Ray Singer

It may be helpful to look over the link that Mark provided. The only sword-specific information is what I translated above. Best regards, Ray

Mumei Wakizashi - Kaifu Ujiyoshi. 1 Shaku 4 Sun 3 Bu (43.3cm) Best regards, Ray

The price may vary based on different factors such as the size of the habaki, price of gold, etc. Best to get a quote directly from Brian. As is often the case when commissioning work from an artist, it is also good to get their creative input. He can help recommend a habaki style which complements the blade. Here are a few he has made for me. Best regards, Ray

Hi Oleg, I had corrected my earlier translation of the date. I believe they are referring to this individual, the nidai Masahiro working in Meitoku. http://nihontoclub.com/smiths/MAS202 Best regards, Ray

Soshu Ju Masahiro - 明徳 Meitoku (1390) Best regards, Ray

I was in attendance for the entirety of the Miami Beach show and there was considerable concern among dealers. As the dealer mentions in that article, this situation has become a deterrent to some returning for future US-based shows. Imagine if a koshirae like the one below had caught the attention of officials. Considering possible issues with both the ivory and same, there would be not much left. http://www.nihonto.com/11.7.15.html Regards, Ray

Earlier in the show Chris had said that the usage of Den before a smith's name indicated 'school of' that individual. After a friend received an attribution to Den Uda Kunifusa I asked for more detail on the shinsa team's usage of the term. He spoke with them and in their words, when they add Den before a smith's name in the attribution of a mumei blade, they are saying it is exactly that individual (specifically that smith rather than 'nearly' him or of his school). Den is added simply because the blade is unsigned. That was new information for both of us and, as mentioned before, does appear to be different from the way that the NBTHK uses the term Den. Best regards, Ray

Agreed, appears to be Den Bizen Osafune Kozori Yukikage. Interestingly, the NTHK NPO treats the usage of the word den differently. In discussion with the team Saturday morning they use it to refer to any unsigned work which is attributed to a specific individual. Best regards, Ray

Markus Sesko provides information on this inscription at the link below. http://markussesko.com/2013/02/15/rare-mentionings-of-forging-techniques-in-sword-signatures/ Best regards, Ray

The time period also appears to be Kan’ei.

Echizen Harima Daijo Shigetaka Best regards, Ray

I've always wondered if the owner did that to the Kunitoshi to maximize market value due to a hagire or deep hakobore. Here is another example. http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/Sueyuki1.html There was a Yokoyama Sukenaga nakago laying on a table in Tampa this weekend. I assumed it one of the many signed koto nakago that seem to be converted to nakago nuki these days. When I asked the dealer about this he replied that the nakago cracked very recently during martial arts training and the mei was going to be added as a gakumei in the now wakizashi length remainder to the blade. Best regards, Ray

No worries, glad to share photos from the show. Pics of the Dotanuki attached. Best regards, Ray

Yew, it does appear to have been a long fluorescent bulb.

Thanks Stephen, this is the only other photo I have of the photography setup. Best regards, Ray

And a few photos of the shinsa team going through Fujishiro and comparing the mei of the three Dotanuki smiths published there, Kosuke no Suke, Masakuni and Genzaemon.

The Dotanuki was given an attribution to Genzaemon, c. Tensho. Best regards, Ray

I enjoyed hearing about this Nobuhide at the lecture Saturday night. Congratulations Ryan! Best regards, Ray

Reads Hishu ju (not Sesshu ju). Not remotely a borderline case, the mei is clear. - Ray

I will let this listing go for a couple of days and then will be returning these pieces to the owner. If anyone has an interest, please email raymondsinger@gmail.com. Best regards, Ray

It looks like the original nakago which has been ground down to fit into a different tsuka. I recall a shodai Hizen Masahiro Cary Condell had, which was similarly damaged here in the states. His comment on that sword was that it would have been a strong Juyo candidate if ubu. A while back there was a Hasebe tanto on Aoi Art which has been fitted with an iron sleeve. It was difficult to tell but it also appeared that the nakago had been greatly reduced in width and that a sleeve was later added to reinforce the nakago and give it a more balanced shape. Best regards, Ray

To my eyes, $1,600 is not an unreasonable price. It would be helpful to see photos of the entire sword and koshirae, rather just the closeups you have provided. From what I can see it is a reasonably nice wakizashi in generally intact handachi koshirae. The tsuka looks to be in good condition and the tsukamaki does not need to be redone. The tsuba is done in katakiri-bori. The saya has some losses to the lacquer which will need to be addressed, however if there isn't damage to the saya towards the kojiri (the parts we cannot see in your photos) then it should be restorable. Looks like the blade is purporting to be a Bizen Sukesada, a group of smiths who generally signed with a nagamei (long signature). Some of the gunk we see on the blade in your photos may come off with pure alcohol. It would be good to start there and see if a new polish is even needed. Best regards, Ray

Thanks Steve. Here is a closeup of the nakago jiri where the mei fragment can be seen below Dotanuki. At this point after having taken the sword home and studied for several hours I am becoming very confident that it is Dotanuki work, and am overall extremely pleased with the find. The partial character may be the top of Fuji.

Outstanding, thank you Grey. Best regards, Ray

Would appreciate any thoughts on this mei. There is a trace of an additional kanji after 'Dotanuki'. I really should have learned by now to keep my Fujishiro with me when I travel, but here I am again having an unexpected encounter with an interesting sword and hope that someone can help to place this with a specific smith from the Dotanuki group. Kind regards, Ray