Swords

Shinsakuto Kunimasa katana

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A katana by the mukansa (2014) smith Kunimasa in shirasaya with a two piece gold foil over copper habaki, and a contemporary koshirae.

Nagasa: 29.5", 75 cm

Motohaba: 34 mm Motokasane: 7mm

Sakihaba: 28mm Sakikasane: 6mm

Nakago: Ha agari kuri jiri, sa agari yasurimei, one mekugi ana

Katana omote: Hishu junin Kunimasa saku no kore

Ura mei: Heisei himot ushi nen shogatsu kichijitsu (New Year, 1997, Heisei 9th year), Ohu Okuyama Kazuyuki shi ju

Ichiro Matsuba Kunimasa was ranked mukansa in 2014. He aspires to make blades in the Nambokucho style of Chogi Nagayoshi. HIs web page is here: https://matsubakatana.com.

This particular blade has a majestic suguta based on an ubu Bizen Nambokucho tachi with a longish chu kissaki, narrow and low shinogi ji, and a low iori mune. The blade tends to koshizori.
The omote hamon is in ko nie deki with profuse nioi, gunome chiji with peaks reaching almost to the shinogi, and broad valleys. The effect is of a snow-covered mountain range running the length of the blade. Profuse ashi and activity in nioi shine below the hamon. The ura is much the same, but becomes smaller and a little quieter as it runs through the monouchi. The mountain-scape effect is similar to the omote, but on a slightly smaller scale. The hamon continues into the boshi on both sides. The kaeri is Jizu-like on the omote, and almost kaen on the ura. The steel is a very tightly forged itame with areas of komokume. There is a bohi kaki nagashi on both sides. The upper end stops at the yokote.

The blade is in shirasaya and is accompanied by a good comtemporary koshirae with a dragon theme throughout.

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A Shinshinto Katana by Sanjo Kokaji Munetsugu

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This is a graceful shinshinto katana forged in the MIno tradition. There were a number of shinshinto smiths tracing their heritage back to Sanjo Munechika and using the mei Munetsugu. We are still tracking this one down. The blade is well forged and light in the hand and would make a nice shinken iaito, as well as being a lovely blade.

Sugata: a shinogi zukuri, iori mune katana with torii zori, a chu kissaki, and a narrow shinogi ji, and a slightly raised shinogi.

Nagasa: 67 cm (26.37")

Sori: 1.9 cm

Motokasane: 29 mm Motohaba: 6.5 mm

Sakikasane: 19 mm Sakihaba: 5 mm

Hamon: The omote is a nioi deki regular gunome with the peaks trending towards the kissaki in the monouchi and extending into the boshi with a komaru turnback. The ura is similar to the omote, but the peaks of the gunome angle back toward the hamachi in the monouchi. The yakidashi on both sides stops about a cm from the hamachi. There is a distinct mizukage on both sides, starting about a cm into the nakago and running up to the shinogi. The hamon extends into the boshi in a smaller gunome ending in komaru.

Kitae: A tightly forged, flawless ko itame with ji nie.

Nakago: Ha agari kuri jiri with katte sagari yasurime and one mekugi ana

Mei: Sanjo Kokaji Munetsugu saku

Koshirae: Gold-washed silver foil over copper habaki. Tsuka with dark blue ito, patinated brass fuchi/kashira and floral menuki. Black patterned lacquered saya with handachi hardware matching the f/k. Horn kurikata with blue and gold woven sageo. There is currently a contemporary iai tsuba mounted on the blade, but that could easily be replaced with nice older iron piece.

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Tachi by Yoshindo Yoshikazu

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A signed, dated tachi by Yoshindo Yoshikazu, in shirasaya with sayagaki by Yoshikazu. One piece gold and shakudo habaki. Yoshikazu, the son of Yoshindo Yoshihara, is a mukansa smith in his own right. This is a strong, beautifully forged blade, with a majestic sugata.

Nagasa: 75 cm (29.5")

Sori: 2.54 cm (1.0")

Motokasane: 30.5 mm Motohaba: 8 mm

Sakikasane: 21 mm Sakihaba: 6 mm

Hamon: An exuberant nioi deki choji with ashi, that becomes condensed in the monouchi and extends into the boshi ending in a komaru kaeri on the tachi ura, and a sharp, short kaeri on the tachi omote.

Kitae: A finely forged ko itame with profuse ji nie

Horimono: There is a deep bohi on both sides extending well into the koshinogi, and tapering off halfway down the nakago.

Nakago: the nakago is kuri jiri with katte sagari yasurime and one mekugi ana.

Tachi mei: Toto Takasago ju Yoshikazu saku kore

Nengo: Heisei ni ju go nen yayoi kitsu jitsu (2013)

Yoshindo Yoshikazu san has passed away. This blade has gone back to Japan as part of his estate. We are leaving it on our site as a tribute to the skill and spirit of Yoshikazu sensei. He will be missed.