Katana: Mumei(attributed as Rai Kunitoshi)Discounted!!!
2017/01/28
Katana in Shirasaya (NBTHK 48th Juyo Paper)
Signature: Mumei(attributed as Rai Kunitoshi)
Sayagaki by Honami Koson:Rai Kunitoshi keihaku Satake denrai 2syaku 4 sun Oosuriage Mumei Kinsu 200 Mai
Syowa 18th kanoto Mi 10 Gatsu Jyokan Honami Ko-son.
Explanation:The sayagaki was written by Honami Koson: Rai Kunitoshi politely write the sayagaki he blade is Daimyo Satake's family
Length is 72,7cm oosuriage mumei(cut shortened) ２００ Ryo（today'sprice will be ¥20,000,000)1943
early October Honami Koson.
Koto:Saijyo Saku ranking:Yamashiro
The blade was polished.
Habaki: Gold single foiled habaki
Blade length : 72.7cm or 28.6 inches.
Sori : 2.1cm or 0.83inches.
Mekugi: 2
Width at the hamachi : 2.62cm or 1.03inches.
Width at the Kissaki : 1.635cm or 0.644 inches.
Kasane :0.65 cm or 0.25 inches.
Era : Kamakura period Shouan year or year 1299.(700 years ago)
Shape : It is O-osuriage mumei blade(cut shortened) with deep elegant sori.
Jitetsu :Koitame hada well grained with rai jigane. It is regretted that there are little Kizu and flow.
Hamon :Konie hada suguha base gradually becoming kogunome and ko chouji mix.
In Ha, there are many small sunagashi koashi kinsuji scatter.
Special feature :
Rai Kunitoshi is the top runner of the Rai school in Kamakura period.
The founder of the Rai school was Rai Kuniyuki and other sword makers like Rai Kunitoshi, Rai Kunimitsu, Rai Kunitsugu are
working at that place.Those techniques were flown to Enjyu, Ryokai and other country side.
Rai school use the jigane what is know as Raijigane. The loose area is estimated as a characteristic of Raijigane.
Some times ago, there was a exhibition of Rai school and some loose hada was observed in
some of the blades shown. The loose part is easily seen but there are hardly anything that is preserved so well. It is very impressive.
Reference by Jyuyo Token Zufu; It is said as follow, "There are a lot being said about signatures Kunitoshi and Rai Kunitoshi, Rai Kuniyuki's son, if it is same person or not. However, there was an obvious difference in the making of the two signature. The Kunitoshi has wide shape and very tough looking while Rai Kunitoshi has rather soft feeling. While Rai Kunitoshi made several tantos, Kunitoshi only made one tanto so it is said that it is two different people from some point. This is oosuriage mumei blade but it is thin and very graceful shape. It is suguha base ko shoji, ko gonome mix hamon with easily seen kyou sakaashi. The jihada is koitamehada well grained with nice hada. The goshi is little tsukiage style and it has small round kaeri. It is a fine piece with character of Raikunitoshi seen in various parts."
According to the Sayagaki, the appraisal value is 200 Ryo.
The conversion rate at that period and right now is 1 Ryo =¥100,000. It means 200 Ryo was about ¥20,000,000.
nowadays people can hold this kind of high ranking sword, but at that time, it is impossible to hold such daimyo's sword.
NBTHK 48th Juyo Paper
Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.
Price : JPY3,100,000.
