Worth polishing? Wakizashi (Kobayashi Ise kami Kuniteru)

[emead]

So is this worth having polished? Would it manage another polishing ?

 

This wakizashi blade was inherited from my great uncle who was a naval officer in the Pacific theater WWII. Particulars are below but it is signed as above (å°æž—伊勢守国è¼) The same signature is attested in Toko Taikan. The blade came to me stuck in (not fitted at all) a daito saya, and tsuka (good, intact same, but without any wrap). I'll detail those in a follow up. It could be a chiisagatana, I suppose -- but I think the fittings are all unrelated to the blade.

 

I include a photo of the mei

 

There is one small cut nicked in the mune, which suggests having seen action (as do the numerous but all quite minor nicks in the ha).

 

Nagasa: 19.0 in./ 48.3 cm / 1.59 shaku

Nagako: 5.6 in. / 14.3 cm / 4.7 sun

Torii Sori: 0.44 in / 1.1 cm / 0.37 sun

Shobu-zukuri

O-kissaki

Ihori-Mune

Masame-hada (poss. mixed itame)

Hamon indistinct (poss. Hitatsura or, less likely Choji)

Yakizume-boshi

Haagari nakago-jiri

Sujikai yasurime

 

According to the database Ise no kami Kuniteru was Shinto (Manji:1673)

[emead]

In follow up, here are the koshirae:

 

 

... and the closeup of the kamon:

[emead]

And lastly the attested mei of Ise no kami Kuniteru from Toko Taikan:

[John A Stuart]

Hi emead, The mei shows significant difference don't you think? An Osaka smith from early Edo era. I'm sure whether the mei is shoshin or not you would have to see a polisher to see if this can be recovered. It has had a hard life so far. John

[emead]

Hi emead, The mei shows significant difference don't you think? An Osaka smith from early Edo era. I'm sure whether the mei is shoshin or not you would have to see a polisher to see if this can be recovered. It has had a hard life so far. John

I know just enough to be dangerous here. Is this smith's mei known to have any significant appeal for gimei makers?

[nagamaki - Franco]

fyi, http://www.nihonto.us/ISE%20NO%20KAMI%20KUNITERU%20DAI-SHO.htm

 

also, yes, there are copies made of this smith.

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

I know just enough to be dangerous here.

 

:lol: This is one I've to remember.

Wish others had your humilty.

[Jean]

emead wrote:

I know just enough to be dangerous here.

 

:lol: This is one I've to remember.

Wish others had your humilty.

 

I suggest every NMB members be ready with their own disclaimers

 

More seriously, as stated before this blade has had much use, I think it can be polish again but is worth it if it is gimeï?

On an other side, if it is for sentimental reason, why not, if you can afford it?

 

Anyway the polisher shall give you an answer

[Brian]

Erick,

 

Just wanted to mention what a superb job you did of describing the sword in the original post. A good example indeed. All the details we usually ask for.

 

Regards,

Brian

[Jean]

Brian has written

All the details we usually ask for.

 

I appreciate the measurements in inches/cm/shaku, that was very thoughtfull of you, Erick

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Gentlemen, have you looked at the location of the mei? and at the yasurime too?

[Guest reinhard]

According to the database Ise no kami Kuniteru was Shinto (Manji:1673)

 

KUNITERU was the fourth son of Kawachi-no-Kami KUNISUKE in Osaka. He was given the title "Ise Daijo" in Kambun 11 (1671) and the title "Ise-no-Kami" in Kambun 12. He changed the shape of nakago significantly during Genroku-period (1688-1704), when he formed the jiri in gobei-gata.

 

His mei aren't very consistent. Looking at the Kanji for "Kuni" in KUNITERU you have to focus on the earlier stage of his career. Even within this frame I lean towards gimei, but with its history this sword probably has a sentimental value of its own for you; apart from art-sword criteria.

 

reinhard

[emead]

Thanks for the comments. I suspect it cannot be judged as shoshin or gimei before it is polished to better reveal some more of its internal structure, so I'll just have to tuck some pennies away. I have a background in Chinese and have done some calligraphy -- so the example of the attested mei and this one seemed to me very close in certain characters, particularly the rather idiosyncratic hayashi æž—, but a chisel and a brush are two different animals to try to compare from. I practice aikido and am dabbling more and more in iai-jutsu so I probably will see about a polish.

 

Any recommendations on a prospective polisher, the level of polish I should look to get and likely cost?

 

And any thoughts on the attribution on the kamon ?

[Guest Nanshoku-Samurai]

xxx

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

His mei aren't very consistent

 

Nevertheless there is a permanent feature in his signature, none of them are so near the nakago mune.

[John A Stuart]

Last couple of days I have been going through the couple of books I have on crests (Kamon) and have not found anything resembling what is on your fuchi. I thought it might be a religious symbol, but, no luck finding it. It seems to represent some kaeri (flame) motif. There are kamon with flames but all seem to be fireballs surrounded in flame. John