A tanto registered as Tokubetsu Juyo Token [Exceptionally Important Sword] | Signed Rai Kunitoshi (born in 1240) | Kamakura period, 13th century

A tanto registered as Tokubetsu Juyo Token [Exceptionally Important Sword]

Signed Rai Kunitoshi (born in 1240)

Kamakura period, 13^th century

Sugata [configuration]: hira-zukuri, mitsu mune, wide width, very thick kasane, strong bodied, slight uchi-zori, stretched turn back

Kitae [forging pattern]: thick and small itame with a very tight surface, showing o-hada, with jinie, chikei is inserted, sharp nie reflection (ji-utsuri tatsu)

Hamon [tempering pattern]: medium suguha mixed with gunome and showing slight small ashi, yo and deep nie, bright kinsuji

Boshi [tip]: straight and round turnback, the tips have pointed ends, the nioi in the boshi is tight, deep kaeri

Habaki [collar]: gold on copper, double clad

Nakago [tang]: ubu, yasurime is katte sagari, no curvature, two mekugi-ana

In shirasaya [plain wood scabbard] with sayagaki by Tanobe Michihiro

Nagasa [length from kissaki to machi]: 28.8 cm., 11⅜ in.

Moto-haba [width at the machi]: 2.5 cm., 1 in.

Nakago length: 9.8 cm., 3⅞ in.

Accompanied by a certificate of registration as Tokubetsu Juyo Token [Exceptionally Important Sword], no. 427 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Heisei 1 (1989).

Accompanied by an earlier certificate of registration when the blade was first designated Juyo Token [Important Sword], no. 8208 issued by the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kyokai [Society for the Preservation of the Japanese Art Sword], dated Showa 63 (1988).

This sayagaki by Tanobe Michihiro was the first inscribed for Paul L. Davidson. The sayagaki has been translated as:

Rai Kunitoshi certified as Tokubetsu Juyo Token [Exceptionally Important Sword]

This is the largest and one of the finest works among the remarkable swords of this smith. The activity in the ha is outstanding. A very important work.

Length: nine sun, five bu.

In the fine collection of Mr Paul Davidson, USA.

An auspicious day in March, Heisei 3 (1990)

Tanobe Michihiro and kao [cursive monogram]

Five blades by Rai Kunitoshi have been elevated to the status of National Treasure (kokuho). Two of the five National Treasures are tanto. According to Tanobe Michihiro, Research Director of the Japanese Sword Museum, Tokyo, there was no record of the blade in any literature until this sword was located by Paul L. Davidson. At the time this tanto was designated Tokubetsu Juyo, there were only five other swords outside Japan to have reached this level of recognition. This is the highest classification that a sword can achieve outside of Japan.