O-Midare

Thank You Barry for the wonderful exercise at our meeting today, it was a good experience for learning and I think we all came away with a greater knowledge no matter our experience level. You and Tony did a great job.

Very nice, great work.

Here is the Kashira (pommel) for you.

Here is a fairly old one (Kamakura era). Apparently the silk on the saya is original.

Rays assessment would be my uneducated opinion as well.

Here is one I have, was told by a few sources it is between late 18c to early 20th century, have not been able to get a better answer. I'm also very interested. Also was wondering who could restore this. I was in contact with the Royal Ontario Museum and they told me they have a woman in Ottawa Ontario who does their restorations but can't locate the information.

I have my doubts too, that is why I deferred here. I have passed all this info along to the Gentleman who owns it, I think he greatly over paid for it and don't know if he got a money back guarantee. So he is probably stuck with it.

Further up in the post this was written. but the sword IS a “Shodai Tadahiro Mei” wakizashi – it has a signature purporting to be Shodai Tadayoshi in his Tadahiro period. It's a Wakizashi.

Thanks Ray, very enjoyable, will be clicking the subscribe button.

No shirasaya, just an old saya and beat up tsuka.

Thank You Ray, I have passed all this info on to my friend and am waiting to see what they want to do now. I guess shinsa is in order, but will it be able to go to shinsa in its current condition?

Here is the update, Thank You all for your time and Help. I think......THINK.......it may be a late (Nidai?) Dai Mei for the Shodai, circa 1631. I strongly suggest that you send it for Shinsa in Japan, as the NBTHK are the final authority on authenticity. If it does go to Shinsa, I would be very interested in the outcome. They will only either pass or fail the sword at the Hozon level with no other information. If it passes , then pretty sure its dai-mei. If not, then gimei. Either way, I do not think it was signed by the Shodai. P92 in my book has daimei examples. If the sword was made by the Shodai, then it should have abundant visible nie, if ai-saku and made by the Nidai, then probably a narrow but distinct and bright white nioiguchi with some nijuba, and a shallow notare'. ...assuming it is suguha. Hope this helps. Kind rgds, Roger

Thanks Bazza, Thanks Jacques, there is a lot to digest here, some things look legitimate, some look sketchy. Roger Robertshaw has asked me to leave the pictures with him for a few days, and I will wait.

Thanks Barry, I will pass on this info.

This is the info passed on with the sword, it was just passed on to me, does this seem legitimate? Hey, I dug up the info I had on the sword ... confirmed by two qualified ‘experts’ .... Samurai Sword – Shodai Tadahiro Mei” wakizashi Short Sword It has a signature purporting to be Shodai Tadayoshi in his Tadahiro period unpaperd and unrestored Shodai Tadayoshi is known as SHODAI TADAYOSHI regardless of how he signed, not generally as Shodai Tadahiro even after he changed his name in 1624 until his death in 1632, but the sword IS a “Shodai Tadahiro Mei” wakizashi – it has a signature purporting to be Shodai Tadayoshi in his Tadahiro period. Tadahiro mei (Tadahiro signatures) were generally made by deshi (students) on behalf of the shodai, hence there is some variation in the kanji, especially in depth of chisel stroke. The bolder deeper signed are by the master. General Blade Condition: overall needs polishing Fittings: generally poor, however the tsuba (guard) has a nice silver fukurin (edge work) and could look quite nice after proper restoration Habaki: (collar) appears to be a double piece in gold plate (worn through) with a nice nice “cat scratch” design, can be restored. The kissaki: (tip) has been broken and re-polished at some stage in its life since the curve of the cutting edge (fukura) in the tip area (Kissaki region) does not parallel the ko-shinogi (curved ridge area). The blade tip area needs to be re-shaped slightly by the polisher. This is common in older blades where the very tip is the weakest part of the sword, and often gets damaged over the centuries. Qualifiers: 1. The sword is signed on the correct side for a wakizashi. 2. The yasurime (file marks ) are correct 3. The nakagojiri (end of the tang) is the correct shape for the period. 4. The signature itself has a high chance of passing shinsa in Japan.

Thanks Jacques.

Some more photos

That is a very fine hada. I have sent the photo to Roger.

Thanks Ray, he is wanting to have it properly restored in Japan if authentic, I suggest Paul Martin if it is authentic to broker the work for him.

Thank You Ray, apparently it is in rough shape and my friend would like to authenticate to see if it is worth sending to Japan for restoration.

Good Day all, a friend of mine just bought this blade and flashed over this nakago shot of the mei. It is all the photos I have now. My question is does the mei resemble Tadahiro? When I have more photos I will post them.

Thank You Ford and George. Picked it up cheap on eBay a while back, I liked it and the pictures of the subject matter. It's good to know what it is. The knowledge of the members on the NMB if phenomenal. Much appreciated for your time.

Thank You for your reply Mark, very much appreciated. I was leaning towards different schools of a general sort but as I know little to nothing about tosogu I thought this was the place to ask. You are probably correct in your contribution, as the styles to my untrained eye seem to vary.

Good Day, I was wondering about this little tosogu book I have, was told it is from 1797 or 98..my question is...is this a book on the work of one artist or a school? Or maybe just in general. Thank you for any info.

Hello Brandon, congratulations on your first Nihonto, I noticed you are in Toronto. We have a sword group that meets at the JCCC (Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre)6 Garamond Court, Toronto, ON, M3C 1Z5, I believe our next meet date is November 16. It's a great group of guys and there is a few members on the NMB. If that is something you would be interested in.