So much Yamato Kuniyuki

Tanto, ken, signed 大和守國行 Yamato no Kami Kuniyuki of the Shinto period, Kanbun, c. 1665 The hada is masame, very regular. The hamon is suguha, with chikei, kinsuji and sunagashi, on both ha. The nakago has a suriage of a few millimeters ending in kiri nakagojiri, with kiri yasurime and a mekugi ana. The tanto is mounted in high-end koshirae entirely in suite. The menuki are in gold and depict a dragon wrapped in coils. Fuchi and kashira are in shakudo with gold and silver details and depict a pair of tigers in relief. Koiguchi, kurigata and kojiri take up the theme of drones and kashira. The kogai are instead two silver chopsticks in the shape of bamboo. The tsuka ito must be renewed. The saya features a two-sided lacquer, bamboo on one side and black urushi in golden details on the other.

The Takada school, whose founder is Tomoyuki thrived and was active in the Shinto period. There are three groups of smiths, distinguished by the use of the Yuki, Mori or Shizu characters for their mei. The most characteristic hamon of the Takada school are the midare gunome, the ko nota and the suguha with chikei. Kuniyuki later added the title 藤原國行 Fujiwara to his mei and was subsequently awarded the honorific 大掾藤原國行 Daijo Fujiwara. The Takada school was renowned for its attention to the practice of nihonto and the extreme sharpness of their blades.