Kozuke no Kami Yoshikuni

period:	Shinto
designation:	NBTHK Hozon
nakago:	mumei
nagasa:	65.7cm
price:	-sold-

click here to view the 22 picture slideshow for this sword.

Kozuke no Kami Yoshikuni comes from Oshu, worked around Enpo (1673), and according to Fujishiro his personal name is Magobei. Fujishiro rates him Chu-jo Saku for above average make, and about him states:

He is in the Yamato no Kami Yoshimichi Mon, and is the older brother of Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki. He became a swordsmith of Toshu, and his style follows the tradition of his teacher.

This katana is very well made with beautiful jigane, featuring chikei. The nioi based hamon is wide and full of complex gunome and choji shapes, showing ashi and yo.

This katana features a fresh Japanese polish, and comes with a silver habaki and a new shirasaya. While mumei Shinto swords are downgraded by Japanese collectors, this piece is very nice and enjoyable to study and I can recommend it for many collectors. Pieces like this that are not "perfect" by Japanese standards sell at a discounted price, and for many buy-the-blade collectors this often represents excellent value.