Two Top-Quality Nambokucho Swords For Sale

[Ray Singer]

A sword which I have been pursuing for a very long time has come up for sale and as a consequence I will be selling these two swords from my own collection for what I feel are very reasonable prices.

 

The first is a Nambokucho wakizashi which has been papered to Ko-Uda Kunifusa circa 1381. Kunifusa was regarded as the overall best smith of the Uda school and is said to have been a student of the grandmaster smith Etchu Norishige. One can strongly see the influence of Norishige in this sword, which has a powerful whirling itame hada with thick chikei, and has areas with a flavour of matsu-kawa hada. The hamon is suguha-based with profuse, fine activity including sunagashi and fine kinsuji throughout. The sword is absolutely flawless, with no kitae-ware anywhere. It is in shirasaya with a very fine gold foil habaki. Please note that one piece of foil has become separated. My intention was to send this to Brian Tschernega for repair but did not have an opportunity to do so. Totally repairable. The Kunifusa also comes with a very fine koshirae. The fuchigashira is deep black shakudo nanako, in the motif of Lily flowers. The kozuka is also in the same theme. The menuki are floral. The tsuba is a thick ko-kinko piece which I believe is late Muromachi. The saya is black lacquer is in excellent condition with no losses. Please note that I will add photos of the kanteisho in the next day or so.

 

$5,500 (plus shipping)

[Ray Singer]

The second is a great Tokubetsu Hozon Bingo Ko-Mihara which I purchased from a friend and fellow NMB member off this board. The sword is late Kamakura - Nambokucho and shows very interesting workmanship for a sword attributed to this school. I have owned 6 Ko-Mihara over the years and this sword stands out in a few ways. It exhibits a strong midare utsuri that is continuous on both sides of the blade, unlike Ko-Mihara which often has scattered areas of shirake. The habuchi becomes gradually thicker into the monouchi, with the area going into and within the boshi having bright, parallel strands of nie resembling a fine Tegai blade. One can really feel the influence of both Bizen and Yamato in this blade. A great study piece and lacking nothing in quality. 66.6cm, with a niju ginmoku (solid silver) habaki with the outer piece having gold foil. Slender, well-shaped shirasaya with an old sayagaki attribution to Rai Kunimitsu. Credit nihontoart.com for these photos.

 

SOLD

[mywei]

Nice swords! The Ko-Uda seems like a particularly nice package and at an attractive price too.

[Brian]

Damn, those are both screaming fantastic deals.
LOVE the ko-Uda! And look at that f/k
These will sell. Stunning deals Ray!

[Ray Singer]

Thanks for the kind words Brian. They are both swords I will miss when they sell. The Kunifusa is definitely one of my best finds and favorite swords over the past 25+ years collecting.

 

If anyone has questions about these, please email raymondsinger@gmail.com.

 

Best regards,

Ray

[tokashikibob]

Wow Ray!  You must really have you eye on something to let these blades hit the market!

[Stephen]

thats me praying to lotto Gods the Uda will be mine, the Uda will be mine,the Uda will be mine!

[Ray Singer]

Both swords are now on hold.

 

Best regards,

Ray

[SAS]

Screaming good deals, if my house and boat were finished i would be all over those.....

[Ray Singer]

Sold. Thank you again for the kind words.

 

Best regards,

Ray

[Vermithrax16]

Great deals for sure, congrats to buyers and seller.

[charlie1]

Stephen did you lotto numbers get call? Congrats to both ray and the buyer

[Stephen]

nope no such luck, drawing in few hours anyway, you all will know if i do ....LMAO

[Adversary]

Damn Raymond... if this is the stuff you sell to get the stuff you really want... one wonders what your keepers look like...

[Brian]

Phew..now I can stop considering selling my car
Congrats to the new owner/s!

[SwordGuyJoe]

Congrats to both the buyers and Ray. Great swords, great deals!

[Wayben]

I received the two swords from Ray today and believe me, the pictures don't do them justice. They look even better in hand. Good communication, quick shipping, and a product that is better than described, it doesn't get any better than that. Thanks Ray and NMB!!

[Ray Singer]

My pleasure Wayne, very glad you are pleased with these swords. Enjoy

 

Best regards,

Ray

[Vermithrax16]

Congrats guys!

[Brian]

Normally delete sales immediately after they close, but will leave this one up another half a day to say congrats Wayne..those were a superb deal! Really beautiful swords.

And a huge thanks to Ray for his extremely generous donation. I know he wouldn't want me to mention it, but sometimes it shows what kind of seller someone is, and people need to be reminded that these are the guys who keep this forum running.
Nice one Wayne...knowing when to grab the tarts is a major part of collecting.
 

[Greg F]

Congrats Wayne and well done Ray.

 

Greg

[Stephen]

Congrats Wayne, bringing your swords to midwest meeting in July?

[estcrh]

Normally delete sales immediately after they close

 

Having a "Finished sales" archive gallery would be nice, for future reference of both sword etc sold and of sellers, some dealers I know do this.

[Wayben]

Congrats Wayne, bringing your swords to midwest meeting in July?

I'll be in Minneapolis in July with at least one sword in hand. Haven't decided yet what to bring. Was only planning on bringing one, but may have to bring the Kunifusa as an extra.

[Brian]

Having a "Finished sales" archive gallery would be nice, for future reference of both sword etc sold and of sellers, some dealers I know do this.

Some buyers and/or sellers prefer these posts to be removed. Or they want the pricing removed. Some sellers don't want their photos out there....they are often used in fraud later.

A Sold items gallery would be possible, eventually. Once we move to better hosting and have a guaranteed $100 coming in monthly.

 

Brian

[Vermithrax16]

Some buyers and/or sellers prefer these posts to be removed. Or they want the pricing removed. Some sellers don't want their photos out there....they are often used in fraud later.

A Sold items gallery would be possible, eventually. Once we move to better hosting and have a guaranteed $100 coming in monthly.

 

Brian

All you need is $100 monthly? Seems we can do that easy.

[cisco-san]

Congrats - great blades!!!