yoshisuke (Gisuke) mon, his work was also influenced by Echizen Yasutsugu.
The wakizashi comes with a partial koshirae which need to be professionally restored. The iron Tetsugundo tsuba is signed with a han. The menuki appear to be Goto or Waki Goto of shakudo with gold and silver detailing. The Fuchi is fine nanako on deep black shakudo with flocking horses in shakudo, copper, silver and gold. The kashira is missing, so a simple horn mounting would be appropriate. The same is excellent: large nodules, great color and condition.
NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Kanteisho. Freash polish, shirasaya, and a niju gold foil habaki.