Rai Kunifusa

[chrisf]

One of the constant fascinations for me has been how often while studying one thing something completely different jumps off the page and demands attention,this time it was the swordsmith Rai Kunifusa.

I had a sword by him many years ago but I was incapable of being able to tell if it was a true gendaito or non-traditionally made blade and my remembrance was sparked when trawling through Ron's oshigata book the other night and coming across one that had belonged to a Mr G. Trotter!

Would love to hear your thoughts George or indeed anybody else familiar with this swordsmith and his work.

[george trotter]

Hi Chris,

Yes the Rai Kunifusa

F&G yellow books vol 1 #93 ...called Flying Dragon

Vol 2 # 256...not sure of this one but it is dated 1940

vol 2 # 359...using sand iron from the coast of Tottori. This one is listed as mine, but in fact I just sent in the oshi for a local owner. Sword is gendaito I think...it was long with funbari and small kissaki and had a "feel" of amateur about it. His work from memory was not typical gunto length or sugata...looked "Rai" influence.

I saw another here which was named something like "Flying Dragon" also...it had the ONLY go-hei gata nakago I have ever seen (folded prayer paper shape). I have never found out who he was....but he is not to be confused with a Seki smith called Kunifusa of the same time IMHO.

He must have done quite a bit of work as there are also 2 oshigatas on Rich Stein's site for him...maybe Rich could tell us if there is any accompanying inscriptions/info on these nakago?

Regards,

[chrisf]

Thank you George,I can't remember if I sent Ron the oshigata of the one I had,I corresponded with him regularly around that time and always made a point of sending an oshigata of any 'new' sword.My eye for detail and quality was not fully trained at that point of my sword career but it's interesting to hear your recollections of the blade you had in hand.

[hxv]

Dear Chris and George,

 

I happen to come across a sword by Rai Kunifusa for sale (no, not on Ebay or by any member here). I would like to hear your impression of his work. Are the examples you have seen in-hand well forged? thank you so much in advance.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[george trotter]

Hi Hoanh,

Yes Rai Kunifusa...It has been 30 years but remember him....sort of.

I have seen two in hand, both in Type 98 mounts. Both were traditionally made IMHO and were distinctive in sugata, length and nakago style.

Both were "sort of" copies of koto tachi, but more "robust", not slim and elegant like say Rai school of koto times. They were longer and of a different sugata than the usual gendaito/gunto of the times and both had information on tetsu or a Name of the sword...quite interesting.

The one made from Tottori sand iron etc (F & G yellow book #359) was strong funbari, smallish kissaki. It had a narrow shinogi (and high?) and the hira was wide...nakago was koto tachi style with deep sori.

I don't really remember the detail of the hamon now, but I think choji/gonome type?

In workmanship I did not notice any flaws or errors, but the blades struck me as heavy and had a look/feel about them of "amateur". I suppose this feeling is stronger because of the mei cutting which to me is thin and "unsophisticated" in style. I got the feeling the smith was amateur, or self-taught or maybe and old guy who made the swords for special requests. They do not fit into the category of standard gunto shape or length, or style.

I never did find who he was...Maybe the "Rai" is a clue. Tottori is "the beach" for Kyoto people, so maybe he is from Kyoto (Yamashiro) or Inaba, Tajima, Tamba, even Harima (I know this region quite well. My daughter and I often used to climb up the path to Wadayama (Takeda castle ruins...fantastic).

I can't really remember much else but if you find him and/or get the sword, please post it here.

Regards,

[hxv]

George,

 

Thank you for the details. It sounds like Rai Kunifusa's forging skills are not at all bad, but nothing is really known about him. That's a lot to chew on. If I do purchase the sword, I'll be sure to post pictures. I spoke to the seller on the phone and we came to a price agreement. However, the seller has not sent me a Paypal invoice, so I don't know if there is a change of heart. I'll give him another call today. Once again, thank you for you insight.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[chrisf]

Good post George,I only wish I could remember more but it was all a bit confusing at that time,I bought what I thought were interesting swords but the problem was I had no access to information on them apart from Ron's books and Hawley,I do recall that it had a fairish lateral bend in it caused no doubt by hitting something hard although the blade was not chipped or damaged.

It would be great to see one posted here.

 

BTW George,the Masatsugu is 65cms,so not far off but definitely a handy length.

[k morita]

George san and all,

 

At last, I found this swordsmith name on [Dai Nippon Token Shoko Meikan]. His name(Fujiwara Rai Kunifusa) appears on page 92.

He was a swordsmith who belonged to 'Japan Special Sword Forge/Works ' in Tokyo. 日本特殊刀剣鍛錬所

Although I do not know why he used himself the name of Rai , I think that it is an exaggerated swordsmith name for him.

[hxv]

Morita san,

 

I see. As the American idiom goes, he is no Rai . Do you have any information on what the "Japan Special Sword Forge/Works" was? Was it a private concern whose purpose was to make swords for ordinary customers, or was it commissioned by the Japanese government to produce swords during WW2? Any information is greatly appreciated.

 

BTW, I finally received the invoice and paid it. So, if nothing goes wrong in transit, I should get the sword next week and will post pictures. In the mean time, here is the relevant description from the seller: "The tang is marked with Rai Kunifusa as well as another script that I never could translate. I had the sword authenticated by a sword expert in NYC and I have the paperwork from him. He dated the sword as being hand made and not stamped sometime around 1935."

 

My guess is that the inscription he could not translate either tells what type of iron the sword is made from or is the name of the sword, per George's post. It would be interesting to see who the "expert" was that evaluated the sword and the actual evaluation itself.

 

Regards,

Hoanh

[k morita]

Hi,

There was the same name swordsmith also in Muromachi era.

When the sword arrives, please post photos here.

[george trotter]

Kiyoshi san,

Thank you for that information...you have a good eye. I did not notice him in the book before you said where he was.

There seems to be no other information.

And I agree, Hoanh, please post a pic and give us the length of the blade...maybe this is a long one also?

Regards,

[hxv]

Dear George and Morita san,

 

I will post pics and measurements when the sword arrives.

 

Thank you,

Hoanh

[chrisf]

Hoanh,any news on the Kunifusa yet?

[hxv]

Chris,

 

PM sent.

 

Regards,

Hoanh