Rai Kunimitsu Tanto

[paulb]

Rai Kunimitsu is one of my favourite smiths and I have had the chance to examine a number of his blades in hand. The Jigane is fantastic and beautiful to see.

I appreciate taste is very subjective but I am at a loss as to why anyone, smith or customer would choose to do this to one of his blades.

 

https://www.aoijapan.com/img/sword/2015/151029-2.jpg

 

As said it is a very subjective thing but does anyone think the horimono on this piece enhances it?

[Ken-Hawaii]

I think it should have been used to turn him into a eunuch!

[Gunome]

I see that blade and I am a little bit disappointed because on the face with the mei, almost all the surface of the blade is covered by the bohi.

This result we don't see the jigane on this face, that is a shame.

[16k]

Rai Kunimitsu is one of my favourite smiths and I have had the chance to examine a number of his blades in hand. The Jigane is fantastic and beautiful to see.

I appreciate taste is very subjective but I am at a loss as to why anyone, smith or customer would choose to do this to one of his blades.

 

https://www.aoijapan.com/img/sword/2015/151029-2.jpg

 

As said it is a very subjective thing but does anyone think the horimono on this piece enhances it?

No, it doesn’t, but I’m biased as I don’t like Horimono. Even when they are beautifully done, I always think they take away from the raw beauty of the blade, like a girl with too much make up.

[Jean]

Horimono can be splendid (Soshu smiths, Tadatsuna...) and enhance any blade. This blade is very tired and won’t upgrade to Juyo. BTW, this blade has been for sale on Aoi Art website for at least a year... you can draw your own conclusions...

[O-Midare]

Is this Horimono done in negative? Not liking it.

[SAS]

Should have stopped at the bo bi.

[lonely panet]

this item been on his webpage as long as I can remember. so your opinions on the work are substance 

[Jean]

In fact this tanto is such atypical for Kunimitsu that you can say you buy the mei rather than the blade..

 

A juyo Rai Kunitoshi tanto in Japan is worth 6/7 M¥, a Kunimitsu with nice koshirae is worth around 6M¥

 

BTW, Fred W. Has a nice juyo Rai Kunimitsu tanto for sale on his website

[paulb]

I have lusted after the tanto on Fred's site ever since I saw it in Japan when he bought it. It is a beautiful piece which I think sums up the work of Kunimitsu.in a small piece of steel.

Unfortunately I don't think I have been good enough this year for Santa to bring it for me!

[lonely panet]

could someone post the link to freds site or tanto?

[Pete Klein]

https://www.nihonto.com/11-1-14/

[vajo]

Sorry guys i see on that Rai Tanto only a white line. Nothing else. Juyo or not. 

[Tigerinbamboo]

That Rai tanto on Fred's site is mine. Right after I win the lottery...

 

????

[paulb]

not if I win it first

[paulb]

 

Sorry guys i see on that Rai Tanto only a white line. Nothing else. Juyo or not.

Yes Chris I see what you mean from the images.

I saw it at a Thursday evening dinner meeting organised by Robert Hughes  before the DTI and had the chance to spend a good amount of time looking at it in detail. It has everything you would expect to see from a top Rai smith of that period and more. The activity in both jigane and hamon is fantastic and the shape exquisite. It is certainly one I would like to add to my collection but the chances of that are much the same as me winning the lottery (which I don't do!)

[Ken-Hawaii]

Yeah, even less of chance of winning the lottery out here, as Hawaii doesn't allow them. Chris is right - the photos don't do that blade justice.

[Vermithrax16]

In one of the pictures on Fred's site I think you can see what paulb is saying he saw; I tried to show the areas that the pictures caught the liveliness of the blades hada. Would be exciting to see in hand:

[vajo]

Thanks Jeremiah, i see it now.

[CSM101]

Another two examples of Rai Kunimitsus works. Rai1 with chikei en masse and in Rai2 you can clearly see the nie utsuri.

 

Uwe G.

[16k]

Another two examples of Rai Kunimitsus works. Rai1 with chikei en masse and in Rai2 you can clearly see the nie utsuri.

 

Uwe G.

Now, that one, I see it! Lovely!

[Blazeaglory]

Is this Horimono done in negative? Not liking it.

Yep!

[Blazeaglory]

That Rai tanto on Fred's site is mine. Right after I win the lottery...

 

????

I've been lusting after that blade for a while now! I love it!

[DoTanuki yokai]

OK i have only checked the pictures on aoi of the tanto and i like the horimono, im always thinking about how it was when it was carved not its actuall state :/

 

Also the koshirae is nice, if i would have the money i would buy it. (if i would looking for Tanto)

And what is with that flower ? :D

[Tom Darling]

It use to be Betty Grable and Marilyn Monroe on calendars in barracks. Now, you lust for beautiful curved swords, with tori-zori, uchi-zori, gonome-choji-midare hamon, bonji, horimono, yakiba, utsuri, HI, yo, ji-hada, bohi, ha-machi, shinogi, boshi and kissaki etc. WOW!  and includes the all important Nakago that is under the tsuka.  Swords are beautiful forever!!!  Peace.

 

 

Tom D.

[Geraint]

Dear Christian.

 

The flower is the impression of the punch that was used to spread the metal of the sekigane to get a good fit to the nakago.  As far as I am aware it has no particular significance other than that.

 

All the best.