Any papered examples of Kunikane Gen 4-9?

[AlexiG]

@Peter Bleed @Vermithrax16

 

Checking if new information has surfaced regarding the mid-Kunikane generations since 2010 (the date of the quote from Peter below). 

 

My specific question is as follows: Does anyone have examples of papered blades from Kunikane 4-9? The books I have do not list any (Sendai Mekan and Sendai Han no Meicou Kunikane 仙台藩の名工  国包), yet Sesko lists signatures for gen 4 and 5 (奥州仙台住国包). I have only seen papered examples of Gen 2 with that signature. 

 

If in your research you have seen any papered examples of gens 4-9 please share. What information did Sesko find that allowed him to list signatures for Gens 4 and 5?

 

The context for this is another "Shinsa story" but that is for another thread. 

 

Best,

Alexi

 

 

  Quote

There are a great many bad Kunikane signatures out there, largely because the Kunikane 1 successfully started a long line of smiths that survived and was supported by the Date family. There were 14 generations in the main line. They practiced the style of the founder and enjoyed official support. The middle generations produced mumei swords that went right into the armory of the Date family. (Sendai meikan lists NO legitmate signatures from the 4th to 10th generations.) After the Meiji Restoration those unsigned swords were sold to an antiques dealer - apparently in Sendai - who had them signed --- mainly with the Master's name. Dealers refer to these as "Sendai Atobori." They can be viewed as "school"swords, but those "after signatures" are being removed nowadays. That is, they are being treated like "gimei."

 

Peter

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