Researchig two swords hoping for opinions.

[edzo]

Hello to all,

 

Researching what I believe is a 2nd gen. Kunikane all other things so far confirm but the blade consists of a maru-mune which i understand to be rare however i cannot find a blade by the smiths (lineage) that specifies one. Should that be a flag? Similarly a 3rd gen Yasutsugu blade includes a iori-mune but with a gentle oroshi.

 

The other dilemma is that the provenance provided to me is that the Kyo-Gunto (Russo-Japanese War), mounted blade was surrendered at the end of the war in Sasebo, Japan and later brought back in 1945. The hilt includes a metalic brass, silver and red sake bottle type tassel. Given the time frame of the earlier war and 1945 I wondered if the mounting and or tassel was from the Russo-Japanese war period (45 years earlier+-) and handed down in its original mounts? I guess I need to know where i can view a tassel and mounting from both periods. The Kyu-Gunto that i have inspected, absent of tassels were all of an inferior quality to this mounting. Any ideas or opinions are welcome and appreciated.

 

Respectfully,

 

Ed F.

 

I wanted to add that the Kyu-Gunto handle backstrap is embelished with a silver Hachisuka family crest (mon) if that is of any help.

 

Edited 10-23-09) Just rec'd "Swords of Imperial Japan, 1868-1945 Cyclopedia Edition" by Jim Dawson, great book! have solved the mounting issues, just would like some comment on the maru-mune issue with regard to the Kunikane blade mentioned above. Thanks.