Ray Singer

Yes, the ninteisho attribution is to the Bungo smith Taira Nagamori. https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?order=field_smith_start_era_value&sort=asc&type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=平長盛

Jonathan, almost no detail can be seen in your screenshot. Hopefully this helps.

Unfortunately tachi-mei of Munechika are, like the many mei we see of Masamune, often gimei of 'the big guy'. It may not be possible to place this with another swordsmith who legitimately used the name, and the fact that it is tachi-mei also points towards the idea that it was intended to be passed off as Sanjo Munechika.

Agreed. Munechika.

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I believe it is Noshu Seki ju Toshimasa saku Research the WWII era smith who studied under Watanabe Kanenaga.

The mei is indeed Bizen (no) kuni Kanemitsu and does appear to be gimei. A missing boshi is not indicative of suriage, it points towards a kissaki that has been damaged and reshaped over time.

The mei is Bishu Osafune Morimitsu.

Emura saku https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/emura.htm

The nakago purports to be from a blade made in 1399. It looks generally legitimate for Oei Bizen. A reference for tsugi-nakago can be see in the list of flaws below. https://www.sakuramatsuriantiquariato.com/en/valutare-una-spada-giapponese/difetti-nella-katana-giapponese/ An example of why someone would do this: someone in the past might have had a blade with a legitimate and important mei/nengo, on a blade that had a hagire or other significant issue. The nakago is welded to a healthier blade that may be close to the expected workmanship from the mei. So, as a form of deception the two are married together for resale.

Unfortunately, a welded nakago (a form of deception). A nakago from an unrelated sword is merged to a blade in order to pass off as a legitimate example of the artist who signed the nakago.

Mei: Bishu Osafune Morihisa Date: Oei roku nen hachi gatsu hi (a day in the 8th month of 1399)

Contact Josiah Boomershine. Boomershinejosiah@gmail.com

A shortened sword signed Bishu __ ( made in Bizen Provence).

Unfortunately this is not authentic. Please see below. https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

A kitae-ware running parallel to the edge is not a fatal flaw, even if it is within the hamon.

The mei is Heianjo Yoshisada saku. I believe on the reverse is 儘忠報國, and refers to a Chinese expression about exhausting ones loyalty and dedication to country.

I believe this is: Mei (name): 継義作 - Tsuguyoshi saku Nengo (date): 昭和十八年八月日 (a day in August, 1943) Per Markus Sesko below: "TSUGUYOSHI (継義), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gunma – “Imai Ichiryūshi Tsuguyoshi” (今井一龍子継義), “Tsuguyoshi” (継義), real name Imai Fujitarō (今井藤太郎), born 1902, gō Ichiryūshi (一龍子), he studied under Kasama Shigetsugu (笠間繁継) and worked as rikugun-jumei-tōshō"

Hi Jesse, please see below. https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

Rivkin beat me by 5 seconds :). Agreed, that is my feeling as well.

Looks like a nice naginatanaoshi Jan. Perhaps Muromachi Mino (following after Naoe Shizu, between Shigaseki and later Sue-Seki).

I have a just a few sets of flashcards left and will likely not print additional sets this year. If anyone was thinking about purchasing a set, please reach out and let me know. https://swordsofjapan.com/product-category/supplies/flashcards/ For anyone who might be interested in learning how to read Japanese sword inscriptions, I created several educational sets in the form of flashcards, with the intention of teaching both how to read kanji, and also to provide study material related to the Japanese sword: schools, time periods, smith's mei, terminology, etc. Set 1: Commonly seen kanji for swordsmith mei, with an average of 4 examples using that kanji Set 2: Provinces, with information on each and including some representative swordsmiths and schools Set 3: Time periods from late Heian to present, with material on each era Each set is US25 + shipping & PP. If you would like to order, please message me directly with your name, shipping address, email and which set you would like. Examples of each type are attached here.

Thank you Mike, I corrected the translation above based on the photos you sent by email.

I believe the mei is Izumi (no) kami Kanesada - 和泉守兼重. A clearer, correctly oriented photo would be appreciate though. https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/KAN2268

The blade is a Nanbokucho period Esshu Kuniyuki. There is an increasing degree of forgiveness on shinsa outcomes as you go further back in time. Older swords by respected old masters can receive Tokubetsu Hozon or higher even with varying degrees of flaws and condition issues. I am away from home at the moment, but perhaps someone can post photos of the Compton collection Ko-Bizen Hiromitsu, which had a quite severe and extended kitae-ware in the monouchi, but received juyo being a long, ubu, zaimei example by that very rare Ko-Bizen smith. Perhaps that particular sword would not have received juyo today, I'm no longer I'm comfortable speculating on the ability of a particular sword to pass Juyo, but I'm only sharing as an example of the leeway that can be given based on age and historical importance (among other factors).