huntershooter

Well done and thank you Chris. And to Morita san as well. Most informative.

Final group...

Additional photos...

Signed "Soshu ju Masahiro". I'm aware that this signature is a commonly faked one. Not so much interested in signature as the blade. Anyone care to hazard a guess as to period, school, etc.? Nagasa: 17.6"- 44.8 cm Sori: .45" - 11.5 mm Moto haba: 1.05"- 2.68 cm Saki haba: .74" - 1.89 cm Moto gasane: .25" - 6.4 mm Saki gasane: .17" - 4.3 mm

Nice blade Mark. Thanks for sharing it.

Thank you gentlemen. Yes Dirk, uppermost mekugi ana has been "peened", presumably to tighten.

Interesting. Thank you Chris.

I've a Seki Kanehide gendaito with similar hada. The effect is not as pronounced as this blade however.

Additional photos...

Here is further information on the Kiyomitsu signed blade I inquired about in "Translations"... Nagasa: 26.125"-66.2cm Hamon: Sugaha in nio deki, barely discernable ko ashi/sunagashi. Hamon "grows" towards monouchi. Hada: Rather coarse mokume/masame. Boshi: Kaeri Fukai (long turnback) Ko Kissaki Iori-mune Moto Haba: 1.15"-2.9cm Saki Haba: .76"-1.92cm Moto Gasane: .25"-6.42mm Saki Gasane: .15"-3.77mm This blade (with exception of hada) is quite similar to a Kajiyama Yasutoku (Yasukuni smith) I have. I suppose this supports the Yasukuni ideal of replicating the work of the Osafune school Bizen smiths. Here are some photos (primarily of hamon/hada, it was raining and prevented any sugata shots):

That's probably where I'd read "horse tooth". Thanks again.

Matt; Yes, 23rd generation is (Taisho?) Showa period tosho. Thanks for the "Konuka".

Jean; With blade in hand there is no discernable pattern; ie. burl/woodgrain/straight grain, hence my confusion. It simple appears as a uniform homogenous mass, as seen in photos. It is a most pleasant effect. The photos were shot with an (antiquated) Canon "Powershot" G6 (which has a "macro/super macro" feature) and a halogen reading lamp. I assure you, if I can figure this stuff out (at my age and loathing of change), anyone can.

This blade is by 23rd Kanefusa. The jigane was described as "ko-itame" (Japanese seller). Try as I might, I don't see ko-itame. Seems that ko-itame is used as a catchall if the hada is indistinct or difficuly to read. What are your thoughts?

What is this type of Choji? I've heard it referred to as "horse tooth", but can't find the actual name.

Thank you gentlemen. Further investigation is forthcoming.

Hey George. I have a trove of information on Magoueamon Kiyomitsu. My interest was that the sayagaki supported the blade (the saya contains) and whom has written the attribution (is it believable?). Thanks for your effort George!

Any help in reading this sayagaki is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hawley's has numerous errors/inconsistancies. In addition, he obviously held Gendai tosho in low regard.

Look at "Swords of Imperial Japan 1869-1945 Cyclopedia Edition" by Jim Dawson. It is a recent release and will be substantially less expensive than the Fuller and Gregory editions. It is arguably more comprehensive as well. "Modern Japanese Swordsmiths", while an invaluable oshigata book of Gendai Tosho, does not go into depth on variations of Kyu, Kai and Shin gunto.

Currently I have no photos Bruno (only oshigata). I'll see if I can take some this weekend. Regards.

I echo George sans sentiment. Thanks to you all for your contribution. I find this area of Nihonto most fascinating due to it's recent history.

Wow. "Fairybook" tale with a wonderful ending. Thank you.

Well done Morita san. So, as George indicated with his Toshhiro/Kunimore/Yasuhiro example, Sadakane and Katsukiyo were art names used simultaneously (dependent on circumstance/location). Another example would be (Kotani) Yasunori/Takenori, (Kajiyama) Yasutoku/Taketoku; Yasukuni tosho mei at and away from Yasukini.

Gentlemen; your invaluable information has given me a deeper level of appreciation for this "mere gunto". My sincere thanks to all.