Rai Kuniyuki

[Brano]

Something to share to end of this year

Rai Kuniyuki is generally considered the founder of the Rai school.

He worked at about the same time as Ayanokoji Sadatoshi and due to the similarity of some of their blades it is assumed that these swordsmiths collaborated

No dated blade is known and the time of Rai Kuniyuki's work is estimated based on the signed and dated blades of Rai Kuniyoshi, who is believed to be his son

The blade is a mumei, slender in shape with a nagasa of 68cm and represents the style of this smith's early work

The Jigane is a tight and uniform ko-itame along the entire length of the blade with exquisitely bright ji-nie and delicate chikei throughout. The steel has a bluish color, typical of first-class Yamashiro blades

The hardening is mostly deep nioi with fine ko-nie in kakubaru style with karimata pattern, which is well know for this swordsmith

The blade has several kirikomi on the mune and muneyaki in the monouchi area

The overall style of the blade is very similar to "Sakakibara Kuniyuki" which is a Juyo Bijutsuhin

Enjoy

[Brano]

[Brano]

[Brian]

Wow that's gorgeous!

[Jacques D.]

Kuniyuki, not Rai Kuniyuki 

[CSM101]

Dear Jacques,

 

the headline says Rai Kuniyuki. But maybe you should discuss this point with the author: Tanobe Michihiro.

[Gakusee]

Wonderful, Brano! Thanks for sharing with everyone here. 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Beautiful sword and photos. It's a bit special to also have numerous Kirikomi, is there any known family provenance?

[Brano]

10 hours ago, Jacques D. said:

Kuniyuki, not Rai Kuniyuki 

Technically you are right Jacques
There is no known blade with the signature "Rai Kuniyuki", only "Kuniyuki"

However, for mumei blades the designation "Rai Kuniyuki" is commonly used not only in NBTHK but also in other publications

[Brano]

3 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Beautiful sword and photos. It's a bit special to also have numerous Kirikomi, is there any known family provenance?

Unfortunately, no information is known about the blade's history or family provenance.

[DKR]

@Brano

 

A beautiful, impressive work...even if it's just pictures. Thank you for showing it.

 

 

It's been two years now since I had the opportunity to buy a Shinsakuto blade. It's a work by "Yasumune" in the Yamashiro style.

I personally believe that he "tried" to make a blade in the style of Kuniyuki.

With modern blades, you always have to have a certain tolerance when it comes to copies of old swords...but there is a certain similarity.

Especially when you look at the Ochigata in CSM101's post.

 

 

[Jacques D.]

13 hours ago, CSM101 said:

Dear Jacques,

 

the headline says Rai Kuniyuki. But maybe you should discuss this point with the author: Tanobe Michihiro.

 

Are there any swords signed Rai Kuniyuki?

[CSM101]

No, there are no signed tachi with a signature Raii Kuniyuki. But when you want to separate the men from the boys you speak of Rai Kuniyuki. You dort mean Uda Kuniyuki or a lesser known smith. And please, don't be more catholic than the pope.

[Jacques D.]

Quote

And please, don't be more catholic than the pope.

 I'm a physicist, so I'm rigorous (maybe a little too). Rai Kuniyuki doesn't exist, but Kuniyuki of the Rai school does.

[Alex A]

Typical nonsense. FFS

 

It is what it is, stop making it about your opinion, as always. Attention seeking at its best. Grow up,

 

Ps, if your a physicist I'm an Astro nought

 

No one with such intelligence would argue over trivial BS the way you do

[CSM101]

Dear Jacques,

 

We are not talking about physics.  We are talking about ART. And when it comes to a certain artist you use the name he is known for. And this is Rai Kuniyuki.  Token Bijutsu and Meito Zukan use the name. Other publications too. 

 

In the end I just want to thank Brano for showing this magnificent sword. The rest is just white noise.

[Alex A]

Exactly. Some people moan there is not enough "high class" swords, and when they do they have put up with this ****

 

Explains why we don't see more.

[Gakusee]

This is a Tokuju sword of the highest class and looks even better in hand. 

[nulldevice]

Thanks so much for sharing @Brano. What a wonderful piece from the early Rai school!

[Alex A]

Personally, to encourage more of the same,

 

Would have it purely non comment, then hopefully we would see more swords.

 

Just an idea, As cant be doing with the BS

 

Sword, description, papers, end of.

[nulldevice]

23 minutes ago, Alex A said:

Personally, to encourage more of the same,

 

Would have it purely non comment, then hopefully we would see more swords.

 

Just an idea, As cant be doing with the BS

 

Sword, description, papers, end of.

 

If I can keep messing with Darcy's photographing method and end up with photos that I don't think are terrible, I'll make a post about my tachi.

[Alex A]

To be honest. If i do have swords worthy of presentation here, couldn't be doing with the likes of folks that don't collect swords, but books commenting. You know the type, just nothing better do in life than rain on the parade, sad individuals,. We can all make are own minds up about what we like and don't like, a bit like when you walk around a museum or exhibition. I don't need a running commentary from folks i have no respect for and consider what they say wrong in many circumstances, just want to look at more swords, if that's ok, thank you very much. sir,

 

Some of us just want to see swords, good swords, papered swords by good smiths, without interference,

 

Not a lot to ask for.

 

How's about a "post your sword thread"?,  no comments

 

Collecting swords is an individual and personal quest, that's all there is to it.

 

Lack of comment may encourage many collectors to participate, we will see more swords.

 

[Jacques D.]

On 12/29/2024 at 8:08 PM, Alex A said:

Typical nonsense. FFS

 

It is what it is, stop making it about your opinion, as always. Attention seeking at its best. Grow up,

 

Ps, if your a physicist I'm an Astro nought

 

No one with such intelligence would argue over trivial BS the way you do

How are swordsmiths listed? By artist name, that's all. Kunitoshi and Rai Kunitoshi are two different artists, and if you call the former as the latter, it doesn't make sense.

[Jacques D.]

Would you like a Rai Kuniyuki? Here's one