COVID Boredom - Shinto Kunitomo Wakizashi

[Death-Ace]

Well, between working Public Health in Japan and being stuck, I found myself enjoying the hobby of Yahoo Auctions and picked up this little guy. Between this and looking at project cars think I'm in trouble lol.

 

The mei appears to read Kunitomo, possibly of Yamashiro? I will get more measurements soon, but seems to a nice little one! A well made, blade with some loose grain. Notare hamon that is almost a mirror of itself on ura/omote, and the itame hada is a bit pleasing.

 

Nagasa is approx 21 in, with a midare-komi boshi? The bohi has been nicely carved and is a treat.

 

The only complaint I have is that it seems someone used this to fool around with, leading to some hakobori near the middle of the ha. Unfortunately placement too. Surely would be removed without issue in a polish, but hamon depth would suffer a little bit. Tried to get a good photo, not as bad as I thought, but still!

 

After removing some of the grime with isopropanol, and oiling it and with some on the nakgo to try and slow the red rust that was prominent in areas, appears to be a well made blade!

 

Hope you guys enjoy! Apologies bout the pics! I shoulda used better lighting and backdrop, but was tired last night, haha!

[Ganko]

Looks like a decent quality blade,nice sword. There are quite a few Kunitomo smiths. This seems like middle Muromachi to me? Looks like there is still a little live rust (red) on the boshi.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Yes, a very-nice blade, Lev. Nothing wrong with your photos, either.

 

I think that the double bo-hi are original, with the larger one added later. Muromachi, masame & itame hada, gunome hamon. A polish would bring out all the best qualities, & remove that crud in the boshi, & the nailbiters in the ha.

 

Good find!

[SAS]

Seems older than Shinto to me as well.

[David Flynn]

To me, it looks like Shinto with O notare Hamon, which looks like the precursor to Toran Ba.

[Death-Ace]

Thanks guys for the comments! I took a risk on this one as no one was bidding and for the price, seemed like a nice study piece. Honestly didn't see the hakobori at first.

 

I agree with the statement about the bohi on the omote side. Well done, done later maybe for better balance or just to add aesthetics?

 

I was wondering maybe koto, but I feel ot points more to David's view. I'll show more pics later. Thankfully, seems to be healthy, but appears to have a spider web-like shinae on the ura. I agree a new polish would bring out the best. Has some nice sunigashi toeards the hamachi. I think the flash tends to make the rust look worse, but will tend to it gently!