K52. Wakizashi signed Minamoto Kunihiro with papered koshirae.

Nagasa: 20 1/4″ 51.4 cm.

Sori: .15 cm.

Moto haba: 3 cm.

Moto kasane: .6 cm.

Saki haba: 1.75 cm.

Saki kasane: .4 cm.

Nakago Nagasa: 5 13/16″ 14.6 cm.

Overall in shira-saya: 29 1/8″ 73.7 cm.

Overall of koshirae: 32″ 81.5 cm.

A former owner has given this to Mutsu (Rikuchi) School, for what it’s worth. Tight ko-itame with masame hada. The hamon is notare gunome midare with occasional hotsure/kinkugi and a few sunagashi, all covered in ko-nie. The boshi is jizo with a relatively long kaeri. This blade is in polish and mounted with a copper habaki and well made shira-saya.

The koshirae is papered: NTHK Kanteisho dated 2005. The former owner has supplied copies of the paper with translations written in: “Late Edo Period, hilt wrapped with brown tape over white same’, fuchi kashira unsigned (this is a mistake; the fuchi is signed) illustration of 2 horses under willow, tsuba (the description of the tsuba doesn’t match the tsuba with this koshirae; it must have been swapped out), saya black lacquer, raden (mother of pearl) painted with plovers in rain.” The fuchikashira are quite nice but one horse is missing a hoof. The menuki are horses also. The same’ is good quality and the wrap is nicely done and in great condition.

The tsuba (7.1 x 7.5 x .4 cm) is unusual and special. A plate of shakudo has been let into the surface of the iron tsuba; this plate has been raised from behind (repousse’) and in front the bumps have been carved and covered in gold as plovers again. The sageo (excellent condition) appears to be custom (hand) made.

The plovers on the saya are quite fun. There is a bit of lacquer loss (nothing serious) and much of the silver inlay has been lost from the large iron kojiri.

3 pounds, 3 ounces. $1,850.