Kunitomo shoshin mei?

[pcfarrar]

I've got a big hirakuzuri wakizashi signed nijimei Kunitomo. The best match for the smith I can find is Echigo no Kami Kunitomo. I've compared the mei with examples in Fujishiro and Kanzan and it seems pretty good. I've posted the Fujishiro entry below. Funnily enough the work style of ko-mokume, togari-gokoro ha shizumu etc. all match what I can see in the blade.

 

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

Thanks,

 

Peter

 

 

KUNITOMO ECHIGO NO KAMI [TENNA 1681 YAMASHIRO] SHINTÔ JÔJÔSAKU

His birth kuni is Hyûga Obi, and he is said to be both a nephew of Kunihiro and a person who entered his Mon. From this point, it makes no difference whether he is viewed as his nephew or his pupil, as he later followed Kunihiro and lived in Kyoto Horikawa. His works are katana and wakizashi, and there are many hirazukuri wakizashi. Jitetsu is ko-mokume, hamon is nioi shimari gonome, togari-gokoro ha shizumu, and I wonder if this was done to improve the sharpness? (Ryôwazamono)

Signatures: ECHIGO NO KAMI FUJIWARA KUNITOMO

FUJIWARA KUNITOMO

Page 224

Plate I: ECHIGO NO KAMI FUJIWARA KUNITOMO

Plate II: ECHIGO NO KAMI FUJIWARA KUNITOMO

Plate III: ECHIGO NO KAMI FUJIWARA KUNITOMO

The reason that it says in the Shintô Bengi that "There are many two kanji mei inscribed" is probably because there was no actual observation. [TN]

[cabowen]

Horikawa Kunihiro mon often used a nijimei. Without something to compare this to, I can not say for certain whether or not it is gimei but it is definitely trying to be Horikawa school Kunitomo.....

[pcfarrar]

Thanks Chris, forgot to mention it also has a gomabashi hi on one side and a ken on the other and is 39cm nagasa.

 

There is also another example of his work on pg. 32 in the Nihonto Koza shinto volume.

[Eric H]

Echigo no Kami Fujiwara Kunitomo - Katana 68.4 cm

 

Eric

[pcfarrar]

Thanks Eric, photo is low resolution so I can't make out the mei well enough to compare.

 

I've added some photos of the blade below.

[Eric H]

Another pic.

 

Eric

[cabowen]

Blade is of good quality...Without having a good comparison my gut feeling is it is good...looks like a good candidate for shinsa....