Hen67 Posted February 5 Report Share Posted February 5 Please advice photos in attachment. 1) Can anyone recognize and locate the name of the smith of this sword (Photos KUNI)? I find it difficult tot read the 2nd Kanji. 2) Can anyone give me more information about the smith KUNIKIYO and if possible a rating of the piece. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoTanuki yokai Posted February 6 Report Share Posted February 6 I can imagine that the the 2nd kanji could be a cut off Mitsu, anyway looks like a nice sword from Nanbokucho or Keicho period . Maybe some close ups of the blades tip and other hamon activities can give a direction wich Kuni(Mitsu) this could be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikaveli Posted February 6 Report Share Posted February 6 Is the second Kanji something like: 前 or 先 (sen / saki)? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shugyosha Posted February 6 Report Share Posted February 6 Hi Hendrik, Nice blades! There are 5 Yamashiro kami Kunikiyo working in the Edo period (from Markus Sesko's compendiu): Kunikiyo (国清), 1st gen., Kan´ei (寛永, 1624-1644), Echizen Kunikiyo (国清), 2nd gen., Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Echizen Kunikiyo (国清), 3rd gen., Tenna (天和, 1681-1684), Echizen Kunikiyo (国清), 4th gen., Hōei (宝永, 1704-1711), Echizen Kunikiyo (国清), 5th gen., Kyōhō (享保, 1716-1736), Echizen The blade isn't dated so without comparing the work style of each of these smiths to the blade it's hard to be more precise. The online Nihonto Club index gives the following ratings for some of the smiths, but there's a discrepance with the dates: Kunikiyo KUN361 國清 1st Echizen Genna (1615-1624) 60 / 550 / Jo-jo saku Kunikiyo KUN362 國清 2nd Echizen Kanei (1624-1644) Kunikiyo 30 / 350 / Jo saku Kunikiyo KUN365 國清 4th Echizen Kanbun (1661-1673) 25 / / I'm away from my books at the moment so I can't help resolve that or provide other ratings. On the ura the inscription reads: 鍛南蛮鐵釼之 - Kitau nanban tetsu hagane kore - This was forged using Southern Barbarian steel for the hagane. The first blade you posted looks very interesting and some close-up photos would be great. Also, if you sprinkle a little talcum powder into the chisel marks on the last kanji it might help point towards a reading. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen67 Posted February 18 Author Report Share Posted February 18 (edited) On 2/6/2024 at 9:49 AM, DoTanuki yokai said: I can imagine that the the 2nd kanji could be a cut off Mitsu, anyway looks like a nice sword from Nanbokucho or Keicho period . Maybe some close ups of the blades tip and other hamon activities can give a direction wich Kuni(Mitsu) this could be. Thank you very much for the information. I will provide additional photo material to possibly get more clarity. Edited February 18 by Hen67 Additional photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen67 Posted February 18 Author Report Share Posted February 18 On 2/6/2024 at 10:20 AM, Mikaveli said: Is the second Kanji something like: 前 or 先 (sen / saki)? Thank you very much for the reply. I think the 2nd Kanji has a different shape. I will see if additional photographic material can shed more light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen67 Posted February 18 Author Report Share Posted February 18 On 2/6/2024 at 1:36 PM, Shugyosha said: Hi Hendrik, Nice blades! There are 5 Yamashiro kami Kunikiyo working in the Edo period (from Markus Sesko's compendiu): Kunikiyo (国清), 1st gen., Kan´ei (寛永, 1624-1644), Echizen Kunikiyo (国清), 2nd gen., Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Echizen Kunikiyo (国清), 3rd gen., Tenna (天和, 1681-1684), Echizen Kunikiyo (国清), 4th gen., Hōei (宝永, 1704-1711), Echizen Kunikiyo (国清), 5th gen., Kyōhō (享保, 1716-1736), Echizen The blade isn't dated so without comparing the work style of each of these smiths to the blade it's hard to be more precise. The online Nihonto Club index gives the following ratings for some of the smiths, but there's a discrepance with the dates: Kunikiyo KUN361 國清 1st Echizen Genna (1615-1624) 60 / 550 / Jo-jo saku Kunikiyo KUN362 國清 2nd Echizen Kanei (1624-1644) Kunikiyo 30 / 350 / Jo saku Kunikiyo KUN365 國清 4th Echizen Kanbun (1661-1673) 25 / / I'm away from my books at the moment so I can't help resolve that or provide other ratings. On the ura the inscription reads: 鍛南蛮鐵釼之 - Kitau nanban tetsu hagane kore - This was forged using Southern Barbarian steel for the hagane. The first blade you posted looks very interesting and some close-up photos would be great. Also, if you sprinkle a little talcum powder into the chisel marks on the last kanji it might help point towards a reading. Thank you very much for the information provided. This is a first-generation sword. I will provide additional photographic material. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen67 Posted February 18 Author Report Share Posted February 18 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted February 19 Report Share Posted February 19 No possibility of 國歳? 國徳? 國武？ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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