Prewar70

What are your thoughts on the classification as wakizashi?

Wow. That was lightening fast Ray thank you. What about the rest of the Japanese I can't read like the date, hamon, etc. I'm also surprised is was ubu nakago and wakizashi. If I recall I measured it at 24" and change, and I had thought it was suriage. THese are positive results I think.

Was hoping I could get some help translating my Katsumitsu results from Chicago. Thanks.

I was able to get this sword to Chicago, courtesy of Swordguyjoe as I wasn't able to be there. It papered to Musashi Ishido Tsunemitsu. Not sure if it's the first or second but both are rated jo saku and ryowazamano. I believe the first is higher rated by Hawley. Now to see if the sword can handle a polish. https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/TSU475 https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/TSU476

Bazza, is it just me or is the hada in your sword very Hizen like?

What does this spot look like to you and how concerning is it? Of course the pics make it look much worse. Thanks.

Seriously now. I am barely an amateur but if this sword would polish out just fine than I would be amazed. I've had 3 blades polished thus far that started out in far better shape and I was surprised at the flaws that appeared.

Let me know what I found and if they are a good smith. I like the saya a lot.

What does the 4 seals mean v. say 6 seals? I've seen varying numbers on papers. Are more red seals better?

I'd sell the koshirae it's not attractive in my opinion

Ahhh that helps a lot. Thank you!

Piers that is great so there is a specific smith attribution. Now, I can't find anything out there on no Kami Masakane. I checked Hawleys and Fujishiro. I didn't see any references on the net searching no Kami Masakane.

Great info John, I appreciate the help. I will be doing some reading this evening. This was the other part of the paper I forgot to include.

Hey John thanks. Unless I'm really dense, is their a smith attribution or a school or is Owari Seki the school?

Thank you both. I can do some research now.

Thank you.

Sorry for the pics, all I have at the moment. Thanks

John, I did not have a chance to have a tsungai made during restoration in Japan. Honestly I missed requesting one because I kept the koshirae here in the US not thinking straight being my first go around with the whole process. I can have one made here hopefully if I decide to keep them. Military mounts don't excite me much, so I was considering selling them. Any thoughts on keeping the package together vs. selling?

Well I can't believe how time flies, approaching 2 years ago. Shortly after this thread and discussing with Roger, I sent the sword to Paul Martin. He examined it and like many others had doubts as to the validity of the signature but felt it was a good sword. He also had it examined by a couple of others and same conclusion. We decided to polish and submit to NTHK thinking if it didn't pass, they might at least make an attribution. It did not pass, and they did not give any indication as to possible school or smith. So we discussed removing the mei, repatinating, and submitting to NBTHK thinking it would should pass. I struggled with removing the signature, even though it wasn't authentic. I finally decided to go ahead with it, and felt that I was in the best of hands with Paul, and the sword was already in Japan so might as well push my remaining chips to the center of the table. Paul contacted me two days ago. It received Hozon papers and was attributed to Monju Shigekuni, 2nd generation. As I have not seen the papers yet, I asked if this was a Monju den attribution or specific to Monju Shigekuni. Paul said it was Monju Shigekuni and this usually references 2nd generation. He was a well regarded smith, rated Jo-saku and Wazamono for cutting ability. His father is one of the best Shinto smiths, and was rated Sai-jo saku. I feel like I did ok, especially being my first time for all of this. I'm excited to get the sword back so I can share pictures but that probably won't happen until late March.

Thanks everyone. This sword is not my area of interest but the price was right. Any ballpark range in value

Well almost. So can you help me on what I found. Thanks.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Is it just me, or does the sword mei not match the TH paper pictured? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Samurai-real-sword-Wakizashi-sharp-steel-blade-Koshirae-by-Tadayoshi/263309696826?hash=item3d4e7b1f3a:g:jM0AAOSwuxFYyfaW

I had to check the calendar and make sure it wasn't April first.....

I am by no means an expert but if the consensus is that the Mei is false I would remove and then submit