cabowen

Elitist!

Looks to be a WWII Showa-to....

Sometimes hagire can be caused by abuse other than impact (bending, twisting, side impact, etc.) and show no sign of edge deformation.

Thanks for the reply. Are you saying that you are mostly self-taught? I know several koshirae builders who are mostly self-taught and I have no issue with that but think it is important to make this clear if asked...Thanks for the clarification. I will be in Japan for a few months this summer. Maybe I will be lucky enough to see some of your work.... Best of luck to you... PS- Who is Paul???

I have seen hagire on one side only....

Hans- Thank you for your reply. Please keep in mind a few things that may explain some of the questions posted concerning this koshirae and your work: 1. There are many people claiming to be "craftsman" who are more or less self-taught and lack the deep knowledge of the craft that is usually only obtained through instruction by a master. While they may be highly dedicated and have great skill, they are unfamiliar with many of the finer points of the craft. When viewed by experts/professionals, these differences stand out. Many people lack the knowledge to determine these nuances themselves and that is where this forum comes in- to help those without this specialized knowledge appreciate the finer points. Most posters do so with tact. Some, not so much... 2. It isn't personal, it is business. Too many people have paid good money to people who act the part but do not have the training and knowledge to perform as they should. Undoubtedly you have heard yourself many tales of shoddy work, broken promises, and even outright criminal behavior from so-called "craftsman". As a result, there is suspicion, which is healthy in my mind, of those who do not make their training and education clear. Would you hire someone for an important job who wouldn't tell you anything about their education? 3. Non-Japanese doing traditional Japanese crafts always seem to have a tough time with acceptance of their work by other non-Japanese. So many times this is because these people do not have the proper training as mentioned above. Other times, they do, but stereotypes and biases tend to create a situation where they have to try harder and perform better just to gain acceptance. The life of a craftsman is never easy. My advise is to make your background, training, and education clear- not to satisfy others, but first to honor your teachers and the craft. Secondly, because it reasonable and right to provide this to those who would pay for your services and entrust their prized possessions to your care. In the end, it is all about trust, and being upfront and honest about yourself is the first step. By the way, I do not understand this sentence: Do you mean 入選 nyusen (chosen for competition) at the NBTHK shinsaku contests? In any case, I hope this helps in some way to explain what is behind many of the posts in this thread and is received in the spirit in which it was intended... Best of luck with your craft- ganbatte!

If well done, it shouldn't be an issue at shinsa. Remember, owners with swords with fake signatures often are advised to have the signatures removed and to resubmit the blade. This requires repatination. It must be well done though or it looks terrible.

They say there is a collector for everything....

That would make me nervous as well...It doesn't show on the opposite side?

That is about as easy as it gets....Please do yourself a favor and try looking. Hint: very common kanji in Seki blades.

Don't assume because the blade is intact that it is traditionally made. It is rare, but not unheard of, for a non-traditionally made, stamped blade to pass registration shinsa and receive a license.

The blade is signed Sukesada. You are off by a few hundred years....

Bishu Osafune ju Sanesada (?) 備州長船住真貞 Nenki might be Bunji 文治３年６月日

Or his own....

What you are seeing as utsuri may in fact be "tsukare utsuri"....

I understand your reasoning in asking for data. My point addressed what to do with the data now that it seems you have enough to see a trend and legitimately ask questions. I suggested contacting the AB for three reasons: first, as the NBTHK representative, it's their responsibility to service their members. If you aren't a member, then that is a moot point. The second reason is the simple fact that they are the ones best positioned do something about it, and third, by going through them, they act as an intermediary, which is always a good thing when dealing with Japanese in these situations. As for questioning the NBTHK, like anything else, it depends on the situation and the approach taken. I have run into people (only in the US) who think the NBTHK is infallible and place them on a pedestal- they are only to be spoken of in a hushed voice, you know... They are very much human and as long as one is respectful and courteous, they are quite approachable. Further, It's important to keep in mind that people who submit items to shinsa are paying customers. In Japan, the saying is "okyakusama wa kamisama desu"（お客様は神様です”) - the customer is god. There is a marked difference in questioning their opinion (which in most cases I would say one would be on thin ice) and questioning their service, which to me, is the real issue here, and very much open to question.

It seems to me the issue raised has more to do with incomplete attributions that lack any real value for the time and money invested, rather than the questioning of the basic attribution... It isn't a cheap proposition, in terms of both time and money. I think the issue is a valid one and the question deserves to be answered. I just don't think this venue is the place to get anywhere with it. As I intimated, the NBTHK-US would seem the appropriate place to start.

備前介藤原綱俊 天保二年八月日 Bizen no Suke Fujiwara Tsunatoshi Tenpo 2nd year, a day in the 8th month So you were quite close! This is an unlisted smith.... It almost seems like a bit of a prank- using the Bizen no Suke title from Koyama Munetsugu and the mei of Tsunatoshi, whom Munetsugu is thought to have studied with....

Have you brought this to the attention of the NBTHK-US?

Not a problem, just a general observation....I understand the need, just is unfortunate where it appears.

The Donald Trump of the day?

後藤清乗 Goto Seijo is my guess....

The Meikan lists this smith as being a Naoe Shizu smith, from Mino, student of Kaneuji, from O'an (1368-75). This paper was written ostensibly in 1973, 2 years before the Meikan was published. So some other source was used for the info on the paper above. Who knows where it came from...I think the important take away about it is it was attributed to a Naoe Shizu group smith, not Bizen, and Nanbokucho period, by people who had it in hand and who should know something about what they are looking at...I think it's a reasonable start.

I'll pm you the details...

How about a Sukekane?