Signed Rai Kunimitsu help

[jawob]

Hi All, This is not my sword and I am posting this to help someone out. This sword was a WW2 bringback signed Rai Kunimitsu, which is assumed gimei. The owner is not a nihonto collector but would like to know more about the sword. Hopefully by posting this he will become a little more informed. I understand the pictures probably make id a bit hard but any information would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[jawob]

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[Jacques]

Good luck

Edited May 7 by Jacques

[jawob]

34 minutes ago, Jacques said:

Good luck

?

[PNSSHOGUN]

There are some better photos and discussion over on the WA forum, it's rather unlikely to be a genuine Rai Kunimitsu sword: 

 

https://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/forum/ken-jasper-international-militaria-forums/Japanese-militaria-forum/15628044-thoughts-on-this-bring-back-sword

[jawob]

Yes same one. Discounting  the mei, what school and time period could this be?

[Promo]

I'm a bit confused. Here you post with location New York. On WAF the location is Indiana. Are you the owner of the sword or the same person as who had posted it on WAF? Or something else?

[jawob]

2 hours ago, Promo said:

I'm a bit confused. Here you post with location New York. On WAF the location is Indiana. Are you the owner of the sword or the same person as who had posted it on WAF? Or something else?

As stated in my first post, I am not the owner of the sword.

 

I'm trying to help the owner get a little more info, on what I think, is an interesting sword. If it matters, I saw a thread, not on WAF, but on WMF, he didn't get much response or knowledge. I asked to see some more photos, said I thought he had a good 14th cent, blade and offered to post it here to help him out. The owner is a militaria collector as I was, I was accustomed to sharing knowledge with others and helping when I could. I feel like that is being "active " in the learning process of a hobby. Which is the case here.  Jeff

[Bruce Pennington]

Good idea idea bringing over to NMB for the other fellow, Jeff.  NMB has a ton of guys that know these swords, compared to just one or two over at W-A.  Someone will help.

[Lewis B]

A few Rai Kunimitsu Mei for comparison

 

1. Kokuho katana, gakumei and suriage by Umetada in 16th/17th century

2. Juyo tanto

3. Juyo tanto

 

[ROKUJURO]

18 hours ago, jawob said:

...... Discounting  the mei, what school and time period could this be?

Jeff,

imagining the smith tried to make a "RAI KUNIMITSU" sword, what era and school characteristics would you expect? It might be very difficult to get clear evidence for a certain "faker"..  

[jawob]

Lewis- Thank you for the mei comparisons, to my untrained eye there is quite a difference.

 

Jean, If I understand you correctly. The sword itself is faked in the style of Rai. If this is the case, if it was mumei, could one say it exhibits Rai or Yamashiro style?

 

Being very green, I also had questions about the Naginata Hi, was this done on katana? 

 

Thanks, Jeff

[Ian B3HR2UH]

Jeff , it is hard to judge blades  when you are holding them in your hands , even more difficult from photos and almost impossible from crummy photos like these . You can see almost no hada or hamon in the photos . I doubt that even Mr Tanobe himself could tell you much from these photos .

[jawob]

Ian, Thank you for clear and direct comment. I have given the owner a "crash course" in photography of nihonto and will see if we can make this sword a little clearer. I think a member is in touch in his area, Indiana, hopefully an up close will shed some light.

[2devnul]

On 5/8/2026 at 9:20 PM, ROKUJURO said:

smith tried to make a "RAI KUNIMITSU" sword

 

Hi, 

 

Not necessarily the smith. Sometimes a well made Mumei sword was 'Gimei' later down the road, by owner/reseller. It wasn't always the case that the smith who forged the sword did Gimei. I read (can't recall source unfortunately) that it was common practice. Imagine, you get in your hands a very good Mumei sword, have a possibility to make it Gimei and resell that sword twice the price. That makes sense to me. 

 

@jawob What is the Sayagaki translation? 

[ROKUJURO]

Yes Adam,

this is possible and a danger for those who buy the signature and not the sword.