KUNIHIRO HIZEN KATANA

 NTHK KANTEISHO

 FUJISHIRO’S QUALITY RATING: CHU-JO SAKU

 SHARPNESS RATING: WAZAMONO

VALUE RATING: TOKO TAIKAN 2,500,000 yen

SUGATA: SHINOGI ZUKURI

MEI: HIZEN SAGA JU KUNIHIRO

DATE: NONE c. 1644

NAGASA: 68.898cm (27.125″)

OVERALL: 88.58cm (34.875″)

MIHABA: 2.86cm (1.125″)

KASANE: 0.63cm (0.25″)

SORI: 0.5”

NAKAGO: UBU

MEKUGI ANA: TWO

YASURIME: KIRI

MUNE: IORI

HADA: KONUKA  with TOBIAKI.

HAMON: GUNOME MIDARE

BOSHI: O-KOMARU Ç HAKIKAKE

HORIMONO OMOTE: NONE

HORIMONO URA: NONE

HABAKI:  2 PC. GOLD FOIL MATCHING HABAKI by B. TSCHERNEGA

SHIRASAYA

______________________

KUNIHIRO HIZEN WAKIZASHI

 NBTHK TOKUBETSU HOZON

 FUJISHIRO’S QUALITY RATING: CHU-JO SAKU

 SHARPNESS RATING: WAZAMONO

VALUE RATING: TOKO TAIKAN 2,500,000 yen

 SUGATA: SHINOGI ZUKURI

MEI: HIZEN SAGA JU KUNIHIRO

DATE: NONE c. 1644

NAGASA: 58.1cm (22.875″)

OVERALL: 72.39cm (28.5″)

MIHABA: 2.86cm (1.125″)

KASANE: 0.63cm (0.25″)

SORI: 0.5”

NAKAGO: UBU

MEKUGI ANA: TWO

YASURIME: KIRI

MUNE: IORI

HADA: KONUKA

HAMON: GUNOME MIDARE

BOSHI: KOMARU

HORIMONO OMOTE: NONE

HORIMONO URA: NONE

HABAKI:  2 PC. GOLD FOIL MATCHING HABAKI by B. TSCHERNEGA

SHIRASAYA

Hizen Kunihiro was the half-brother and student of Shodai Hizen Tadayoshi.

Courtesy of Sesko’s, Swordsmiths A-Z

KUNIHIRO (国広), Shōhō (正保, 1644-1648), Hizen – “Hizen no Kuni-jū Kunihiro” (肥前国住国広), “Hizen no Kuni Saga-jū Kunihiro” (肥前国佐賀住国広), real name Hashimoto Rokurōzaemon (橋本六郎左衛門), oldest son of the 1st gen. Hirosada (広貞), his grandson, the second son of the 1st gen. Kanehiro (兼広), succeeded as 2nd gen. Hirosada (広貞), we know dated blades from the ́ei (寛永, 1624-1644) to the Manji era (万治, 1658-1661), he died according to tradition in the fourth year of Tenna (天和, 1684) at the age of 82, dense ko-itame, excellently tempered midareba with nie, such suguha, gunome-midare or notare, wazamono, chūjō-saku.

Kunihiro may also be referenced in these additional publications:                             

Hawleys pg., 301 (KUN195)                                                                                                        

Art and the Sword Vol. 4 pg. 31                                                                                           

Hizento Shiko Ginsaku Kataoka pg. 232                                                                              

Hizen Taikan                                                                                                                          

Fujishiros Nihon Jiten Shinto Hen pg. 268

There were many Hizen Kunihiro swords in the past which had the mei removed and then passed off as Horikawa Kunihiro. I only mention this as it is a testament to the quality of his work.

You decide if you wish call this a Daisho or simply a pair of swords. There are differing opinions on this as with most things in this hobby. Many feel if the koshirae are not matching they are not a daisho, or if the swords were not made together as a “daisho” and both papered on the same kanteisho, they are not a “true” daisho.

Daisho literally translates to large and small or long and short. It does not specify they the swords were made together as a pair. Originally, even Daisho koshirae did not specify the koshirae are identically matched.

If you google the 47 Samurai’s swords and look at their “daisho”, only a few were made together. Others were made by two completely different sword smiths.

*Note I have referred to these swords as “Daisho” on the main page. This is to call attention to the fact that there are two swords in this listing, not to invoke argument regarding the meaning of daisho. Daisho, not a daisho, all I know for certain is these are two very nice swords by a highly rated smith. Feel free to refer to them however you like once they are yours.

$10,500 plus S/H and any additional fees (PP, wire, etc)