Prewar70

Based on my digging around, this sword is in line with shape and size for Muromachi time period. Lifting info from Aoi's website, ground fighting was the thing and shorter swords with smaller nakagos were in style. Katateuchi style. The link below is to a wakizashi that is currently for sale. Nagasa is 20.6 inches, mei placement, and looks ubu, not 100% on that though. So if the blade in question is shortened a few inches with a nagasa of 18.5, the dimensions make sense. My sword could be late Muromachi based on style. Need to see if I can find Yoshii school oshigatas. https://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-bizen-kuni-ju-osafune-munemitsu/

Morning. Nagasa is 18.5 inches and sori .5 inches.

After some help translating ( was able to purchase and received in the mail today. Suriage, Bizen Yoshii school with the smith's name cut off. The hada is not visible due to condition but the hamon is. Hamon seems consistent (no pun intended) being one of the major kantei points for the school as well as sugata. So does the boshi, which is barely visible in one of the pictures. I'd appreciate your opinions as to age, Nanbokuchu or Muromachi. Any help with mei oshigatas and perhaps I can find a specific smith, if the signature is good. Seems overall like a nicely made sword. Thank you. https://www.nihonto.com/bizen-yoshii-school/

Seems like a desirable school looking at other swords that have sold. This doesn't have a specific smith attribution like Kaneuji, so maybe a detraction there. It's mumei, but seems like most are from that period as well as shortened. Length is good, it's not short. So as I'm trying to learn tell me what I'm missing. I thought the price was reasonable. http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as18329-刀：無銘（伝-大和志津）-katana-mumei-den-yamato-shizu

Thanks for the correction Ray, hopefully it is.

Well I won the Sue Bizen, probably overpaid as it's out of polish but the hamon is still visible, and it's only money. Once I have it in hand I'll get some pics up. Thanks for the help.

I agree, and I will see if my bid is competitive, but was curious about the gendaito. Is the Bizen Yoshii in this example, referring to the school because it's suriage and we can't see the rest of the signature? What is the hashtag character after Yoshi?

Appreciate the help Ray. WWII blades aren't my thing but this one had an elegant sugata and looked to be above average quality. I didn't see a seki stamp or star, did he make traditional blades?

Looking at these on line. Your help is appreciated.

Yup, that's mine. This is the Hawley reference I was trying to find more info from: https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/TSU211 also this: http://www.jssus.org/ijsl/?&display=entry&table=smiths&page=151&id=2711

Buehler, buehler....

Looking for more info on this Echizen smith which is very limited with the books I have on hand. Active 1661-1673, Hawley TSU 211 and I've seen reference to Hawley 247, I think, not sure which book of his that is. The two blue Hawley books I have do not have this particular Tsuguyoshi. If you have any reference I'd like the information please. I haven't been able to find much out there. Anything with the school during that time as well. Hawley rated at 15, does the smith have any other ratings, chu saku, jo saku, etc. Thanks for the help.

That is hard to look at.

Ishido school perhaps if not paying attention to the mei

How would you compare this to his other Ichimonji that recently sold? It was longer, and less money. I preferred it but curious what others say.

That is the ugliest Nakago I've seen. I wonder why it was done.

Sounds like the same thing Eric Wazamano does on eBay. This seller is in NY as well, wouldn't be surprised if they are one in the same.

I understand that, but my point is that if the blade is o-suriage, such as this, the ana cannot be in the original location. So shortened later and probably drilled

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that when I see a punched ana, the blade is close to ubu or at least retains the original ana. On a o-suriage blade thats older, it would make sense that the ana is drilled. I guess what I'm saying is to me, punch v. drilled doesn't seem to be a strong kantei point. Maybe I'm all wet too

It seems like smiths that signed this way with two characters were all early, so not being signed tachi mei is a problem. The signature and nakago look like they have some age though, but not sure if that matters. I'll post a couple pics of the blade.

Damn Ray you are good, thank you. Any other thoughts on how it "looks" or to steer me in a direction of which smith, period, etc?

Many thanks in advance.

Please, don't ask for additional pictures I've seen enough......