An Echizen daisho | The katana signed Echizen ju Shimosaka | Edo period, 17th century

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An Echizen daisho

The katana signed Echizen ju Shimosaka

Edo period, 17^th century 

Sugata [configuration]: Slender shinogi-zukuri, iori-mune, koshi-zori, chu-kissaki, the wakizashi with a shallow tori-zori

Kitae [forging pattern]: The katana jigane possibly a tight ko-mokume, the wakizashi in ko-it.mes or masame hada 

Hamon [tempering pattern]: The katana with gunome midare hamon in nie, profuse ashi, the wakizashi wth an omidare in nie 

Boshi [tip]: Possible kaeri to the boshi

Nakago [tang]: The katana with ubu nakago, one mekugi-ana, osujikai, kengyo jiri, signed Echizen ju Shimosaka (Shimosoka from Echizen), the wakizashi with ha-agiri, kurijiri, two mekugi-ana, mumei

Habaki [collar]: Copper-gilt 

Koshirae [mount]: The black lacquer koshirae with archaic-style birds and peonies, with fuchi-kashira, kozuka and menuki, the tsuka is black ito, iron mokko-gata tsuba

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 60 cm., 23⅝ in.; 49 cm., 19¼ in.

Saki-haba [width at the yokote]: 1.9 cm., ¾ in.; 2.1 cm., ⅞ in. 

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.9 cm., 1⅛ in.; 2.7 cm., 1 in.  

The katana koshirae: 88.5 cm., 35 in.

The wakizashi koshirae: 71.5 cm., 28¼ in.