Mei on small ken (suriage?)

[JAL]

Dear all,

 

i have trouble with this mei especially the 3rd kanji. First two maybe Unshū?

 

thanks for any help,

 

best regards

 

John

[Nobody]

雲林院 - Unrinin

Ref. Unrin-in Temple (雲林院) - Hidden Gems in Kyoto

 

[JAL]

Thank you! 

 

best regards,

 

john

[ROKUJURO]

It was perhaps a YARI in its former life.

[JAL]

Yes, as is quite often the case.

[lonely panet]

The habaki is extremely pleasing. May we please kind sir get to see above the knees

[JAL]

Here some more pictures.

 

best regards

 

John

[Geraint]

Dear John.

 

Thank you for sharing some more photographs, really lovely thing.

 

For what it is worth I do not see this as a repurposed yari.  It is a relatively simple thing to shorten a yari nakago and mount it as a tanto without reshaping the kerakubi.  The way the hamon runs here, the association with a temple, both suggest that this was made as a ken and therefore, I think more desirable.  I have seen that form of nakago once before on a ken though I cannot for the moment remember where, I'll keep looking.

 

All the best.

[ChrisW]

I believe this is also an intentionally made ken, not a yari. Having owned a few ken, this looks correct to me.

[JAL]

Thanks!

 

best regards 

 

John