Tachi - Kunitsugu - NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Certificate - Uchigatana Koshirae - Ubu Nakago - Shinto Era - Kyoto 61430

This sword is a work by Kunitsugu, a swordsmith of the Echizen Shimosaka school, bearing a Tokubetsu Hozon appraisal certificate.

The blade is in excellent condition, free of flaws or rust, though showing signs of age. It exhibits a slight polish, and mild wear around the kissaki suggests it may have been used for test cutting. Both sides of the blade feature engraved bo-hi and soe-hi.

The jigane shows an itame grain pattern, while the jigane is thick with visible chikei. The hamon is sugu-ha, showing some areas with a slightly notare-like appearance. It also features sunagashi and kinsuji, giving it a deep, rich appearance. The nakago is inscribed with “Yamashiro Daijo Fujiwara Kunitsugu”. 

Kunitsugu, the first generation, hailed from Echizen (present-day Fukui Prefecture). He was a swordsmith of the Echizen-Shimosaka school, which produced swordsmen like Yasutsugu. His real name was Yamada Shichirobe, born around 1565 and died in 1628. He was a renowned master swordsmith who produced numerous high-quality katana during his lifetime.

The koshirae is Handachi style, with a black silk tsuka wrapped in the tsumami-maki style. The scabbard features a dark cha-isime lacquer finish with good texture, though it shows cracks and lacquer chips in places.

 In May 2025, the Society for the Preservation of Japanese Art Swords certified this tachi as an authentic Kunitsugu work, recognizing it as a piece of exceptionally high value worthy of special preservation for posterity. They issued a certificate of authentication.

The opportunity has arrived for you to acquire a work by Kunitsugu, a master swordsmith of the Yamashiro Daijo representing the Shinto period.

• Blade length: 66.7 cm
• Curvature: 2.4 cm
• Number of Mekugi hole: 1
• Sakihaba: 22.3 mm
• Sakikasane: 4.8 mm
• Motohaba: 31.5 mm
• Motokasane: 7.4 mm
• Signature: Yamashiro Daijo Fujiwara Kunitsugu(front)
• Era: Shinto
• Structure: Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune
• Jigane: Itame
• Hamon: Suguha
• Boshi: Massugu Haitte Nakamaru ni Kaeru
• Weight: 810 g(blade only)/1,100 g(without Saya)
• Nakago: Ubu
  
• Koshirae: Black silk wrapped Tsuka with Cha-ishime lacquered Saya
• Original Registration No.: Kyoto 61430

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