Shugyosha

Hi Geraint, Sorry, now corrected - thank you!

The usual indicator of age is the length of the kerakubi (the part between the blade and the tang). I would say this is a long kerakubi (the blade in the OP's and Jean's example look short) and this points to it being being Muromachi or perhaps on the cusp so I don't think the description is that far out. Shorter kerakubi normally indicates an Edo period blade.

Hi Andy, This is probably not too much to worry about - it’s an antique blade and if it isn’t going to be used for cutting, it’s just part of the appeal of an older blade.

Hachimonji Chogi; Heshikiri Hasebi.

Hi Harvey, I think you’re safe with Nobody San’s reading. Enjoy your blade!

Hi Uwe, I think I like yours better than mine - other examples of Kanetada I’ve found look different, though they might not be done by the smith. @Roam any chance you could post a clearer picture?

Hi Harvey, Welcome to NMB. I’m not seeing the photos very clearly on my phone but I think 石原兼忠 - Ishihara Kanetada.

I'm trying to see why someone would go to the effort of forging the signature of what could be any one of around 50 low grade smiths rather than one of the better Sukesada?

Hi Milo, Welcome to the forum. 和泉守藤原国貞作 - Izumi (no) kami Fujiwara Kunisada. It's a big name and often faked. You might get some better information if you are able to post some pictures of the blade as people will be able to see the signature in the context of the workmanship. Some more information here: https://www.nihontocraft.com/Izumi_no_Kami_Kunisada_mei.html

Hi Sally, In the separate cartouche at the top is the kanji 長 "naga" or "Chou" meaning long or superior. Below is a place name 小串町 "Kogushi machi" or "Kogushi Chou" - meaning Kogushi town which is a district of Shimonoseki city in Yamaguchi prefecture.

Hi Grev, Following a quick google, this tsuba appeared with what I think is a matching signature (the kanji top left on yours is a little obscured so not 100% sure): https://art.thewalters.org/object/51.267/

Hi Juan, Welcome to the forum. Another thought is that a spear (or indeed any blade) doesn't have to penetrate deeply to cause significant damage and on the battlefield it may be a disadvantage for the user if it does so as it may be difficult to withdraw quickly when needed to deal with another opponent.

To be honest Jeff, that's a bit technical for me. The logical bit of my brain would say that you would only get shinae on the side of the blade that has been compressed rather than stretched but that might be wrong as this is a flaw that isn't that common and that I've only ever seen in pictures. I don't recall seeing them on both sides of the blade but that isn't conclusive. I understand that, if minor, they can be ground out but it is a flaw so again, using what passes for my reasoning, they would be removed if possible - I've just seen Rohan's post which probably sums it up pretty well. Some more information on flaws in this thread and the third post has a picture from an old book which might interest you.

Hi Jeff, They may be caused by a bent blade having been straightened and are called shinae. https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kizu.htm

Tom, you’re too generous - the guy didn’t even say “please”.

No.

So, a genuine question, to which I don’t know the answer is “what amounts to a kinzogan mei”? Should it be carved like a normal mei and then inlaid or just “keyed” like nunome zogan and then painted on? I think the former and as soon as I see the latter that arouses suspicion for me. Don’t know anything about how genuine Hon’ami attributions are executed though.

This. I'm not sure I can see any inlay at all: it looks like it has been painted on rather than carved and then inlaid with gold.

Hi Greg, If it helps any, the one on the left in the photo looks like it might be a Masonic sword: I think I can see the Star of David on the pommel.

大和守口口作 - Yamato kami blank blank saku. Looking down the list of smiths with the title "Yamato Kami" in Sesko's Compendium to try to fill in the blanks, a plausible option might be Ujinaga (氏命) based on the shapes I imagine I'm seeing but it's a bit of a guess. Do you have a better photo Peter or can you do anything to highlight the strokes in these kanji to make them a little clearer?

Is that actually seki gane though? From the photo above it doesn't look like metal inserted into the nakago ana but rather colour added to the metal to create the impression of seki gane. Perhaps a photo on the angle showing inside the nakago ana might clear it up?

That is a truly lovely piece - thanks or posting the pictures.

The British Museum had a big chunk of their collection polished by Kenji Mishina some years ago and it formed the basis of an exhibition then. If anyone is interested, the book cataloguing the items that formed the exhibition is still available and is entitled "cutting edge: Japanese swords in the British Museum". https://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Edge-Japanese-Swords-British/dp/0804847347

Hi Grey, The second picture is the theme: Kanzan and Jitoku - 寒山拾得