David Flynn

Steve, all the swords you post are a waste of money. The days of bargain hunting are virtually over. The swords that are posted on eBay and similar sites, have been picked over for years. It's very hard to even get a good Gendaito for under US3k. AGAIN! you keep asking for opinions, because, obviously you don't know what you are looking at. If you are serious about collecting Nihonto, then you will seriously need to broaden your parameters.

I have a Ujishige katana dated 1789. Because of the date, he is listed as Shinshinto. However, he was making swords before this date and didn't have a relationship with Masahide, I would class this sword as Shinto.

Steve, may I ask, why you keep putting these swords up for discussion? As I said in another post, you keep asking for information. I truly don't understand why you keep doing this? Are you after validation? I've also noticed that when people tell you about the swords you post, you don't appreciate some of the reply's. As I said in a previous post, you really need a mentor. Posting photo's, that sometimes aren't very clear, won't do you any good. I believe you are in Texas, why not ask if any members here are from Texas and are willing to help you.

Showato, or low end Gendaito.

I vote for Showato.

It appears to me, that you don't have a mentor. May I suggest that you find someone knowledgeable, that is willing to mentor you. Unfortunately, on a Forum such as this, we only get to see photos and not the sword in hand. This makes it very hard to give answers, unless what we're seeing sticks out like dogs balls.

Many years of looking at swords.

I think that maybe you should put this in the Auctions Section. It appears to me, to be Shinshinto, of no good merit.

Link doesn't work.

Bryce, I truly doubt that these were either signed or dated by another hand. Sometimes, signatures don't always match. I have a sword by Munetsugu that has one character that does not line up with oshigata, that I've seen. It turns out, that he changed the way he did this character, on later swords. When checking swords at Shinsa, the team check the workmanship as well as the sig. It's not unusual for Smiths to vary their signatures.

G'day Bryce, here is the date of my Sadakazu, plus, a copy of the one in HW Book.

Bruce, it's not about being traditional, more, did Kanehide make this?

Big part of this is Mumei blades. Shinto Mumei, unless the features stand out like Dogs Balls, are generally papered to either, Bungo or Kaga. Old Koto blades that have indistinguishable traits, are generally papered to Ko Uda.. So in answer to your question, No, they are the Experts. Usually, there is a Team. However, they generally defer to the Senior Kantei Ka. Hence, if a Mumei blade is sent to NBTHK or NTHK, they may receive different attributions.

Alex, methinks you may be a bit Touchy.

Signed Gassan, It would have to go to Shinsa for verification. Probably mid to late Muromachi. Alex, definitely not Bizen.

I don't have a photo or oshigata, but I have seen this sword first hand. The sword in question is a Utushi of a Sadamune. It was on exhibition at the NBTHK a few years ago.

You need to post better photos. The Nakago (Tang) is upside down and difficult to read.

Bryce, the funny thing about Daisaku Daimei is, that unless the Shinsa team say so, it's always classed as Shoshin. Saying that, to directly say that a sword is Daisaku Daimei without a shinsa team saying so is sort of a Faux Pas. What one should say is, I Believe this is a Daisaku Daimei. Unless one has definitive proof, one must take the sword as Shoshin. An example of this is Shigetsugu. According to Chris Bowen, all Shigetsugu swords signed with Soshu script are Daisaku. However, the Sword Socs. paper them as Shoshin. The purpose of regaling this is because, even though we know that many swords are Daisaku Daimei, they must be accepted as Shoshin if papered such. I believe Chris Bowen has done a great disservice, in that these Soshu Script swords are now mentioned by Markus Sesko and have turned some people off from buying Shigetsugu swords with Soshu mei. As said, Daisaku Daimei have been done since Adam wore knickers. It's something that is known but not Directly said. It's accepted that All members of the Gassan Family did this but again, unless papered as such, must be accepted as genuine. One may state though, that So and So did Daisaku Daimei, again though, unless papered as such, we don't definitively say So and So made this sword as Daisaku Daimei.

If you check various sources, you'll find that the Gassan School has a lot of Daisaku Daimei. Sadakazu did it for Sadayoshi, Sadakatsu did it for Sadakazu and Sadamitsu (Sadakazu 2) did it for Sadakatsu, etc. Sadakatsu died in 1943 and I'm lead to believe that Sadakatsu swords dated from 1940- 1943 a Daisaku Daimei. Again, I'm lead to believe Sadakatsu was very unwell during this period.

Ron, very hard to judge with the photo's you've supplied.

Personally, I wouldn't send this sword to Japan. I agree about sending it to Shinsa, but, I would only send it to an American Shinsa. I don't believe the quality of this sword, warrants it being sent to Japan. Another point of American Shinsa. The examiners are on a time limit and don't put the time into Mumei Swords as they probably would in Japan. However, saying that, it would receive a better opinion than it would receive here.

Special Honour Seat, is the equivalent of Mukansa.

Alex, Hamon continuing into the Boshi, can be found on all periods. Did you take the Yakidashi, into consideration?

It doesn't look like a Kanemoto. The Hamon is Togarigunome, which is a Seki style hamon. It also has a Yakidashi, which to me would place it, late 1600s.

I like Ayasugi, however, I find that the swords with this Jihada , have rather weak Hamon. Again, this is personal.