Mark S.

From Sesko Shinto Meikan

From Sesko: KUNIMASA (国正), 1st gen., Manji (万治, 1658-1661), Iyo – “Kunimasa” (国正), “Suruga no Kami Fujiwara Kunimasa” (駿河守藤原国正), real name Nishimoto Ichi´emon (西本市右衛門), Fujishiro lists him with the first name Ichibei (市兵衛), he came originally from Ninomiya (二宮) in Tosa province but was hired by the Uwajima fief (宇和島藩) of Iyo province, he was the 1st gen. of the shintō-era Iyo-Kunimasa line, he studied under the 2nd gen. Iyo Chikugo no Kami Kunifusa (筑後守国房), under Yamato no Kami Yasusada (大和守安定), and under Hōjōji Masahiro (法城寺正弘), blades which are just signed with a niji-mei “Kunimasa” are often mixed-up with works of Horikawa Kunimasa (堀川国正), the honorary title Suruga no Kami was granted to him in the fourth year of Kanbun (寛文, 1664), he died in the tenth month Hōei two (宝永, 1705), chū-saku

You’re going to have to narrow your search a bit. What do you like? What do you want? What is your favorite smith/school/era/other. You’re not just buying a blade because it is Tok Hozon or because it is $12,000. If you walk into one of the larger dealer shops and say “I want to buy a blade for $12,000”, they will probably look at you and shrug their shoulders. They probably have as many $12,000 blades as $5,000 blades. A small shop may have 1 or 2 $12,000 blades and only show you what they have and you have to pick from that. Study until you know what you want FIRST.

If you haven’t seen it, here is a newspaper saya tutorial. Safest is to oil blade and leave as is, however in this condition, some clean-up with high quality uchiko is not out of question.

With a nagasa of roughly 35cm and the sori, it really falls in the wakizashi / ko-wakizashi category. Probably old and ‘real’, but seen a rough life.

What defines a true daisho set TODAY? DOCUMENTATION Darcy had an article(s) that I believe was labeled “Daisho is and isn’t” or something like that. But what I gathered from his teachings was that the only way to really know if an old pair of blades is really a daisho set is DOCUMENTATION and a clear chain of custody which make a set extremely rare. This documentation will fall into one of three categories: 1) documentation that shows samurai XYZ carried a set of specific blades (matching smith/koshirae/etc, or not) and documentation that proves the blades you have in your hands are the blades that were actually carried/owned (no substitutions). 2) documentation that shows smith XYZ made a pair of blades specifically as a daisho pair to be carried as a daisho pair. I would assume this would be a special order by a single patron. 3) documentation that Lord XYZ, or other owned/stored/kept/gifted a daisho set of blades and documentation that proves the blades you have in your hands are the blades that were actually owned by said Lord, or other (no substitutions). Without verifiable documentation, it’s pure speculation.

If in Indiana, you have a local group who meets regularly. I’m sure they would be willing and eager to help. Research Indiana Token Kai. A member will also probably see this and reach out. EDIT: Also, Mark up above runs a heck of a Japanese Sword Show in Chicago every April (dates: 25-27 in 2025). An excellent opportunity to see blades in hand and learn a lot. While his reputation doesn’t need me to ‘vouch’ for him, I’ll do so anyway. One of the dealers you can trust to lead you in the right direction.

How many of us make regular on-line purchases (especially overseas) that could equal the amount of an expensive sports car or house mortgage sight unseen and assume it’s all just going to work out?

Once again, I am not trying to point out only negatives, but possible it was added later to ‘gussy it up’ for the tourist/GI trade. Speculation though.

Not trying to be negative, but horimono has a very rudimentary feel to it. Of course horimono are not my area of study so I will be interested in opinions of those with more experience, especially with later blades.

So then the paper that states they are worthy of preservation means they are not worthy of preservation? Do tell…

Then why ask us?

I was a bit confused as well. He is either questioning the buyer for spending that much on a questionable mei or questioning the advice he was given here because someone thought it was worth spending that much?

Sad to say I will not be in attendance this year. Went last 2 years. Hope everyone has a great show… I KNOW you will! I’ll see some of you in Chicago in April.

I would reach out to someone like Bob Benson who has lots of contacts with different artisans who may be able to offer advice assuming he doesn’t already have the answer. Not sure if anyone here on NMB has contacts in Japan of someone who might be able to ask Tanobe Sensei directly?

iPhone… I just email photos to myself and it automatically asks me if I want to resize and save. Not sure if android offers this.

What would be interesting to see is how many blades each session are resubmitted blades vs brand new. As has been stated many times, “Juyo is a competition” against other submitted blades and not just an individual judgment. So how many blades didn’t make the cut one session, but passed in another? I know they don’t keep track, and there is no answer. On the other hand, I guess each session ‘starts fresh’, so it really doesn’t matter. I think Darcy once speculated that as you start narrowing down the remaining blades, sooner or later blades that didn’t pass previously might pass. But at that level, great is still great and the path to get to Juyo isn’t easy.

Not sure if this one fits your needs. https://www.samurais....jp/sword/24152.html

Kanenori 兼則

And be careful about offers made by PM. Know what you have first.

Not to hijack, but imagine my surprise… had a blade polished, only to have it judged saiha at Shinsa. My guess is the blade has mizukage and that was a tell to the Shinsa team. Polisher didn’t think so…

I have a meikan-mori Kuwana ju Morishige. I have to be honest, the mei on the OP’s original blade would have made me be hesitant to buy. That is not a judgment about OP or the blade, just my ability with judging well cut mei vs not so well done.

There were MANY Kanesada, so don’t assume it was one of the famous one(s) without further research and documentation. Initial view of the blade looks a bit abused and tired, but without blade in hand (especially that of a trained polisher) it’s tough to say. While not conclusive, a picture with the habaki off and the area just above and below the hamachi is sometimes helpful to see how polished down a blade is.