Q500.  A katana signed Chikuzen Ju Minamoto Nobukuni.

Nagasa:  27 3/8″  69.6 cm.

Sori:  .9 cm.

Moto haba:  2.9 cm.

Moto kasane:  .7 cm.

Saki haba:  1.0 cm.

Saki kasane:  .45 cm.

Nakago nagasa:  8 5/8″  21.8 cm.

Overall in shirasaya:  39″  99 cm.

Shinogi zukuri, koshi sori, iore mune, small chu kissaki, suriage, 4 mekugi ana.  The hada is a small itame with small mokume in fine ji-nie.  The hamon is choji gunome with sunagashi and numerous yo, all in a consistent nioi-guchi covered in ko-nie.  The boshi is a continuation of the hamon ending in a slightly swept ko-maru and a short kaeri.  There is a bo hi on the omote and futasuji bi on the ura.  Other than one tiny pin prick of a coarse grain the blade is flawless.  It is mounted with a copper habaki and in well made shirasaya, and this sword is in polish.

There were numerous smiths with this signature working in Chikuzen in the Shinto period.  I can’t tell you which was responsible for this sword but my best guess would place him somewhere in the 17th century.  Here we have a well made sword, signed and in excellent condition, priced at less than the cost of the polish: I’d say this is a bargain.  2 pounds, 9 ounces.  $1,750.