Kunimasa Katana
MISSING - STOLEN
I know who took it. The police made one telephone call, and the guy said that he didn't take it, so they closed the case. Huh?
Why? Maybe I am on their list of undesirable, untrustworthy, low-life sword dealers, or just perhaps the thief is a police asset. -- I wonder.
Last seen Sunday, 9/12/21
A massive katana signed, Doshu no Kami Kunimasa. Shinogizukure, toriizori, chukissaki, iroi mune, ubu nakago, with three mekugiana, two original. Hawatare: 2 shaku 4 sun 7 bu 5 rin, (75 cm or 29.53"). Motohaba: 3.41. Sakihaba: 2.31. Kasane: 7.5 mm. A wide hamon of long notare in fine konie deep soft habuchi. The jigane is tight itame. With the exception of a few small scratches, it is in good polish - certainly no need for another polish.
Only the first generation signed Doshu no Kami Kunimasa, and although this is signed in the manner of the first generation, the signature doesn't compare well with known references. Perhaps this is an owner's attribution, nonetheless, gimei.
Brown tsukaito, soft metal Mino fuchi-kashira of flowers and vegetation, a theme mirrored in the menuki. The tsuba is an early yashiro inlay on iron. The black enameled saya has a couple of silver colored support rings, and a silver kojiri. The saya needs to be lacquered or replaced.
Doshu Kunimasa worked in Tosa during Enpo (1673 - 1681) according to Fujishiro, who rates him Chusaku. He was the adopted son of Tosa Yoshikuni. He was in the second generation Tamba Yoshimichi mon. TokoTaikan, rates the first generation at 2,800,000 yen, and dates him working in Manji (1658 -1661). Tokuno then gives a brief description of all seven generation in a single paragraph.
Correct reference signature on the right from Nithonto Zuikan
Nihonto Zuikan
Nhon Toko Jiten Nihonto Meikan Toko Taikan