Help With Approximate Age and Sugata of Blade with Partial Signature KUNI

[tbonesullivan]

I've been told that the blade is very old, and it is definitely relatively thin, assume from having been polished several times. The tang is definitely missing a lot of material, and the KUNI character is quite faint. The curve of the blade is also a bit different than I see on the usual WWII era swords I deal with. Is there any way to tell what general era of swordmaking it is from from these pictures? Thanks in advance!

[nulldevice]

Do  you have a clearer photo of the mei? You say the kuni character is visible but is there anything left of the other parts of the signature?

[John C]

6 hours ago, tbonesullivan said:

Is there any way to tell what general era of swordmaking it is from from these pictures

David:

Here is a website with a pretty good breakdown of Japanese swords by era and shape.

https://Japan-forward.com/the-changes-in-the-shape-of-the-Japanese-sword/

 

John C.

[Brian]

Well, not a lot can be said from those pics, but it's definitely real, way before WW2 and traditionally forged. Does appear to be an early sword, but the nakago has some unusual wear and missing material. Can't really decide what's going on there. Needs a decent in-person examination. What is the nagasa?

[RichardP]

Maru mune?

 

[Sukaira]

Is this fire damage?

[PNSSHOGUN]

Have often wondered about Nakago with these large chunks missing, was it fire damage, weight reduction, rust, a hitherto unknown rat species that feeds on Nakago....? The forerunner may be salt water corrosion as you see it on swords mounted for WWII where such exposure could be frequent. 

[Scogg]

1 hour ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Have often wondered about Nakago with these large chunks missing, 

…

I have also wondered this, and similar nakago have caused me to speculate some kind of artificial or accelerated aging.  
 

Judging on sugata, my guess would be Shinto period. Please take that guess with a big grain of salt because I’m just a collector and not an expert.

Some measurements may help those who are more knowledgable on the age question.  
 

All the best,

-Sam 

[tbonesullivan]

On 10/24/2025 at 2:13 AM, Brian said:

Well, not a lot can be said from those pics, but it's definitely real, way before WW2 and traditionally forged. Does appear to be an early sword, but the nakago has some unusual wear and missing material. Can't really decide what's going on there. Needs a decent in-person examination. What is the nagasa?

 

Ooops, sorry I was away for a bit. nagasa is 25 inches / 63.5cm right now, but looking at the tang it does look like originally it was longer.

 

 

On 10/24/2025 at 10:07 AM, RichardP said:

Maru mune?

 

 

It's got IHORI mune. Blade shape is pretty standard.

 

On 10/26/2025 at 12:26 AM, Sukaira said:

Is this fire damage?

 

Not that I know of. I don't know anything about the history of the blade prior to handling it unfortunately. I have no idea how the tang got the way it is.

Edited October 28 by tbonesullivan

[Lexvdjagt]

Could very well be koto, maybe even early koto. Kuni could refer to a multitude of smiths. I think this should be shown to someone in person for evaluation.

[tbonesullivan]

On 10/23/2025 at 5:31 PM, nulldevice said:

Do  you have a clearer photo of the mei? You say the kuni character is visible but is there anything left of the other parts of the signature?

If there was more, it is gone. The tang is missing large chunks of material, and below the KUNI there is pretty much a big indentation that would have removed any traces of the next character. I've got some pictures that should show this a bit better.

[tbonesullivan]

25 minutes ago, Lexvdjagt said:

Could very well be koto, maybe even early koto. Kuni could refer to a multitude of smiths. I think this should be shown to someone in person for evaluation.

Well, that WAS the plan, but the current state of things makes it almost impossible to get it in for a SHINSA. I'm in the United States, which means that getting stuff in and out is very difficult, and many simply won't deal with it. I also doubt that the NTHK will be doing any on site SHINSA examinations either in San Francisco or Orlando.

Edited October 28 by tbonesullivan

[Lewis B]

It has katana mei so that would put it early Muromachi at the earliest. Could be an earlier blade but later signature. 

[tbonesullivan]

22 minutes ago, Lewis B said:

It has katana mei so that would put it early Muromachi at the earliest. Could be an earlier blade but later signature. 

 

This is possible too, and if it was signed on the other side of the blade, that side is missing even more material. If there was anything there it is gone. Then there's the fittings it came in, which are definitely tachi.

[Lexvdjagt]

1 hour ago, tbonesullivan said:

Well, that WAS the plan, but the current state of things makes it almost impossible to get it in for a SHINSA. I'm in the United States, which means that getting stuff in and out is very difficult, and many simply won't deal with it. I also doubt that the NTHK will be doing any on site SHINSA examinations either in San Francisco or Orlando.

I think it should still be looked at, there are a multitude of members in San Fransisco and Orlando that can give a good value assessment on it. It might be worth the hassle to send it in for shinsa, and if not then you’d still have a good secondary opinion.

 

Judging blades like these based on images is exceedingly hard.

[Scogg]

1 hour ago, tbonesullivan said:

Well, that WAS the plan, but the current state of things makes it almost impossible to get it in for a SHINSA. I'm in the United States, which means that getting stuff in and out is very difficult, and many simply won't deal with it. I also doubt that the NTHK will be doing any on site SHINSA examinations either in San Francisco or Orlando.

Might be worth reaching out to the New York Token Kai. I'm not familiar with their organization, but they are likely the closest available option for you to get a second opinion. Looks like they might be meeting in December

https://www.ny-tokenkai.org/meetings

In the meantime, do you happen to have measurements of the kasane, and also the motohaba and sakihaba? 
Best of luck,
-Sam

[tbonesullivan]

Sorry for the lack of activity. I was out at a convention for the past week. I was looking at the SORI of the blade, and at least to my eyes, it looks like TORII SORI. I'm working on compiling measurements now that I am back with the blade.

 

 

[tbonesullivan]

On 10/28/2025 at 12:07 PM, Scogg said:

Might be worth reaching out to the New York Token Kai. I'm not familiar with their organization, but they are likely the closest available option for you to get a second opinion. Looks like they might be meeting in December

https://www.ny-tokenkai.org/meetings

In the meantime, do you happen to have measurements of the kasane, and also the motohaba and sakihaba? 
Best of luck,
-Sam

 

Finally got around to this.

 

Nagasa- 63.2cm
Motohaba- 2.87cm
Motokasane - 0.61cm
Sakihaba- 1.72cm
Sakikasane - 0.31cm
Nakago Length - 17.8cm 
Sori/curvature - 2.8cm - tori sori
Kissaki Length - 3.4 cm

[2devnul]

Hi,

 

Total amateur opinion here. You sword looks like late Koto Sue-Bizen Uchigatana. 

 

As for missing material on Nakago, I have a sword (pics below) with a very similar 'attribute'. My guess is that was due to uncommon-increased corrosion back in the days. Chunks were removed, cleaned and got proper patina later during the aging process. 

 

 

[2devnul]

On 11/4/2025 at 7:16 PM, tbonesullivan said:

it looks like TORII SORI

 

To me it looks more like Koshi Sori (Bizen Sori) 

[tbonesullivan]

On 11/19/2025 at 9:25 AM, 2devnul said:

 

To me it looks more like Koshi Sori (Bizen Sori) 

 

I am definitely a novice regarding sori. Like, how does one find the "deepest part" of the curve. Do you find it with the swords as a whole (tang and edge) on a flat surface, or just the nagasa.