Sugata: Shinogi-Zukuri Iori-mune with shallow tori-zori. The blade has a Koshi-bi on the omote and Goma-bashi on the ura
Nagasa:. 75.7cm
Motohaba: 3.3cm Sakihaba: 2.5cm Kasane: 7.5mm
Hada: Very tight ko-itame (almost muji) much of the detail obscured by light abrasion. However there is evidence of ji-nie and tobiyaki
Hamon: Suguha base with a tight nioi-guchi but with gunome and togari elements some resembling crab claws.
Kissaki: chu-kissaki with sugu ko-maru boshi
Nakago: Ubu, one mekugi ana,ha-agiri kurijiri with Kesho yasurimei. Signed katana mei Minamoto Mitsuhira. (The nakago may have been lightly cleaned)
Koshirae: black tape bound same tsuka. Mokkogata jakushi style iron tsuba. Iron dragon menuki, plain iron fuchi kashira with silver wire borders. Black lacquered saya with dragon in clouds in relief (split and with some substantial wood loss)
Sho
Description: A Shinto Wakizashi in Koshirae
Sugata: Shinogi-Zukuri Iori-mune with shallow tori-zori with bo-hi
Nagasa:. 45.8cm
Motohaba: 3.1cm Sakihaba: 2.4cm Kasane: 7mm
Hada: obscured by light abrasion
Hamon: Narrow ko-gunome in nioi. There is yakiotoshi.
Kissaki: Extended chu-kissaki with sugu boshi with ko maru and pointed kaeri.
Nakago: Ubu, one mekugi ana, Mei Harima (no) kami Teruhiro (Teru character appears incomplete)
Koshirae: black tape bound same tsuka. Mokkogata jakushi style iron tsuba. Iron dragon menuki, plain iron fuchi kashira with silver wire borders. Black lacquered saya with dragon in clouds in relief. Good condition
Provenance: Purchased in a local UK auction in 1955. Purported to be the property of Major Thurgar of Cranley Hall.
Lots 992 - 1009 comprise a collection of Japanese edged weapons assembled by the late Mr MacCormick between 1953 and 1963, with one final addition added in 1998. They were all purchased within the UK at local auctions, antique shops or privately. They have never been submitted for shinsa. Within the Collection there is a Daisho (large and small swords) and a good Gendaito from the Showa period.
All of the works are in largely untouched condition and a professional polish would undoubtedly reveal more detail of hada, hamon and boshi. Equally the koshirae include a number of interesting tsuba and small fittings which are worthy of further study and preservation.
Mellors & Kirk gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Paul Bowman in the cataloguing of this collection
