Ray Singer

You see the elongated mei format from the Hizen smiths, both from the original Tadayoshi school and in the later Hizen (no) kuni gendai group.

Wakizashi Attributed to Sōshū Masahiro, Ōei Era (NBTHK Hozon) Price: $4,500 + shipping This mumei wakizashi has been attributed by the NBTHK to Sōshū Masahiro and is accompanied by a current NBTHK Hozon kanteisho. The blade is from the Ōei period, a time during which the activity of the second and third generations of Masahiro overlapped. While both generations produced work under the same name, the characteristics of this blade align more closely with the nidai. The presence of a vibrant hitatsura with bright nie, ara-nie, tobiyaki, and muneyaki, along with an active jihada, suggests the hand of the second generation more so than the sandai, whose work tends to exhibit a quieter and less nie-laden surface. The blade measures 1 shaku 5 sun 8 bu and is in an older but intact polish, with a few minor stains. The hitatsura is highly expressive, featuring rich nie activity across the ha and ji. Ara-nie forms strong kinsuji and sunagashi in areas, with tobiyaki scattered across the monouchi and muneyaki continuing along the back. The boshi is deeply tempered with nie-kuzure. The jihada is itame with some small ware, and the blade shows possible evidence of historical use, including several kirikomi along the monouchi. The sugata is elegant and in the style of a kodachi. The form of the habaki suggests it was once fitted in a koshirae in the efu-tachi style. Masahiro is considered a direct descendant of Hiromitsu, who in turn transmitted the most technically advanced aspects of the Sōshū tradition after Masamune. Hiromitsu is credited with the perfection of hitatsura. Masahiro’s early work clearly reflects the techniques and aesthetic principles developed under Hiromitsu’s hand. An example of shodai Soshu Masahiro is listed below. https://nihonart.com/portfolio/shodai-soshu-masahiro-ko-wakizashi/ The nidai Masahiro worked through the Meitoku and into the early Ōei period. He is distinguished from the sandai by his liberal use of nie and a more active chōji-midare and gunome-midare structure. In contrast, the sandai’s blades are quieter, occasionally verging toward suguha-based interpretations with reduced nie. This blade, with its dynamic hataraki and exuberant use of nie-deki, is more consistent with the nidai’s approach. The overall construction and shaping of the nakago also supports an earlier attribution within the lineage. MASAHIRO (正広), 1st gen., Jōji (貞治, 1362-1368), Sagami – “Sōshū-jū Masahiro” (相州住正広), “Masahiro” (正広), “Sōshū-jū Masahiro saku” (相州住正広作), first name Kurōjirō (九郎二郎), student of the 1st gen. Sōshū Hiromitsu (広光), he worked in the style of his master whereas his hamon is somewhat smaller dimensioned as that of Hiromitsu, he also adds some togari elements, there are tachi, ko-wakizashi and tantō extant, chūjō-saku MASAHIRO (正広), 2nd gen., Meitoku (明徳, 1390-1394), Sagami – “Sōshū-jū Masahiro” (相州住正広), “Masahiro” (正広), suguha-chō mixed with slightly undulating notare, gunome, ashi, yō, sunagashi and small tobiyaki in nie-deki, higher gunome elements towards the bōshi area can be connected to the kaeri and muneyaki MASAHIRO (正広), 3rd gen., Ōei (応永, 1394-1428), Sagami – “Sagami no Kuni-jūnin Masahiro” (相模国住人 正広), “Sōshū-jū Masahiro” (相州住正広),, “Sōshū-jūnin Masahiro” (相州住人正広), only few blades are extant by him, the jiba is no longer noticeably nie-laden with his generation

I am sorry for the bad news Joris, but this one is not authentic. Please see below. https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

I did not see that later Muromachi Ko-Gassan Munetsugu documented elsewhere but I will research further.

Offering an ubu Muromachi period katana in koshirae with current NTHK kanteisho to the Dewa Ko-Gassan swordsmith Munetsugu. The jihada is a beautiful ayasugi-hada, typical of what you would see from the Ko-Gassan school. The blade has a suguha-based hamon activities which flow with the jihada. The blade is in late Edo period buke-zukuri koshirae, with shakudo fuchigashira and menuki, and an Edo period iron tsuba. The saya does need repairs (a replacement kojiri and to be reglued). While the NTHK kanteisho noted the blade as being Tensho (late Muromachi), the only Ko-Gassan Munetsugu I see documented is from the early Muromachi period, circa Oei. His bio is below, courtesy of Markus Sesko. SOLD + shipping MUNETSUGU (宗次), Ōei (応永, 1394-1428), Dewa – “Gassan Munetsugu” (月山宗次), Gassan school

Please see below for information on Katsumura Norikatsu. Yours is dated a day in the second month of Keio two (1866). https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?order=field_smith_start_era_value&sort=asc&type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=勝村徳勝

Any chance of seeing a clearer image? Perhaps Kanehide.

We will need to see the mei to answer. This is a date: October, 1943.

This is a koshirae I just received a few days ago with a signed signed So-den Bizen blade from one of Enbun Kanemitsu's students. The koshirae has inlaid coral and malachite (in addition to the cloissone elements). The fittings have an Ezo / Umetada look to them (excluding the kojiri). Best regards, Ray

This is a WWII era blade signed Noshu Seki ju Okada Kaneyoshi saku kore. 濃州関住岡田兼義作之

Perhaps the name itself at the bottom is a form of Sairen (西蓮)?

Yasuoki, a lucky day in February 1942 Yasuoki was one of the famous Yasukuni Shrine smiths who worked during the war era. https://www.google.com/search?q=Yasukuni+yasuoki+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za&client=ms-android-google&sca_esv=6b419d715691fe69&sxsrf=AE3TifNOdIuXVStnsrNxL8ac8AzXgKUeSQ%3A1757947355680&ei=2yXIaNueKfLJwt0Ph6eD4AU&oq=Yasukuni+yasuoki+site%3Awww.militaria.co.za&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIilZYXN1a3VuaSB5YXN1b2tpIHNpdGU6d3d3Lm1pbGl0YXJpYS5jby56YUjcLVCFB1jWLXADeAGQAQCYAfsBoAHBD6oBBTAuNi40uAEDyAEA-AEBmAIKoALJDMICChAAGLADGNYEGEfCAgcQIRigARgKwgIFECEYqwLCAggQABiABBiiBJgDAIgGAZAGCJIHBTIuNS4zoAfqLLIHBTAuNS4zuAe3DMIHBzAuMi42LjLIBzM&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#ip=1

Yasunobu kinsaku tanto dated a lucky day in August, 1943. A lovely Yamashiro-den utushi-mono with ko-itame jihada and suguha-based hamon in ko-nie. Bio below courtesy of Markus Sesko. Price: $4,500 + shipping YASUNOBU (靖延), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Yamagata – “Murakami Yasunobu kinsaku” (村上靖延謹作), “Yasunobu” (靖延), real name Murakami Ensaku (村上円策), student of Ikeda Yasumitsu (池田靖光), he made about1,000 blades for the Yasukuni forge. Murakami YASUNOBU 村上靖延, given name Ensaku 円策 was born in April 24th, Meiji 40th (1907) in Yamagata prefecture. He joined The Nihonto Tanren Kai foundation (NTK) 日本刀鍛練会 in December 15th, Showa 8 (1933) with his chief master smith Ikeda YASUMITSU 池田靖光. After 5 years' practicee, he was given the official smith name YASUNOBU 靖延 by the War Minister, Itagaki Seishiro 板垣征四郎 in January 11th, Showa14 (1939) and played the chief role till the dissolution of NTK Showa 20th (1945) in the end of the War. Chairman awarded in the 2nd official military sword exhibition in December 21th, Showa19 (1944). Article below from to-ken.uk: "It was customary that swords were sometimes given as gifts by the emperor to graduates who attained distinguished grades at the Imperial Army Staff College and the Imperial Naval College. Known as “Onkashi-to”, katana were given to the Army whilst the Navy had tanto or daggers. These were swords of superior quality and the weight and dimensions, including the curvature, were very specific. After the inspection agreed that they were worthy of being Onkashi-to the smith was allowed to sign the sword and added the characters KINSAKU after his name, meaning “Respectfully made this”. Unlike normal work, the name inscription seems to have been made below the mekugi-ana or tang hole, on these swords. Of course as an Army organisation, it was unusual that even tanto blades would be made for the Navy, but this was because the official smith of the Imperial Naval College, Horii Toshihide, had become very ill and was unable to forge blades. Of course, it was a great honour for a swordsmith to have his work recognised as Onkashi-to. " https://to-ken.uk/onewebmedia/YASUKUNI.pdf

Please show a photo of the full nakago. This is the typical nakago shape seen in Muromachi period Kongobyoe (on the right in the image below).

To my eyes, this looks like: Moritsugu. Look into Kongobyoe school.

Seki ju Kawamura Kanechika saku

I don't know which Yasuhiro this might be. There were several individuals. The nakago is suriage, and that affects the appearance as well, compared with reference examples. https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=contains&mei=康廣

Yasuhiro.

Stand corrected, thank you Moriyama-san.

This is a high-quality, healthy and flawless Muromachi period tanto in very reserved and tasteful aikuchi tanto koshirae. The blade is done in gunome-midare in nie-deki, with a bright yakiba and deep ashi. The jihada is itame with a few flowing spots, ji-nie, chikei and is beautiful forged with no flaws. The blade is in very good and intact polish and resides with the koshirae. The aikuchi saya and tsuka are done in kuronuri (black lacquer) with a copper kozuka and black sageo. The blade has old NBTHK papers to kodai Kanefusa. $2,500 + shipping.

Ōei 25 is the year 1418.

And 應永二十五年十月七日 - Ōei nijūgo-nen jū-gatsu nanoka Ōei 25, 10th month, 7th day

伯州 - Hakushū

Noshu ju Fujiwara Masatsune. Appears to be a WWII showato arsenal blade. Best regards, Ray

Signed Rai Kunimitsu, but unfortunately does not appear to be an authentic example of his inscription. The blade itself appears to be koto, however it looks to have been cleaned or wiped down with something abrasive and very little of the workmanship can be seen. How long is the blade, is it not tanto rather than wakizashi length?