Length of cutting edge 69.8cm Curvature 2.0cm Width of base 29.1mm Width of Yokote 16.8mm Thickness of base 6.5mm
Carving(Horimono): There is a Koshi-hi groove on base in Tachi-front side and the other side is Futa-suji-hi parallel grooves.
Forging(Hada): Kitae is well knead Itame-hada in general that shows an indication of whitish UTSURI reflect. Some outstanding streaming forging ware is perceived on the lower half in Tachi-front side.
Temper(Hamon): Hamon is shallow undulating Notare in general, minute Gunome or irregular zigzag appears frequently along quenching boundary line where some of temper is dimmed off or interrupted away to cutting edge.
Temper of tip(Boshi): Boshi form straight SUGUHA in good manner then medium circle turns back.
Tang(Nakago): Signed NOBUKUNI 信国 in Tachi-style inscription. Machi- OkuriSuriage cutting edge being shortened on about 4.5cm, three Mekugiana peg holes. The file mark in Tachi-front is KIRI horizontal with greatly slanting right on Shinogi-ji ridge whereas the upper Marchi-Okuri area is horizontal Kiri and the other side is horizontal Kiri. The bottom heel shape is Ha- agariKurijiri (uneven U-shape).
The famed NOBUKUNI 信国 lineage in Kyoto under the continuing disturbances of Northern-Southern Dynasties, NOBUKUNI Sadamitsu 信国定光, who is a son of the 3 rd gen. Saemon'no-jo NOBUKUNI 左衛門尉信国, had escaped from war-torn Kyoto to a rising place shrine Usa Hachimangu in Buzen (now in Oita pref.) to revive long-held NOBUKUNI lineage.
The subject NOBUKUNI 信国 remains almost original shape to hold highly defined curve in ancient Yamashiro style and clear chiseled inscription NOBUKUNI in Tachi-style is an important historical material. NOBUKUNI lineage in later generations had greatly prospered under patronage of Kuroda in the lord of Fukuoka clan through the Tokugawa period.
Copper ground Habaki collar, preserved in a Shira-saya plain wood mounting.
Good recent polish/Condition scale: very good - good (using a scale of mint-excellent-very good-good-fair-poor)
reference data : Honma kunzan/Ishii Masakuni, Nihonto Meikan, Yuzankaku,1975
