AS26399 Katana: Kunimasa (Horikawa school) (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Ordering number:AS26399

Katana: Shirasaya with Koshirae (NBTHK Hozon Token)

Signature: Kunimasa (Horikawa school)
Shinto: Wazamono: Musashi: Around the Manji era (circa 1658)

We classify swords into Saijyo Saku, Jyojyo Saku, Jyo Saku, and Regular Saku based on the swordsmith’s skill.
This work is ranked as Jyojyo Saku for Horikawa Kunimasa.

Habaki: Silver double habaki
Blade Length: 68.7 cm (27.05 in)
Curvature (Sori): 1.4 cm (0.55 in)
Mekugi-ana: 1
Width at Base (Motohaba): 2.96 cm (1.17 in)
Width at Tip (Sakihaba): 1.84 cm (0.72 in)
Thickness (Kasane): 0.60 cm (0.24 in)
Blade Weight: 590 grams
Era: Edo period, around the Manji era (circa 1658)

Shape:The blade is somewhat wide with a standard kasane and a slightly extended kissaki, giving it a fine, well-proportioned form.

Jigane:Ko-itame hada, well forged and slightly standing out.

Hamon:The temper line begins with a large notare near the hamachi, then continues as suguha.

Features:
Kunimasa was a swordsmith of the Horikawa school.
A distinctive point of his signature is the unusual upward flick in the first stroke of the character “Kuni”, a trait shared with Kunimasa (written 国政).
Some of his works are signed 「国安正作国正」, and pieces by him are occasionally seen among the works of the Horikawa school.
Mr. Fujishiro notes the possibility that he had some connection with Yamato no Kami Yasusada, which makes him a swordsmith of particular interest.
Please refer to the “Shinto Taikan”.
This blade shows a jigane with a slightly standing-out grain, and a hamon that starts with a large notare near the hamachi before turning into suguha.

Koshirae:
The mounting has a character close to that of a Satsuma koshirae.

Tsuba:A round iron plate inlaid with characters, finished with a fukurin (rim) of shakudo nanako.
Fuchikashira:On a shakudo nanako ground, a design of three lines is depicted, which appears to be a family crest.
Signature: Nara Masatsugu
Saya (Scabbard):A dark brown saya.
Menuki:A dragon design carved in takabori and finished in gold and shakudo.

NBTHK Hozon Token
Aoi Art estimation paper
Whole Oshigata

Please note: The price does not include the international shipping fees.