N103. Papered Katana signed Chikushu Yanagawa Ju Onitsuka Yoshikuni

N103.  A katana signed Chikushu Yanagawa Ju Onitsuka Yoshikuni.

Nagasa:   69.2 cm.  27 1/4"

Sori:   1.2 cm.

Moto haba:   3.2 cm.

Moto kasane:   .8 cm.

Saki haba:   2.8 cm.

Saki kasane:  .5 cm.

Kissaki nagasa:   9 cm.

Nakago nagasa:   18.3 cm.

Overall length in shirasaya:   95 cm.  37 1/2".

Kanmuri otoshi zukuri, Ko itame mixed with ko mokume hada, the hamon is suguba with very shallow undulations worked in ko-nie and abundant fine hataraki, the boshi on the o-kissaki is a continuation of the hamon: undulating ko maru finely swept and with a kaeri that reaches almost to the nakago in mune-yaki.  There appears to be an umegane (steel patch) midway on the omote (very well done, not easy to see); otherwise the blade is flawless. It is in a proper polish and mounted in well made shirasaya with a saya gaki.  This comes with a Tokubetsu Kicho paper dated 1961 and a Hozon paper dated 2014, both from the NBTHK.

The last 3 pictures were supplied by the last owner and most likely originated with a Japanese dealer.

There were at least 3 generations of Yoshikuni working in Chikuzen in the 17th century; the papers don't specify a generation.  Yoshikuni is listed as Jo Saku in Fujishiro.  This is a very impressive sugata, with the naginata hi and o-kissaki.  There's a lot to appreciate here.  2 pounds, 9 ounces.  Now $5,950.