A Special Work by Yasukuni Shrine Smith Yasunori

[matthewbrice]

For Sale:  $8750 (plus shipping and PayPal or credit card fee of 4.4%)

 

1 antique Japanese WW2 Yasukuni Shrine sword by Kagiyama Yasunori available.  Yasunori was one of the founders of the Yasukuni Shrine Forge.  This is a Special Order katana by Yasunori.  This rare Special Order Yasukuni Shrine sword would make a fine acquisition for any collection.    

 

This sword is of special importance.  The ura/inscription on the nakago reads ‘Commemorating the 2600th year of the founding of the Empire for the Aihara family and their succeeding generations’.  This sword was made on a 'Lucky Day in January 1940'.  

 

This sword is of an unusual length for Yasukuni Shrine swords.  This sword measures 27 9/16” from blade tip to the notch (mune) in the blade spine.  

 

A Yasukuni Shrine sword with these features is very rare among Yasukuni blades.  

 

The kabutogane has the mon of the Asano Samurai clan.  

 

The hamon is more complex than suguha—there are waved features within the hamon.  The tsuba has the harp stamp associated with Yasukuni-to.  The saya has been protected by the leather combat cover—the saya lacquer looks to be quite perfect under the cover.  

 

 

CONDITION:

The blade is in original Japanese polish.  There are no nicks.  The hamon and boshi are perfectly healthy.  The scabbard lock functions perfectly, and the silk sarute is still intact.    

 

This is an exceptional and rare Yasukuni Shrine sword.

 

[Stephen]

Wonderful piece here, if mine id have no clams adding a weathered rawhide lace to lace up saya cover.  Come on Lotto Gods!!

[matthewbrice]

This sword is available again.  The gentleman who bought this sword passed unexpectedly.  I bought this sword back from his wife along with his collection of 27 swords.  

 

$8750 (plus Paypal or credit card fee of 4.4%.  This fee can be avoided when paying with a check, USPS Postal Money Orders, cashier's check, or bank wire).  

 

 

 

 

--Matthew Brice

 

www.StCroixBlades.com

[Edward Mahle]

What is this smith rated at. If you don't mind me asking?

[matthewbrice]

Here is the table as provided by jp-sword.com:

 

Yasukuni Tosho	Toko Taikan  (1982)	Token Yoran  (2001)	Nihonto no   Kenkyu to Kansho  (1980)	Shinshinto  Taikan Ranking (1979)	Overall  Ranking*
Yasuhiro Yasutoku Yasumitsu Yasutake Yasuoki Yasunori Yasutoshi Yasushige Yasunobu Yasuyoshi Yasuaki Yasumune Yasukuni	\1,800,000  \1,500,000 \2,000,000 \2,000,000 \1,500,000 \1,000,000 \1,000,000 \1,000,000 \1,000,000 \1,000,000 \1,000,000 \1,000,000 N/L	\5,000,000  \4,000,000 \3,600,000 \5,000,000 \4,000,000 \4,000,000 N/L N/L N/L N/L N/L N/L N/L	N/L \1,000,000 \1,000,000 \2,000,000 \1,800,000 N/L N/L N/L N/L \2,000,000 \1,300,000 \1,000,000 N/L	11/20 10/20 19/20 N/L N/L N/L 7/20 N/L N/L N/L N/L N/L N/L	I I I I II II II III III III III IV IV

 

 

Yasunori was one of the two original smiths at the Yasukuni Shrine along with Yasuhiro.

 

 

 

 

 

--Matthew Brice

 

www.StCroixBlades.com

 

[Edward Mahle]

@matthewbrice correct me if I'm wrong please,he's rated 1.8 million? 

[ROKUJURO]

YASUNORI is rated 1.000.000, if I can rely on my old eyes.

[vajo]

Slough says rating 1 Mio Yen for Yasunori as Jean said.

[Edward Mahle]

Oh. Was just confused, I tried to sell a sword to Matt and I was told by Matt himself because the smith was only rated 1 million yen it wasn't worth much. It also wasn't a shrine sword like this one though. I think the shape and length of this one is much more appealing. Mine did have a much more extravagant hamon.

[Michael 67]

[Edward Mahle]

@Michael 67 yeah I could tell it was a high quality blade right away just from it's shape. Truly beautiful, a pleasure just to see pictures of.  It's just so strange how the rating system works for the WW2 blades. I commented just because I generally don't understand it. Would love feed back on a perfect example right in front of us.

 

Cheers Edward 

[Michael 67]

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

On 5/30/2022 at 1:30 AM, Edward Mahle said:

Oh. Was just confused, I tried to sell a sword to Matt and I was told by Matt himself because the smith was only rated 1 million yen it wasn't worth much. It also wasn't a shrine sword like this one though. I think the shape and length of this one is much more appealing. Mine did have a much more extravagant hamon.

 

Virtually all Gendai smiths were given an arbitrary rating of minimum 1 Million Yen, so a sword shouldn't be valued on this rating alone.