Ray Singer

Reference link for comparison. http://nihontoclub.com/sword-images/16761/16808 http://nihontoclub.com/smiths/MAS102 - Ray

I would love a clearer shot of the nengo but I will go out on a limb and say it looks like an Eitoku date, which would place it with the Shodai in Nambokucho (if authentic). Best, Ray

I believe there is a nidai not present on the link above who worked circa Eikyo 1429-1441. Best, Ray

Appears to be Bishu Osafune Sadayuki. http://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=Bishu+Osafune+Sadayuki Best regards, Ray

Unless research has been done regarding the nuances of his signature in different years, I do not believe that you can date the sword so precisely to 1942. There is no nengo (date inscription) on this sword. Regards, Ray

A while back (13 years ago?) I was considering a very heavy daito by Enomoto Sadayoshi. It was a blade with a thick Kasane and had a shinobi-ana. When I asked why, not having seen this feature on other works by Sadayoshi, I was told that the smith made this particular piece for use in tameshigiri and wanted the extra reinforcement. Best regards, Ray

That was my thought at well. It looks like a beautiful piece from the sandai. My impression is that it is not totally ubu though. The nakago appears to have been reduced (shaved back) from the nakago-mune side. Best, Ray

Yes, quite a beautiful sword. I shared this one on Facebook last night as soon as I saw it listed. Interesting to see the sashikomi polish. As far as what it might be lacking to achieve Juyo, wakizashi are always more difficult to pass. Best regards, Ray

There was also a 'Best of' list on the discussion thread below. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/13791-ebay-shibata-ka/?hl=%2Bakimoto+%2Bakitomo&do=findComment&comment=145445 Best, Ray

Hi Jean, I admit it may be a stretch. I have a yari here that is exceptionally thick, perhaps 1.5mm. It was when held in hand that I could see that a reduction past the current hi would leave a sugata like the example here (the more 'normal' Kasane of a small ken). I would be interested in knowing the thickness of the sword we are discussing. Best, Ray

I have seen yari in which the piece was so polished down that the original hi was nearly gone. It is not impossible to imagine that this was a longer piece, the original hi has been eliminated, and a new hi added after the o'suriage process. Looking at the belly-effect (concave areas mid-blade) it is evidence that this piece has been greatly degraded over time (much metal removed). That would be my guess, a yari (not a ken) in which the kerakubi is gone and the current nakago was originally part of the blade. - Ray

Sounds a great deal like a sword I own. The commentary for this piece was that it greatly resembled Rai Kunitoshi, except for the o-maru boshi that is uncharacteristic for Rai, instead papering to Enju. Considerable difference in market value. Best regards, Ray

Sorry for the confusion, I should have simply checked the Archives from the beginning. I misremembered the sword in question and in fact it was a So-den Bizen Kanenaga rather than a Yoshikage. The Kanenaga is below. https://web.archive.org/web/20101213012623/http://aoi-art.com/sword/sale/10229.html Thanks, Ray

Thank you for providing the confirmation Stan. This shows that I am thinking of a sword by a different smith. Best regards, Ray

Hi Barry, the sword I recall was already Juyo. Given the exchange at the time I believe it around $16-17k, already a good deal I felt at that time. At the current exchange it's really quite amazing. I believe it is the same sword but I unfortunately did not save the photos. Best regards, Ray

Would anyone be able to confirm if this the same Yoshikage that was for sale on Aoi-art two years ago? If so it is quite a deal, now being $10,850 at the current exchange. The sword on Aoi was I believe 1,600,000 yen at the time. http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/O99535_W5086_PUP_E.html Regards, Ray

Congratulations Jean, sounds like you made a great choice to represent Yamashiro. Look forward to seeing photos when the Ryokai arrives. Best regards, Ray

The first may be Kaneharu saku (not certain) and the second Morimitsu. Regards, Ray

Joe, you must have missed the Takahashi Yoshimune (in Fujishiro Matsuo polish) that sold before the site relaunched. Working on getting some more great gendai on the site, stand by... Regards, Ray

Thanks for the kind words David. Best regards, Ray

Thank you Best regards, Ray

I have added two additional koshirae, a futokoromono and set of menuki to my site. Please see the link below. Any questions, please email me at raymondsinger@gmail.com. http://swordsofjapan.com/home/fittings/ Best regards, Ray

Congratulations Steve, it would be hard to do better than this. I likewise have an Omi (no) Daijo that Roger feels is a sandai work (though in my case a daisaku daimei from 1680 - 86). This smith was apparently very careful not to let substandard works out, and generally the sandai I have seen were extremely well made with few or no kizu and have very beautiful, well-forged jigane. I remember this piece from when it was on Tsuruta-san's site. Beautiful sword I am sure you will enjoy for years... Regards, Ray

I don't know if there is a precedent for this type of sugata. The lower part of the sword looks like one of the (extended) Bizen Kanemitsu utushi-mono the brothers produce. Not sure why the yokote was added. Perhaps this was simply the smith being creative or a custom order. - Ray

In this particular case, notice that this is not a shinogi zukuri blade. The bohi may appear to cross into the kissaki in an unusual way because the yokote runs from ha to mune. The body of the blade is hirazukuri. Regards, Ray