Fs: Kubo Yoshihiro O-Tanto W/ Tsugaru-Nuri

[Salvatori Moretto]

Up for sale is one of my most recent projects. 

It's a Japanese o-tanto (Long enough so tech a short wakizashi) with just over 14 inch nagasa and about 20 inch over all including habaki and tsuka. It features a traditionally done kesho polish which is still in about 98% good shape. Blade has a very stout and sturdy feel in the hand and should make a nice cutter if you so choose it.

 

Blade is signed but I have not had it translated, feel free to chime in if you can This is not a nihonto so if need be feel free to take down this sale page if you feel this does not belong here

I custom made everything on this project with exception of the well executed habaki which was done by Wally Hostetter.

All buffalo horn was hand carved and polished by me including the Kaeshizuno, nothing was store bought.

Tsuka was carved by me and features high grade samegawa from namikawa, elegant shaping, and very nice antique dragon themed menuki.

Saya was hand carved by me and blade is held snugly with zero rattle or movement in the saya but can be broken free with just a push of the thumb. Saya finish was done by me in a form of tsugaru-nuri which is a multi-layer finish that is almost never seen anymore on newer blades, specially not at this price point. I plan on making this finish my"signature"

Price is $SOLD. If using Paypal you can send as a gift or add the 3%

Cheers,
Sal' of Jizamurai Customs

[Brian]

Sal,
Curious about the blade. You say it isn't Nihonto, but it is signed by a smith? Is this made outside of Japan or....?

[Salvatori Moretto]

Hello Brian I only say it's not Nihonto because of the lack of age on the nakago, but I have not done any research into the blade, or translated the mei :/ If I were to guess it was made in the last 30 years.

[Grey Doffin]

Heisei 16.  2004.

Grey

[Brian]

Well, if it is real (not made in China) and is indeed shinsakuto, then it is very much Nihonto. So either modern fake, or a genuine sword. Mei is poorly done though. Translation anyone?

[Ray Singer]

Looks like Bingo (no) kuni Yoshi(俥) saku. Unsure of the reading of the second kanji in the smith's name, if I even have the correct kanji there. It sounds though like Salvatori knows that this is not a traditionally made blade, and perhaps it originates outside of Japan in spite of the 'Bingo (no) kuni' mei.

[Frank B]

A little off topic, what are the menuki made of?

 

Thank you

[Salvatori Moretto]

It very well may be nihonto, but I have no good translation or history on the blade, and did not want to list it as such without knowing for certain. The blade seems well done and traditionally made, and if it was made from a well known smith in the current mounts the price would probably be considerably higher

And Frank, off hand the menuki were made of copper I believe  

Thanks,
Sal'

[kyushukairu]

The last character is 博, which I instantly recognised because I recently received my 博士 and had to update my business card ha.
The reading for the smith's name is 'Yoshihiro' (善博) and after a quick search online I discovered that he is a gendai smith from Hiroshima, named Kubo Yoshihiro (久保善博)

[Stephen]

Well done Kyle..

[Ray Singer]

Agreed, well done. There do appear to be examples of his work online.

 

https://www.hamondo.tokyo/product-page/ktg0063-%E4%B9%85%E4%BF%9D%E5%96%84%E5%8D%9A-%E7%8E%89%E9%8B%BC%E5%B0%8F%E5%88%80-%E3%83%8A%E3%82%A4%E3%83%95

 

http://heiseimeitokai.com/katana/?p=1815

[drjoe]

Kubo Yoshihiro was a student of Yoshindo Yoshihara.  He has won some major awards such as the 2017 NBSK Chairman's Prize.

Nice little blade there.



 

[Bencld]

PM sent

[Stephen]

Good idea Chris

[Salvatori Moretto]

SOLD!
Thanks everyone, all of you that did your own research, and those of you that just had "magical" knowledge of this stuff, and thankfully posted what you knew for me, I really appreciate it!
Cheers,
Sal'

[drjoe]

Kubo Yoshihiro was the most recent smith to be awared Mukansa!

https://markussesko.com/2018/08/11/mukansa-ningen-kokuho-list/