kuniie purchased

[zentsuji2]

I have bought a kuniie, from an nmb member.

I was drawn to his work as he played an important role in the ww2 sword scene.

Also his teacher kasama shigetsugu was a great smith and kuniie studied under him,and akihide.

As I like the rjt swords and kuniie was a teacher, it gave me a great deal to look up,and write about.

 

Chris Bowen has been a constant source of knowledge on kuniie, and his interest inspired my own.

The sword is in its original mounts, and has defaced family mon, on the kabuto gane.Sarute, sword knot, nice fat seppa,and lovely rayskin with high nodules on tsuka.

The blade is a take on ichimonji, slanted choji, with parts which resemble tadpoles,with nie eyes,I can't describe it as it is not like the kuniies in sloughs book,but more flamboyant,

Chris b started a thread where kuniie did the yakire for students, and mei,and these seemed to show a hamon nearer mine.

 

nagasa-26.5"

Sori. -2.5 cm

Kissaki -slightly larger chu

Hada. itame masame mix

The sword is in original polish,it has some loose grain, in the shinogi,but is as it was in the war, sashikomi,hides a little less than hadori.

I cannot get better pictures yet and wasn't going to post, but would like to learn about kuniie, and I like the bizen style of his blade.

It has no marks,apart from the made in imperial capital Tokyo, at nippon so,plus the mei and date.

Please excuse poor photography, I am in the process of buying A decent camera, and learning about how to photograph a mirror,that reflects phone lens,and never shows what I want it to.

I will post more pictures, as they come out,the ones shown are from Christies a few years ago.

Will post nakago and more if anyone is interested.

Best regards Ian Bellis

 

 

Thanks and regards. Ian Bellis

[zentsuji2]

A few more pictures.

Nakago,and sheath,the cover is replaced but says retains all parts

Ianb

[zentsuji2]

Other side of sword.

Ian bellis

[paulb]

Hi Ian,

as discussed via pm I think you have bought a good sword. In good condition enabling you to enjoy as is. The mounts look to be in exceptional condition which is an added bonus. As I have said often before this is well out of my comfort zone (by approximately 600 years+) but the lines look good and the hamon complex. Cant see much in the hada from your images but from your previous description I am guessing there is plenty to see.

Well done

Best Regards

Paul

[zentsuji2]

Thanks Paul,the pictures just don't do it,and it's not in a modern art polish.

The choji lines are lovely,the nie balls near the shinogi, my poor photos, will not show what I want to.

It's for my pleasure anyway,just thought I would share a blade,by a decent ww2 smith, from a fine teacher.

You take care Paul,and Thankyou mate.

All the best.Ian b

[Brian]

Lovely sword, and with the interest in Gendaito only growing stronger all the time, this is sure to be a good sword to keep for the future.

Enjoy it.

 

Brian

[zentsuji2]

Thank you Brian, I am always worried to post pictures, it's the most money I've spent and your comments mean a lot.

Take care Brian,your kind comment made me feel a lot better

Ian b

[george trotter]

Hi Ian,

Very nice. It looks great when mounted too...love the shape, sori, hamon etc...good find.

I'll have a look in my Japanese books when I get some time ....my wife is rearranging the garden for winter and she needs a constant labour force on hand all day long for a week (I am the labour!)...so, I'll get to it when I can.

I think Slough covers most birth-work-localities-teachers info etc, but there might be some new stuff in the Japanese texts...I'll see what I can find (maybe some members can help with this in the meantime?)

That is a great find, congrats.

 

regards,

[zentsuji2]

Thanks George, I intend to keep this as it was the best I could afford, and I loved it from the minute I saw it.

Obviously there are better kuniies, but most are in art polish, not in their original state.

I know this would come up stunning as there are activities of nie everywhere.

It's time to read now and maybe dip further into the past,with a wakazashi, In good mounts.

I always wanted an original ww2 sword in good polish by a decent maker,and I am happy with kuniie as I like writing, and sketching.

 

I wish to thank yourself, Chris Bowen,Lee and Brian for putting up with my worries and questions during this,I love my sword,a shigetsugu, or ka would have been nice,even a yasukunito,but some people are rich,some have to sell treasured militaria to collect.

 

I have spoken to Paul Martin,and Yoshihiko, a budo sensei and freind to Yoshindo Yoshihara, and found some good information.

Yoshihiko kindly invited me to visit his house in Japan and possibly visit yoshindo at his forge.

Post my last couple of pictures, thanks to anyone who looked.

Best regards, and thanks. Ian bellis

Apologies, pictures came on twice.