72.4cm nagasa, with sugata of classic shinogi zukuri form with iori mune, torii zori, and a chu-kissaki. Ko-itame jihada, with ji-nie and chikei, and a few spots of mokume burls and masame in the shinogi-ji. Hamon of gunome midare in ko-nie, with plenty of hataraki including kinsuji and sunagashi. Boshi is ko-maru with a long kaeri, and hakikake. Nakago with katanamei signed "Dewa no Daijo Fujiwara Kunimichi" with sujikai file marks. 2 mekugi-ana plugged with silver. Two piece gilt copper habaki. Adding to the value of this sword is the sayagaki written by Dr. Honma Junji, who signed with his typical Kunzan kao. Also accompanied by a Tobuketsu Kicho paper dated May 23rd, 1976. This sword was also published in Dr. Junji's book, Kanto Hibi Sho, vol. 2, on pages 98 and 99. Horikawa Kunihiro trained Kunimichi, and Kunimichi is regarded as Kunihiro's best student. Fujishiro rates him as Jojo Saku, one step under saijo saku, and his cutting ability as wazamono; Fujishiro devotes three pages in Shinto Hen to his signatures. CONDITION: Excellent, in polish, with only very minor handling marks. Activity is clear and crisp throughout. Sayagaki is clear, and shirasaya has only very minor marks. This is an excellent sword by one of the premier shinto smiths. PROVENANCE: Christies, March 2006. Blade Length: 72.4cm Overall Length: 39 - 7/16" Paperwork: Provenance