CSM101

I think Bishu Osafune Sukesada is the right answer. 備州長船祐定 Uwe G.

My tip: Taikei Naotane. Uwe G.

My guess would be around 1800. Uwe G.

Mizuta I would say No. And Uda is a good possibility. Uwe G.

250 collectors for Germany? That´s really optimistic. I think less than 150 is more accurate. Uwe G.

The photo. And the download: http://daten-transport.de/?id=JdKtSKaeCfrg Uwe G.

Gentlemen, Put down your pens, time is up and here is the correct answer. And the correct answer is: there is no correct answer! Before I come to that, I want to thank the owner of this sword for letting me take photos for over a week. :bowdown: And now let me explain. Nambokucho and Soshu is clear and most of you recognized it. And at this time we have Soshu Hiromitsu and Soshu Akihiro. They almost did the same and it is very hard to distinguish between them. I can´t remeber where I read or heard it but when you have a different boshi and hamon you can say it´s Soshu Akihiro. And so this is what it says with the kinzogan mei and the papers from the NTHK: Soshu Akihiro. But! And this is where the April Fools´ Day kicks in, the blade is also accompanied with papers from Fujishiro-san saying that this sword was made by Yamashiro Nobukuni. And who wants to stand up and argue against Fujishiro-san? Not me, that´s for sure. So, you have two opinions and now you can decide which one you prefer. In the end it is what Darcy always writes: as long as you don´t have a time machine you can never be sure for 100 percent. (I´d prefer The Time Tunnel. Worm Hole related and so it needs less energy.) And that´s why I picked this sword to make this point a little bit more understandable. For a better understanding of Nobukuni and the change from Yamashiro to Soshu I recommend two articles by Markus Sesko, who was very helpful (as always) in the beginning: https://markussesko.com/2016/05/30/kantei-4-yamashiro-26-nobukuni-%E4%BF%A1%E5%9B%BD-school-1/ and https://markussesko.com/2017/03/17/kantei-4-yamashiro-27-nobukuni-%E4%BF%A1%E5%9B%BD-school-2/ But now the results: Masahiro as a later generation Akihiro is very good. Late Nambokucho and Shizu is good, because time and tradition are correct. But Shizu is not that irregular. Senjuin. Well, I haven´t seen many and those I remember were suguha. There was for example a very beautiful tachi in the A.Z. Freeman collection. Uda Kunimune = I can still hear M. Hagenbusch: “When somethings looks like Soshu that isn´t Soshu it`s most likely Uda.” Means: Uda lacks in quality. And last but not least: “Made last week by a Chinese man from Suzhou”. That was very funny. Really. And at least you got the gender right. Thank you all for giving their statements. You know, you can only learn by making mistakes. Photo will come in the evening. Uwe G. To be continued….

Nambokucho is already a good call. And not rehardened. BTW. I think my camera would commit suicide if I wanted to make photos of china crap. Uwe G.

Both sides as a download: http://daten-transport.de/?id=N69VRgD8ExA6 Uwe G.

More photos. Uwe G.

Dear members, it´s Aprils Fool´s Day and I found a sword right for this moment. Osuriage mumei, nagasa 57,2 cm, motohaba 25,5 mm, sakihaba 17,0 mm and sori 13 mm. There is a kinzogan mei. Please compare both sides hamon and boshi. I´ll give the answer on Wednesday. Uwe G.

I think I found a sword with almost the same effect. Look at the left side. Uwe G.

Once again the same Yoshiro tsuba, but this time colorcorrected. Uwe G. deleted on request

Oh, I forgot to write, that Prof. Kremers held a lecture about Tosho and Katchushi tsuba. Unfortunately my memory card was full and my mobile camera didn´t work. Maybe someone else can bring up some photos. I only have from my archive a Iyekuni and my all-time-favorite-Yoshiro-tsuba, that was for sale. Uwe G.

Dear members, the meeting in Nuremberg was very well attended with 35 persons. The theme was kirikomi, or battle scars on swords. Mr. Kurzweil held a lecture and demonstrates some of the reasons for kirikomi. In one moment I thought Mr. E would loose his right leg, but fortunately nothing happend. No blood were spilled. Six swords with battle scars were on display. In the next round choji and choji midare hamon were shown. Eight swords were shown: Fukuoka Ichimonji -Juyo token Ichimonji Sukezane - Juyo token Heki Mitsuhira Tango no Kami Kanemichi Bizen Yokoyama Sukenaga Yasuyuki Hizen Kunihiro and one I forgot. Sorry. Uwe G. The rest of the photos can be found here: https://www.nihontophoto.com/nbthk-treffen-18-03-2017

I think there are several reasons why Darcy/Ted won´t do that. My guess is, they use a Sigma 105 macro with f14, ISO 125. And this is the point with the best results. I prefer f11. From a tecnical aspect it wouldn´t make sense to make the shots with a f26. Next point photostacking: Please don´t forget, that Darcy is a highend sword dealer. And with just the slighest hint of manipulating your photos you can loose your reputation. I think that is too much of a risk. And the last point: Think about how much you will be impressed, when you hold the sword in your hands. Uwe G.

Norishige Uwe G.

Sorry, I forgot. Well, first of all: sugata. It is a relatively short wakizashi with a longer chu kissaki. That tells us Shinto. Then there is a beautiful texture such like in this sword. Koitame-hada well grained with jinie attached and small chikei = Osaka Shinto. The hamon has an active deep nioiguchi in gunome midare. Boshi ca not be seen. My fault, once again. And the last point: you have a long signature close to the mune and osujikai yasurime. Hence: Oya Kunisada. Uwe G.

Okay, I know I´m late. But here is the answer. And it is: Izumi no Kami Fujiwara Kunisada; a.k.a. Oya Kunisada. Congratulations for all with the right answer and for all with a close answer. I know, that the quality of the photos were not the best. So, if you didn´t hit the name, blame it on me. Sorry! Uwe G.

Not anymore. The blade is back to it´s owner. Sorry. Uwe G.

Dear Stefan and Bazza, here are some more pictures. Boshi and and enhanced version of a part of the blade. The boshi is straight from the camera. Only the background was made black. Uwe G.

Dear members, once again you have the chance to proof your skills in kantei. Nagasa 46,5 cm, motohabe 3,3 cm, sakihaba 2,3 cm. I will post the answer next Saturday. Uwe G.

With a little help from CSI Wladiwostok I could make a little bit more visible. But more than Izumi no Kami (?) is not possible. If you want a better photo from the signature you need a hard and bright light from the side. Uwe G.

And the answer is: Tamba no Kami Yoshimichi. Uwe G.

Dear Members, this is a chance to proof your own skills in kantei again, before the real changelling kantei from Rayhan can start. Good idea, by the way. So: nagasa 53,3 cm, motohaba 3,5 cm, sakihaba 2,7 cm, yasurime osujikai. On the omote is a long signature close to the mune and another inscription in gold. Weight: 660 g. I will post the answer 12.02. Good luck! Uwe G.