Mumei Kanenobu Naginata-Naoshi in Shirasaya with Sayagaki

Specifications

Type: Naginata-Naoshi
Nakago: O-suriage Mumei
Period: Late Nanbokucho period
Papers: NBTHK  Hozon
Horimono: None
Habaki: Wood extended from the tsuka

Koshirae: None

Sayagaki: The sayagaki specifies that the sword is from the Naoe Shizu school, but does not elaborate on when it was made. Only stating it is an unsigned work assigned to Naoe Shizu, a kao or signature is absent, so there is no way to know who judged the sword. Interestingly, the NBTHK does roughly agree with this unnamed sayagaki.

Specifications:
Nagasa (Cutting-edge length): 45.45cm
Sori (Curvature): 1,1cm
Motohaba: 31mm

Description:

Attributed to Kanenobu of the Naoe-Shizu school. Kanenobu studied under Shizu Kaneuji and was active during the latter half of the Nanbokuchō period. Kaneuji is traditionally regarded as one of the Ten Great Disciples of Masamune. After he moved from Yamato Province to Shizu in Mino Province, his school grew and prospered. Several of his descendants and students later settled in Naoe, and these smiths became known as the Naoe-Shizu school.

This sword has a powerful Nanbokuchō sugata, with a wide mihaba, moderate sori, and a large ō-kissaki. The blade was originally made as a naginata and was later reshaped into its present form. It feels large, imposing, and full of character.

The jihada is a tightly forged itame, covered in fine ji-nie showing utsuri. The hamon is based on gunome, mixed with ko-notare, chōji, and pointed togari shapes. Frequent tobiyaki appear throughout the blade, with plenty of ashi and yō. Kinsuji and sunagashi run actively through the hamon.

The bōshi is midare-komi with tobiyaki and finishes in a yakizume-like manner. Overall, this is a very strong and lively example of the Naoe-Shizu tradition.

This sword was previously listed by Eirakudo in Tokyo:

https://eirakudo.shop/touken/wakizashi/776086/

The images of Eirakudo do kind of try to hide a few flaws on this sword. See my images below for an idea of the condition of the shinogi-ji.