Tachi signed Kunimune...opinions.

[roninjje]

Hi all, this is from my collection. A 28.5 in. tachi signed Kunimune. I picked it up for $40 out of a barrel of sabers (wish I had bought the whole barrel :? ) at an antique store that was being sold as part of an estate. Had it polished as it was full of pitting and nicks.

 

Let me know what you think. I believe it is Hokke Kunimune, though I am not sure. Have to get it shinsa'd one of these days.

[sencho]

I am at sea with no books, however looks like a good buy to me... any pictures of the blade before polish?

 

Out of interest how much money do you have in it after polish and everything?

 

Last thing I found in a junk shop was in South Florida... Stainless Kai Gunto and the moron wanted $3,000 for it...

 

Cheers!

[roninjje]

here are pics in original condition.

 

All told just under $1800. I had to have a new habaki and shirasaya made as well.

[Stephen]

let us know who did the work? very nice all around.

[roninjje]

David Hofhine, and I think he did an outstanding job considering the condition.

[Bungo]

" A 28.5 in. tachi signed Kunimune. I picked it up for $40 out of a barrel of sabers ".................

and you want our opinion ?

 

YOU ARE A VERY SICK PUPPY, I HATE YOU

 

 

 

milt the ronin

[roninjje]

Awe Milt, you made me feel bad.

 

[Jean]

Hi J.J.

 

The only Hoki Kunimune I know is a very very big name, some blades are tokuju. Worked during Koan (1278 - Kamakura).

 

Few comments : the blade is a bit short for a Kamakura tachi, it is only slightly suriage the mei being just under the first mekugi ana.

 

So the question is : Why two other mekugi ana far below

 

The suguta shoul be Koshi sori, hamon itame with saka ashi (one of this teacher being Bizen Motoshige)

 

I would not bet on the mei.

 

Now that is for Koichi, as I do not know anything about Hiragana :

 

In his mei, the Hiragana "U" is found in the right side of his KUNI character, is this the case?

 

But once again, I am not a specialist of mei so I can be easily wrong

 

You should put it to shinsa

[Nobody]

Now that is for Koichi, as I do not know anything about Hiragana :

 

In his mei, the Hiragana "U" is found in the right side of his KUNI character, is this the case?

The writing of Kuni is not so special on Koto nakago. The attached photo shows such a character, although the mei is not Kunimune (國宗) but Rai Kunitoshi (来國俊).

The right part of Kuni is not U (う). It only looks like that.

[roninjje]

Hi Jean, the hada is itame and the hamon is suguha with many fine ashi pulling down from it. The hamon is very thin, in part due to the tiredness of the blade. I even had the polisher leave one nick in the ha because I thought it might impact the geometry.

 

I have been curious about the nakago ana as well. Perhaps it was mounted in two pin tachi furniture? and then to the single? I agree it was shortened perhaps an 3-4cm but no more.

[kusunokimasahige]

ill buy it for 35 US$ :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

wow what a lucky B you are.......!!!

 

brilliant!!

 

KM

[roninjje]

so far I understand the consensus to be this is worthy of trying to get papered?

[Darcy]

Absolutely submit it. You may be lucky. The only thing I can tell is that it is not Bizen Kunimune.

 

For $40 you definitely cannot go wrong. Now why on earth didn't you buy them all :( :(. Only $40 in your pocket?

 

Probably passed over the Masamune and someone is trimming a hedge with it now.

[roninjje]

the others were western sabers and cutlasses and I didn't know anything about them. $1000 for about twenty. In retrospect...

[BC Smith]

$1000 for about twenty

Put them on e-bay at a $50 starting bid the proceeds would have paid for shinsa, any if lucky a lot of the polishing cost. But it's always great ideas that come after the event :D

 

Bernie

[roninjje]

hind sight is always 20/20. I also bought a Japanese police saber for $35 dollars. My wife liked it because it was shiny. :lol:

[mike yeon]

Very nice blade. I agree with Darcy that it's not saburo kunimune. Don't think it's the hoki kunimune either. The sugata doesn't look early Kamakura. You'd find a deeper koshi-zori if it was that kunimune I think.

 

There were many kunimune during koto times, all pretty highly rated smiths. Yamashiro smiths, rai school, etc. Lastly, by god, you are one lucky fellow! Submit the blade and I'll gladly eat my words if it turns out to be the hoki kunimune.

 

mike

[roninjje]

Thanks Mike, will do, and no need to each words, Hoki is a long shot!