Q886. Wakizashi signed Tsushima no Kami Tachibana Ippo.

Nagasa: 19 1/4″ 48.8 cm. slightly suriage (shortened)

Sori: .9 cm.

Moto haba: 2.9 cm.

Moto kasane: .6 cm.

Saki haba: 1.9 cm.

Saki kasane: .4 cm.

Nakago nagasa: 6 1/4″ 16 cm.

Overall in shirasaya: 28 7/8″ 73.5 cm.

Shinogi zukuri, koshi sori, iore mune, chu kissaki. The hada is itame mokume and, with the exception of one short tate ware’ a couple inches above the habaki on the ura and a pinprick or 2, it is flawless. The hamon is gunome choji with sunagashi, hotsure, yo, and other hataraki, in a bright and consistent nioi guchi covered (slathered) in ko nie. The boshi is shallow undulations ending in ko maru on the ura, chu maru on the omote, and a short kaeri. This is in a well done, professional polish and mounted with a silver foil habaki and in a well made shirasaya. There is a kesho paper from the NBTHK, dated 1971 and attesting to the signature, condition, and work.

There is a nicely written sayagaki by Hitoshi Sato of the Japanese Art Sword Museum of Kurashiki, who used the art name Bizan (備山). The sayagaki has been translated: Tsushima-no-kami Tachibana Ippō

“Art name” of Chikyū

Priestly name of Tsushima-no-kami Tsunemitsu

Genroku era

Gunome chōji, Fine work

Nagasa of 1 shaku, 6 sun, 1 bu

an auspicious day in August, Reiwa 6 (2024).

Tsushima no Kami Tachibana Ippo is better known from his other signature: Tsushima no Kami Tachibana Tsunemitsu. He was the younger brother of Heki Mitsuhira and, together with a third brother, they were important in the Edo Ishido School. The smiths of the Ishido School worked, quite successfully, in old style Bizen. Ippo/Tsunemitsu was born early in the 17th century and enjoyed a long life (one of his swords is signed with a note stating 73 years of age). He is rated Jo Saku in Fujishiro.

A fine blade in polish and in great condition, signed with paper and sayagaki. What more could you ask? How about the price. 2 pounds. $2,250.