Kat-111 Juyo Token Naoe Shizu

Juyo Token attributed to Naoe Shizu.

Kaneuji, one of the Masamune Juttetsu, established his forge at Shizu in Mino province. As such, Shizu has become to be used interchangeably with the Kaneuji for identification. Later his students Kanetomo, Kanetsugu, Kanetomo, and Kanenobu established their foge at Naoe in Mino and became known as Naoe Shizu.
This o-suriage katana has a sedate hamon in gunome and ko-notare with sunagashi, kinsuji, and yubashiri, and has a notare boshi with a ko-maru kaeri. A kitae of itame with a hint of nagare exhibits abundant nie in both the ji and the ha. Both the ji and ha are very clear and healthy throughout. This is a typical Naoe Shizu made in an overall calm style.

Keijo is Shinogi zukuri, iori mune, wide mihaba, very slight difference between the motohaba and the sakihaba, high sori, and o-kissaki. Kitae has mokume mixed with slightly nagare itame, abundant ji-nie, and chikei. Hamon is gunome mixed with a ko-notare, deep nioi, and abundant nie, The nioi-guchi is bright and clear, there is kinsuji, sunagashi, and yubashiri. Boshi is returing in ko-maru. Bohi extends through the nakago on both the omte and ura. Nakago is o-suriage, saki is kiri, yasurimei is sujikai, two mekugi ana, one of which is plugged, mumei.

Nabokucho

Unsigned – attributed to Naoe Shizu (Juyo Token 44th session)

Nagasa 69.5 cm
Sori 1.7 cm
Motohaba 3.0 cm
Sakihaba 2.4 cm
Kissaki Nagasa 4.6 cm
Nakago Nagasa 17.5
Nakago Sori .1 cm