Kantei

NH-0417 Rank 125

Kunimune

Katana signed Bishū Okayama jū Fujiwara Kunimune zō, a Bizen work of the shintō period, with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken papers and a complete koshirae on a macabre theme.

Shintō (1596-1780)Manji era (1658–1661)BizenNBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon

Silhouette of the blade to scale, aligned at the machi

Photographs by the seller at origin.

Description

Kunimune worked in the castle town of Okayama, in the old province of Bizen; the original seller describes him as the son of a smith in the service of the Okayama domain and places his activity in the Manji and Kanbun years, well into the shintō period. The blade measures 67.9 cm of nagasa with 1.6 cm of sori; the photographs show a very lively gunome-chōji hamon in clear nioi and a contained bōshi at the point. The nakago appears untouched in the photographs, with an even patina, two mekugi-ana and the long signature Bishū Okayama jū Fujiwara Kunimune zō, the same one recorded on the certificate. The piece retains a complete koshirae: iron tsuba, silver fuchi-kashira and menuki with skulls and bones, a hilt wrapped in purple silk over same, and a glossy black lacquer saya; a shirasaya and a gilt habaki are also included. It comes with an NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken certificate issued in 2018.

Strong points

  • Long, legible signature on the tang: Bishū Okayama jū Fujiwara Kunimune zō
  • NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Tōken, with that same mei recorded on the origami
  • Tang untouched in the photographs, with two mekugi-ana and an even patina
  • Very lively gunome-chōji hamon, visible along the whole blade
  • Complete koshirae on a macabre theme, with an iron tsuba and silver fittings
  • Accompanied by a shirasaya for storage

Points to bear in mind

  • The original seller neither describes nor dates the mounting: it is documented only by the photographs.
  • The saya lacquer, the wrap and the sageo show no wear, which is consistent with recent restoration.
  • The original listing makes no statement about the condition of the blade or about a recent polish.
  • The untouched state of the tang is inferred from the photographs, not from a written statement.

Score breakdown

47/100

The score shares out 100 points: Signature and date 18 · Tang 22 · Mounting 18 · Declared condition 20 · Blade 8 · Shirasaya 4 · Price 10. It is computed from the record, not from an opinion. The mounting starts from what is known of its period, adds what vouches for it (its own NBTHK paper, a signed fitting, a crest) and subtracts what has been restored (saya, ito, same, habaki or sageo).

  1. Signature and date 10 of 18 Signed, with no engraved date
  2. Tang 18 of 22 Tang intact according to the photographs, with 2 mekugi-ana
  3. Mounting -6 of 18 Mounting documented only in the photographs · restored: relacquered or new saya, rewrapped ito and new sageo
  4. Declared condition 11 of 20 Condition not declared
  5. Blade 6 of 8 67.9 cm: close to the usable range
  6. Shirasaya 0 of 4 No shirasaya: one will have to be made
  7. Price 8 of 10 Rank 29 of 139 by price, from the most affordable to the dearest