This beautiful Daisho comes in a classic and good Koshirae and is signed by Kii Koku Yasutsuna(紀伊国康綱), and the Wakizashi is signed and dated Kanbun 1667. The Katana comes with a Hozon NBTHK and the Wakizashi has a Tokubetsu Hozon NBTHK. All the datails are well shown on the pics and is in a very good shape.. He belonged to Kishu Ishido school and was active in sword-forging during the Kanbun early Edo period: 1661-1673. He was an apprentice of the first-gen Bitchu no Kami Tachibana Yasuhiro.
Kii koku is the name of the province located in Wakayama prefecture today. He is known as one of the most famous swordsmiths from the Kishu Ishido school during the early Edo period.
Ishido school was initially founded by Sukenaga, an offspring of Ichimonji Sukemune, who had created Fukuoka Ichimonji school in Bizen province.
As of the early Edo period Ishido swordsmiths in Omi province moved to other parts of Japan. There are four major branches: Edo, Osaka, Kishu(Wakayama prefecture), and Chikuzen(Fukuoka prefecture). Omi Ishido school was the origin of whole other Ishido branches that flourished during the Edo period.
Following this trend, Bitchu no Kami Tachibana Yasuhiro, the master of Yasutsuna, moved to Kishu province from Omi province. It is said that Yasuhiro was the founder of Kishu Ishido school. Yasutsuna and his master forged swords near Wakayama castle in Kishu province. Judging from the fact that Yasutsuna worked for this skilled master, his craftsmanship must also have been excellent.
A perfect Daisho !
Katana length: 2shaku, 3sun, 5bu, ca. 70cm;
Wakizashi length: 1shaku, 6sun, 5bu, ca. 50cm