Utopianarian

It’s hard to capture in pics but I got this pic from online that best shows hada and hamon generally present

Very pronounced midare utsuri also present along entire length of sword very well done and clear. Also bright nioiguchi line

More pics

Trying to gather as much information as possible to determine the generation of Kanemitsu of Osafune. Signed and dated Bishu Osafune Kanemitsu, first character on date damaged but may be Oei 2. Measurements: Nagasa 58cm, Nakago 16.5, Moto-haba 2.9cm, Saki-haba 2.1cm, Moto- kasane 0.8cm, saki-kasane 0.6cm, Kissaki 3.3cm, Sori 1.3cm, with funbari, niku, and ubu. 1 mekugi-Ana. Flame tipped boshi. Semi-hada when reflected in right light angle appears like cicadas wing structure that features characteristic veins. Hamon based in nioi, saguha with sunagashi with much sweeping areas with tiny elements of occasional eyes or swirls at top of hamon. A lot of oxidation and hard to make out in most areas due to condition. Iori mune. Signature high sabi-giwa chiseled in deep strokes. Heavy dark patina on nakago. I know there is controversy on the 1st and 2nd generation debate. This is prob later generation what do you think.

You might be thinking of the early ichimonji signing Kiku-ichimonji (菊一文字) ("Chrysanthemum-straight line"), often romanized with a somewhat ... traditionally inscribed only the Japanese kanji character "Ichi" (一, one) on the nakago

Thank you Michael I will definitely follow your advice George

A few more pics full length nakago

Michael, Thank you for this information. It will help me greatly. Thank you as well for sharing your comprehensive knowledge which I also frequently use some of your past postings to supplement my quest for more education. I starting looking closer on both sides of nakago. There may be a faint date on the other side or is that just file patterns and my imagination . Also a more clear pic of mei.

Jussi, Thank you for your knowledge on this sword. You have contributed a great amount of knowledge here on the board. I often reference the impressive statistics and informative topics that you contribute to on other interesting swords. Especially the golden age which I have much interest. I am still trying to find out more about this sword. It does take time and different perspectives of knowledgeable folks with the same interests George

Thank you, I appreciate the time and knowledge of others. George

Thank you Michael, What are your thoughts regarding gyaku-tagane style chisel-strokes which can have some indication on a particular smith ie.. Chikage, Yoshikage, Morikage and Mitsukage for example. What indicators do you look at to generally tell if the chisel-strokes are left to right as opposed to normal saka tagane from right to left. I assume the chisel lines narrow pointing to the direction of the intended chisel stroke. I cannot find any literature of how to determine style of chisel stroke. Please advise. Thank you

To quote Darcy from Feb 2014: About: nagamei on Oei Bizen with no date. Juyo 19 has a tachi signed "Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu" with no nengo. Juyo 21 has the same. Juyo 29 has the same (example included). Juyo 38 has the same. Juyo 42 has two tachi like this. Juyo 18 has a signed "Bishu Osafune Morimitsu" tachi with no nengo. Juyo 32 has the same. Juyo 13 has a tachi signed "Bishu Osafune Moromitsu" with no nengo. Juyo 56 has the same. There are others. Additional facts: There are tachi with nijimei and no date. There are tachi with nagamei and date. There are no tachi that I can recall that have nijimei and date. There are numerous katana, wakizashi and tanto with nagamei and date. There are tanto with nijimei and no date. There may be other configurations, this is off the top of my head for what I've seen. My conclusion: 1. obviously nagamei with no date is an accepted signature form for Oei Bizen and is not to be ruled out. 2. the accepted examples all seem to be tachi and rather large examples as almost all are slightly suriage, so it may be restricted to this form and one would have to look at a katana in this configuration skeptically. 3. it's possible that these were dated below the signature but it does not seem to be the case from these examples and the positions of the signatures, and I didn't see any that did follow this pattern, though I have seen it on Aoe. But without anything solid it is just speculation.

Hello Jussi, Measurements : Moto-haba 2.7cm, saki-Haba 2cm , Sori 0.9cm, kissaki 2.8, Moto-kasane 0.7cm, Saki-kasane 0.5cm

Thank you so much for your response. I am saddened by this news. At least we have support for the sword show and the wonderful folks such as yourself that keep Nihonto alive in the U.S.A. Thank you

He blocked me a few years ago for a question I asked about a sword he had for sale on eBay. Junk buffed swords now wall hangers

Hada is intriguing can’t wait till August to find out more about it

I just wanted opinion on Tachi signed Bizen kuni osafune with rest of mei cut off. Nagasa 26 inches nakago 8.5 inches. Chu saguha with very bright nioiguchi. Hard to tell due to condition if utsuri is present. Low shinogi. Iori mune (not steep). The niku or meat at center of blade is thick and does have the convex or clam shell shape throughout the blade. The thickness is roughly the same at the yokote line at top to the hamachi at the bottom. The kissaki is small to medium and wide in relation to the rest of the blade. Saki-haba and motohaba not much difference in measurement. Boshi shape maru of sort. It does appear under lighting that last 2-3 inches up to kissaki was retempered. kitae is ko-itame mixed with small mokume and appears very fine. Sword does have a bluish color more so than other swords I have in comparison. Hamon hard to see activity but undulating areas are noted in some areas but obscured by heavy oxidation. Blade was shortened but still has some deep curvature. Nakago has either been cleaned at some time in the past or may have sustained fire damage due to loss of patina build up. Yasurime is kuri. The sword does have weight or heft to it when held. This sword does have a lot of indicators that it is an early blade but the shape is kind of lacking the extreme curvature usually seen in early blades. What do you think. Here are some pics

Thank you for that info. I appreciate that 🙏☺️

Piers I am still trying to get better at translation of dates. I very much admire your skill set. I still can’t make out the date. Your translation makes sense. I think I have many more Years ahead of me to improve. You give me motivation

Thank you Piers

Here is another pic of mei signed katana mei wakizashi 22.75 inch blade. Looks like bishu osafune and ends in mitsu I am not sure of the rest.

Having trouble translating date