Kokubunji Sukekuni Katana
S0180
SOLD
An important o-suriage katana attributed to Kokubunji Sukekuni, of the late Kamakura jidai. Shinogizukure, iroi mune, chu kissaki, shallow toriizori. Hawatare: 2 shaku 2 sun 11 bu (66.98 cm or 26.37"). Motohaba: 3.25 cm. Sakihaba: 1.88 cm. Kasane: 6.7 mm. O-suriage, shinogizukure, iroi mune, chu kissaki. Itame hada having a slightly rough appearance, there are strong long chikei. There is midare and choji utsure. The hamon is a very complex choji, gunome midare, ashi iri, niju, sanju, kinsuji, inazuma, hataraki, nado.
There are three Juyo Bijitsu tachi by this smith. He was the son of Fukaoka Ichimonji Sukemura. He lived in Kokubunji in Bizen province according to Kokon Mei Zukushi. Other sword directories, list a Sukekuni as living in Yasu county of Bingo. Homma Sensei, in comparing the works, believes that this is one in the same smith. According to the Nihonto Meikan, he worked in Genko (1321-1324) and Kemmu (1334-1336). The Haya Midashi lists oshigata with the dates of Genko 2 (1322), Kareki 3 (1328), and Tokuji 2 (1309). He is rated Jojo saku in Nihon Toko Jiten - Koto Hen by Fujishiro. Toko Taikan by Shibata rates him at 7,500,000 yen. In polish and shirasaya. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon.
For some unknown reason, this has been the most difficult blade that I have ever photographed, and the pictures do not do it justice. In hand, under an incandescent bulb, it comes alive.
Kokubunji Sukekuni