record of swordsmith

[peterqu]

Hello All , I have a sword which appears to be signed by HIZEN KUNI HIROGUN but I can find no record of this smith. Does anyone have a reference or record you can refer me to? Regards, Peter Quin

[Jamie]

There is an invaluable amount of info here, but I'd bet pictures will help exponentially.

 

Best of Luck!

[Curran]

If you are unsure of the reading of the signature, post a photo here.

 

If sure of the reading, probably better to post this thread in the Nihonto specific section of the forum. Probably get more readers and comments there.

[peterqu]

I feared someone would ask. Little challenged in that department. Will see what I can do.Regards

[Curran]

Do a pencil or traditional rubbing stencil of the nakago?

Or hand drawing of the characters if they are highly legible?

As someone who is photography handicapped, you have my sympathy.

 

My complaint is my wife is a phenomenal photographer, but hates the digital camera. When the black magic of chem photography fell before the digital age, her cameras went into storage in our tansu. I'd rather herd 100 hyperactive kittens than try to get her to help with Nihonto photography.

On that note, good luck.

[Brian]

Here's Peter's pic.

Pete, we did this one before (for Paul) A relatively undocumented swordsmith. Possibly Kanbun era, but I had also thought maybe WW2 Gendaito.

Hizen kuni Hirokuni. http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/ ... =15&t=4411 :D

 

Brian

[peterqu]

Brian, I have now read the earlier post but I must admit that I have difficulty in accepting that the last kanji reads KUNI . If anyone can refer me to a record of such a kanji I would be grateful.The only reference in Hawley that is close ,is a two kanji mei which is different to the subject mei. For what it is worth I asked Tsuruta san`s opinion a few years back when Aoi Art offered a quick ID and he did not come back with HIROKUNI. Unfortunately , my record of that email no longer exists.The only kanji that I can find that is similar is at 695 in Self and Hirose although it is not an identical match.Regards,Peter

[cabowen]

This smith is listed in the Meikan as Hirokuni, working in Hizen around Kanbun.

 

広邦 (郡）

 

郡 can be read kuni in names.....

[peterqu]

Thanks Chris,I guess that explains it. Much appreciated. Regards,Peter