Ray Singer

This mei is an early one from the Gassan smith Enomoto Sadayoshi (the mukansa). He worked at the Hattori sword factory during the war, and later changed his name to Sadayoshi. Take good care of the sword and please do not do anything to polish on your own. Best regards, Ray

Not late 1945. This is January, 1945. Shogatsu.

If the date were authentic then around 624 years old, however my impression is that the mei is not an authentic example of Oei Bizen Yasumitsu. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=51f7e736cc3ae313&rlz=1C1YTUH_enUS1164US1164&sxsrf=ANbL-n5ZA1YvSe7fFuacZEAz9Ky50sgU8w:1770829463352&udm=2&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKpaEWjvZ2Py1XXV8d8KvlI3ppPEReeCOS7s1VbbZz2TLt2sOibMbYx2XAHg-v8xM5VF21PBaI65iLKFQqYKyuNIrDnm7F1EBiwvvxej7VarpUVOsmaAouY6YfTb0P07uvJ1kSkBvJv3ZPqOgqj5jRBD5oez8Cr0DJEYrGkGqbLAnVBWawLvlnnreVGZ3Efk-KXWnq72g&q="備州長船康光"+"応永"&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwizqvvo9dGSAxUvhIQIHXlgCJMQtKgLegQIExAB&biw=1085&bih=790&dpr=2.5

Signed: Bishu Osafune Yasumitsu - 備州長船康光 Dated: Oei kyu nen hachi gatsu hi - 応永九年八月日 (a day in the 8th month of the yar 1402)

Izumi (no) kami Kanesada.

Hi Yoon, my impression is that this has 'Yamato (no) kami' as a title rather than indicating production in Yamato ('Yamato no kuni' or 'Yamato ju'), as shown in that entry above. That said, I cannot locate another example of this mei.

Perhaps 大和守外永作

Wakizashi attributed to the second generation Omi no kami Fujiwara Tsuguhira.

Hi James, you will need to attached a larger, higher resolution image in order to receive feedback. The details cannot be seen these photos. Show each piece clearly, front and back. Best regards, Ray

An authentic antique Japanese sword. The wakizashi blade is signed Kiyoshige and the kogatana blade (small knife) is signed Daido.

Kanekado December, 1944

From what I can see, this is shingane. The appearance is typical (a patch of darker, fairly featureless jihada as an island in a more 'normal' body of jihada for the kawagane).

The previous Yoshimune with Hachiman Daibosatsu inscription did sell offline shortly after I received it, however I just received another interesting Takahashi Yoshimune which appears to have been made as an utushimono of Izumi (no) kami Kanesada. Please message me to discuss further. Best regards, Ray

The mei (inscription) reads Norimitsu. At a glance, this does not look like an authentic mei of the smith from the Bizen Norimitsu lineage.

I missed your comment about the existing shirasaya. There are sayashi who can clean old scabbards if there is any accumulated material inside. John Tirado and Josiah Boomershine are both individuals that I would recommend.

This gives the impression of being a Sue-Seki blade (late Muromachi period, 16th century, Mino province). While I do think this is worthwhile to consider for restoration, the condition is not abhorrent and it appears that everything can be seen and appreciated for the most part. So, you may want to consider keeping it in its current condition.

Shoami.

Very much appreciated, thanks @Jussi Ekholm!

Maik, what I have been trying to express to you is that the same kanji appear differently based on the hand of the artist. You should not expect a mechanically rigid execution of a mei that matches stroke-for-stroke the way you see the kanji in print. That simply is not how swordsmith's mei look in the real world. This is one Yoshihisa below. There were several craftsman with the art name of Yoshihisa, and I am not saying this is the same person who signed your sword. Nor that it should match exactly. A variation.

No, I don't think it is Yoshimitsu. As mentioned above, it appears to read Yoshihisa. I was only sharing the Yoshimitsu mei for the variations on the kanji for Yoshi.

I understand. I am showing variations in writing the same kanji.

Another example. Variations on how the same mei of Masatsugu might appear on different smiths' swords.

No, this has nothing to do with difficulty in executing a straight line. Mei are calligraphy, and calligraphy is expressed in different ways depending on the hand of the craftsmen. This is the famous swordsmith Toshiro Yoshimitsu.

There are many ways that kanji are expressed in mei. They not aways executed in a rigid exact way and strokes do not always connect with one another.

This is a set I had not long ago and actually had offered here within the group. The mitokoromono was attributed to Kaga Goto.