Francis Wick

Ok great thank you that’s a good suggestion I was hoping someone would be able and willing to help I don’t mind paying as this is a service that is professionally done by some folks. Thank you for the suggestion

Hallo and thank you to the members and hope you folks had a rewarding thanksgiving with the family. I bought this sword today as a suriage tachi by Bizen Osafune Shigezane , mid to late kamakura early Nambokucho It has a sayagaki written by Tanobe Sensei and I hope a generous member would be so kind as to help with what it says. I believe it starts with “ Bizen Osafune Shigezane “ and ends with Tanobe and Kao Many thanks for any contribution Francis

Indeed Lewis thank you I suspect “ no chance “ but I will just keep it nice sword as is . Yes no papers but the last owner had many swords and didn’t paper any of them which is either good or bad but leaves space for investigation which is always part of the fun I guess ( or lost money in most cases )

Thank you so much such good insights and great advice much oblidged

Not off topic Sam it’s interesting

For sure Jussi if it has issues I will disclose it instead of having someone else buy my mistakes and so on ……

Hi Sam yes it’s pretty cool. Pigeon one side fan other side ( another reason to suspect it’s not genuine ! )

Thank you gentlemen. I have gone from the assumption it won’t be any good because of “ something” . It is just so unlikely that an ubu zamei kamakura tachi is going to show up out of the woodwork. Most things gave been seen, sent for papers and been rejected etc. There are things that don’t make good sense as you have all pointed out correctly. Like Jussi says, tachi were generally longer and when left you should be substantially more lengthy. The provenance checks out and by the looks of it , it has not been on the open market for about 20 years, but that leaves plenty time for it to have circulated and found wanting in some aspect. Once I get it at home I will give it a bit if a wipe down and get better measurements and pictures and would very much value the already measured and welcome comments given and accepted with appreciation. i did buy another sword at the same sale however this one I am more sure is no good. It sold in 2012 for substantially more ( $26k in inflation adjusted money ). This one likely has seen better educated eyes in the past I think. it is a gakumei “ Norishige “ but in the auction pics you can see some gunome which I suspect is wrong. I bought it for 3.5 k so no matter as it is in decent polish and has nice fittings. Nagasa 25 3/4 inches here are some pics. Thanks gents your comments are so good thank you so very much for the contribution and education 🙏🏽

Ok good stuff my appreciation for the comments. When I get it next week I will closely inspect it for the dreaded and so often encountered big issues such as hagire ( caught me out a few times already ) , saiha and so on ……😔 I’ll get better pics of the elements as suggested by the members and post them. thank you so far I am always abazed at the experience and ideas this forum brings, people are so knowledgeable and generous

Greetings to all the big brains swords get sold and bought and resold so I am wondering if anyone has come across this tachi before or had it in hand. I bought it a week ago and don’t have it yet ( should next week ). It came from an American collection , the owner passed away. It is signed tachimei Kuniyoshi, unknown school. Needs a polish. Nagasa 27 inches. That’s about all I know so far. cheers francis

This auction just finished and there were a few swords and Tanto that may have been interesting. https://www.liveauct...-asian-works-of-art/ the Nihonto starts at lot 231 with a tachi that I think was in a fire and likely destroyed as a consequence , yet someone still paid good money for it . I do think some of the items were under priced Francis

Thank you Rivkin Ha ! Had no idea this is a wee secret ( too much of a sissy to try it myself ) ! thank you I’ll get polished then much oblidged

Hallo and thanks I hope all are well out there. I wonder if any of the members have ever had a blade successfully polished when a prior owner has etched the blade with acid. I guess it depends how deep or aggressive the etching was done , but just as a principle is it is waste of time to try ? thanks Francis

Thanks so much got it wrong both times 😂😂 keep trying boy !!! Thank you Steve and John 👍🏻

Hallo and thanks for any advice i think the mei is chikanobu saku and the date 1934 but probably wrong 😞 it also has a stamp ? Francis Wick

Thank you Jacques ! The visual reference is super helpful. The Mei is not as carefully or skillfully chiseled as one would expect it looks almost shinshinto like to me also. I agree likely gimei. Thank you

Ok such super good observations thank you so much for the insights 🙏🏽

Ok will post blade pics

Hi and thanks for any input/ opinions/ advice i I think this mei reads Soshu ju Hirotsugu any thoughts if it’s genuine or gimei and which generation if genuine ? other side of nakago has no date thank you

Good Sunday afternoon friends. I have two Katana , both polished and in shirasaya that need papers. I have neither the time or experience to get them papered by the NBTHK. I was hoping a member had contact with a trustworthy person who may be willing to do this for me. Obviously happy to pay for it. thank you 🙏🏽 Francis

Ok thank you I will try get some good pics

Hi Brian thanks yes it’s not the full width of the nakago probably a ware. The nakago is ubu and not machi okuri so probably original to production

One would definitely mention it when selling it for sure. It’s a good old blade otherwise but I need it seen by the NBTHK as it is signed by a potentially important smith so I guess I’ll take the chance on it being rejected

I agree it’s a fulcrum and I would not rely on it in battle. I’m wondering if it would fail shinsa ?