Japanese Sword Gendaito Signed Hizen Ju Kunimitsu Star Stamp WWII WW2 Nihonto

SOLD

Stock #: 20231025000

Product Description:
This is my unfinished project sword made by Kunimitsu in 1944. I aquired it with no mounts and only a primitive wooden tsuka Im told was made by the Marine Veteran that brought it back. Where the original mounts went or why they were seperated is unknown to me. Initially this was going to be my tameshigiri sword....but I decided it was too good. Thought about setting it up for Iaido but I prefered the blade I trained with. Never got around to having a habaki and shirasaya made for it. Saw no reason to submit it for Shinsa.

Mei is Hizen Ju Kunimitsu and date is Showa ju kyu nen ju gatsu (Showa 19 (1944) October). Also has star stamp of Rikugun Jumei Tosho. Typical Hizen style cut mei.

Sesko notes: KUNIMITSU – “Hizen-ju Kunimitsu saku”, real name Shibata Tsuneo, born 1895, he studied from 1942 under Kurihara Akihide and worked then as rikugun-jumei-tosho. In 1942 ranking of swordsmiths he was Joko no Joi (Akihide) 4 out of 7. In 1941 exhibition he was Fifth Seat at the 6th Shinsaku Nihonto Denrankai, 1941.
Also in Gendai Toko Meikan 1971. Also translated name as Shibata Tsuneji. Born 3 March 1895 (Meiji 28). Registered as tosho post-war Showa 29 (1954) January 16. Showa 13 (1938) went to war zone to make swords (maybe Manchuria?). Showa 17 (1942) enrolled in Zama Tanrenjo of Kurihara Hikosaburo (Akihide). Showa 18 (1943) June became Rikugun Jumei Tosho by Kokura Zoheisho (arsenal).
Note: The Kokura arsenal was at Kitakyushu, near Fukuoka in N Kyushu and was established there in October 1935, after the original one in Tokyo was destroyed in the Great Kanto Earthquake of September 1923.
Note: In Tokyo Kindai Tosho (Chris Bowen) Kunimitsu is listed as a student of Akiyoshi (Yoshikane) who was a student of Akihide.

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