S113. Jumonji yari by Nobukatsu and Nobutoshi.

Nagasa: 7 3/8″ 18.5 cm.

Width: 4 1/8″ 10 cm.

Nakago Nagasa: 12 3/4″ 32.5 cm.

Overall length in koshirae: 48 3/4″ 123.5 cm.

The signature reads: “Tohi Yufu Ju Enju Nobukatsu Saku, Bunkyu Ni Nen Ni Gatsu Hi” and on the other side it reads, “Tame Hayakawa-kun Kagetsune Kore wo Tsukuru, Jitetsu Enju Nobutoshi.” Bunkyu Ni Nen Ni Gatsu Hi is a day in February of 1862. This is a special order, made by the smiths for Mr. Hayakawa and ordered by Mr. Kagetsune. Jitetsu in Nobutoshi’s signature means student; Nobukatsu was the master in this relationship.

This yari is in full Japanese polish. The hada is ko-itame or nashiji. The hamon is suguba in ko-nie with a faint nijuba. The boshi is ko maru with extra activity on either side of the mune, and there is a long return running down the length of the mune on both sides (think of the letter M stretched vertically). The hamon on the tines is suguba, as would be expected. The blade is flawless.

Mounted in shira-saya with horn mekugi and horn panels at the mekugi-ana on the pole. There are stickers from an auction on the saya and pole; otherwise condition of the koshirae is excellent.

This yari comes with a paper dated 1997: the more desireable Kanteisho paper from the NTHK of Yoshikawa Koen.

If you take into account the difficulty and expense of finding a competent polisher to polish a jumonji yari, you’ll realize what a bargain this is. 2 well respected smiths, working jointly on a secial order and unusual blade, in full polish and flawless: what more could you ask? 1 pound, 6 ounces. $3,100.