Ray Singer Posted June 7, 2017 Report Posted June 7, 2017 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) 11 Quote
Ray Singer Posted June 7, 2017 Author Report Posted June 7, 2017 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 7 Quote
mywei Posted June 7, 2017 Report Posted June 7, 2017 Nice swords! The Ko-Uda seems like a particularly nice package and at an attractive price too. 2 Quote
Brian Posted June 7, 2017 Report Posted June 7, 2017 Damn, those are both screaming fantastic deals.LOVE the ko-Uda! And look at that f/kThese will sell. Stunning deals Ray! 2 Quote
Ray Singer Posted June 7, 2017 Author Report Posted June 7, 2017 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 1 Quote
tokashikibob Posted June 7, 2017 Report Posted June 7, 2017 Wow Ray! You must really have you eye on something to let these blades hit the market! 1 Quote
Stephen Posted June 7, 2017 Report Posted June 7, 2017 thats me praying to lotto Gods the Uda will be mine, the Uda will be mine,the Uda will be mine! 2 Quote
Ray Singer Posted June 7, 2017 Author Report Posted June 7, 2017 Both swords are now on hold. Best regards, Ray 2 Quote
SAS Posted June 7, 2017 Report Posted June 7, 2017 Screaming good deals, if my house and boat were finished i would be all over those..... 1 Quote
Ray Singer Posted June 7, 2017 Author Report Posted June 7, 2017 Sold. Thank you again for the kind words. Best regards, Ray 5 Quote
Vermithrax16 Posted June 7, 2017 Report Posted June 7, 2017 Great deals for sure, congrats to buyers and seller. 1 Quote
charlie1 Posted June 7, 2017 Report Posted June 7, 2017 Stephen did you lotto numbers get call? Congrats to both ray and the buyer 1 Quote
Stephen Posted June 8, 2017 Report Posted June 8, 2017 nope no such luck, drawing in few hours anyway, you all will know if i do ....LMAO 1 Quote
Adversary Posted June 8, 2017 Report Posted June 8, 2017 Damn Raymond... if this is the stuff you sell to get the stuff you really want... one wonders what your keepers look like... 5 Quote
Brian Posted June 8, 2017 Report Posted June 8, 2017 Phew..now I can stop considering selling my car Congrats to the new owner/s! 6 Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted June 9, 2017 Report Posted June 9, 2017 Congrats to both the buyers and Ray. Great swords, great deals! 2 Quote
Wayben Posted June 10, 2017 Report Posted June 10, 2017 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!! 9 Quote
Ray Singer Posted June 11, 2017 Author Report Posted June 11, 2017 My pleasure Wayne, very glad you are pleased with these swords. Enjoy Best regards, Ray 2 Quote
Brian Posted June 11, 2017 Report Posted June 11, 2017 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. 6 Quote
Greg F Posted June 11, 2017 Report Posted June 11, 2017 Congrats Wayne and well done Ray. Greg 1 Quote
Stephen Posted June 11, 2017 Report Posted June 11, 2017 Congrats Wayne, bringing your swords to midwest meeting in July? Quote
estcrh Posted June 11, 2017 Report Posted June 11, 2017 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. Quote
Wayben Posted June 11, 2017 Report Posted June 11, 2017 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. 2 Quote
Brian Posted June 11, 2017 Report Posted June 11, 2017 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 5 Quote
Vermithrax16 Posted June 12, 2017 Report Posted June 12, 2017 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. Quote
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