CSM101

I once owned the "Hizen To Taikan". And there were no exceptions. Even the lesser known smiths have a tachi mei.

This is from the Nihonto Bizen Den Taikan, Page 122. Juyo Bunkazai.

I know, that this i s an Ishiguro Masatsune. But you can compare the quality and you can see that there is usually an "Ishiguro" in the signature.

I could only find one pair. Seems so that the quality is not good enough for Ishiguro.

What do you mean by "authentic"? Is it a Japanese sword then Yes. Is it a Ippei Yasuyo then No.

Dear Jacques, We are not talking about physics. We are talking about ART. And when it comes to a certain artist you use the name he is known for. And this is Rai Kuniyuki. Token Bijutsu and Meito Zukan use the name. Other publications too. In the end I just want to thank Brano for showing this magnificent sword. The rest is just white noise.

No, there are no signed tachi with a signature Raii Kuniyuki. But when you want to separate the men from the boys you speak of Rai Kuniyuki. You dort mean Uda Kuniyuki or a lesser known smith. And please, don't be more catholic than the pope.

Dear Jacques, the headline says Rai Kuniyuki. But maybe you should discuss this point with the author: Tanobe Michihiro.

Think it is gimei. The signature are just some scratches and is not powerful enough.

Echigo no Kami Kanesada

Question is: are you still interested in buying it?

And for a better understanding Awataguchi Yoshimitsu - Meibutsu Atsushi Toshiro Kokuho

Then something for Jussi to like: Osafune Kagemitsu - Odachi

Awataguchi. Well, I tell you a little story. At the last DTI you could see two tanto. Both signed Kuniyoshi. One with Juyo and 12 Mio. Yen, the other TokuJu and 25 Mio. Yen. The second one you can find in the catalogue on page 49. The quality was amazing and in my eyes it was the best sword at the DTI. But this is just a single opinion and should not be taken too serious. And now you can put the sword into perspective. A signed tanto with Juyo = 12 Mio. Yen compared to an unsigned tachi with a flaw = 6 Mio. Yen. Between Juyo and Tokubetso Juyo were lightyears in quality.

What do you get, when you make a kantei from the NBTHK? An oshigata, the measurements and a blade description. Here you get some measurements, the blade is famous and a picture from a book page. This kantei was useless right from the start. I made some kantei in the past. Kantei by photo. A different way and somehow it worked out because I wanted people to learn something. I can´t see anything like that here.

Just because you own "Nihon-to- The rise and prosperity of masterful Rai school in Kyoto" you can call yourself an expert.

Kantei is puzzle. And nothing more. It should teach you something even if the teacher is not very likeable. The lower half reminded me of Ko Osafune the upper half of Yamashiro. And then you start to search. Luckily I have a digital library. Token Bijutsu 493.

Kunitoshi

Sorry, wrong picture. This ist the Rai Kunimitsu tachi - Kokuho. Signed. flawless, two holes, ubu. And by the way: if you want a flawless Rai, then the blade is either tokubetso juyo, bunkazai or above when signed. Unsigned: juyo or bijutsuhin.

A Rai Kunimitsu without Rai hada. Unfortunately not for sale because of KOKUHO. Rai blades with Rai hada are bijutsuhin.

I think, it all started earlier.

I hope to see you again in Berlin. In May.

Dear Michael, it's all AI-generated. ChatGPT. What else?