Jorgensen

Thanks for your help and replys. The blade seems to be a 14cth wakizashi blade, but out of polish with a bit and some rust stains and some fool has cleaned the nakago a bit. But it has a very, very nice shape and funbari. Pete, thanks for taking your time to go through the lists and checking the meikan, I know it takes some time and I appreciate it. It may be gimei or just some "Shigemitsu" as you say. Although I think mei is nicely done and the overall quality looks be good. I am wondering if the F/K and the tsuba (and maybe the menuki) possibly could be from same maker, even that tsuba is unsigned? Its a good match anyway and I like the laquered ito too.

And a few pics more...

Dear collectors, I have this Tsuka mounted on a blade, that I would like to know more about. To my translation, mei reads Shigemitsu. Am I correct? -And if so, which Shigemitsu and is mei genuine? It looks to me to be above average quality, but what do I know?!

Speaking of the bunny Tsuba... (as well as the others)... I have seen it in hand and the details with the moon, skies, flowers AND the patina look far, far better irl, than on the pictures... The pics are not good and really do not justify any of the pieces, so I understand why the plate can look a little "boring" here, but in hand, the simple composition and patina looks really nice. But as always... Nihonto simply isnt the easiest thing to photograph.

I still would like to know more about the tsuba... is it Mito school?, low- medium or high grade tsuba?, approx value etc.?? Some more and better pics...

Eric, thanks for the comparison, great way to show it. Yes, you see the Shoshin mei differs a bit, but still there are some similarities in the mei, however my kozuka the mei misses those similarities... unfortunately. Ludolf, thanks for the picture of your rats I have made this picture for comparison. As you say, it must be a wellknown scene from somewhere, almost identical...

Indeed! Thomas, can you take a shot a little from the side, so the very high relief becomes more visible... with a camera, not a shotgun even though its rabbits

I think the tsuba looks cast/repro... or at least not very old... maybe some of the other kind fellas here can support og dismiss this...?

Sorry my english, the question was to meant to be considerd as a general question, I do not doubt its gimei.

John, My first thought was Mito school as well, but I cannot find any that are similar to my Tsuba. My impression when having the Tsuba in has is that it is not chemically enchanced, but I am not sure. Ludolf, Interesting, is it possibly for you to post a picture of your kozuka? Generally I am wondering that the mei seems quite skilled and wellcarved and wondering if its possible that - also considering the quality - if it could be one of his early works? I mean - an artist I suppose is not as experienced and skilled when he is 20 years old as he when he reaches 60 years of age? To me - logically - every artist, tosugu maker, bladesmith etc. over time will be more and more skilled and his works improves? Also his signature must change somewhat during the years? Just a thought I find interesting and to be considered?

Dear Sirs, Thanks for your quick replys and thoughts on the Kozuka. Ford; I might should have recognized the signature, but please note I am not much into Tosugu, my main focus has been on blades... but still learning and appreciate the info... A shame its probably gimei, it wouldnt have bothered me if mei was original Any may have a word on the Tsuba, school and such? Both items are much better in hand than on pictures... Nihonto is dificult to shoot realistic pictures of.

Hmmm... it making a really wonderful kitchenknife... Thanks for showing us, very interesting...

Dear collectors, I am not a tosogu guy and therefore ask your help about info on this Tsuba and Kozkuka. On Kozuka, the 2nd kanji I get: Aki, Teru, Myo or maybe Tomo... and third kanji I may think: Masa or Nari??... I cant decipher it... btw. the inlay at nakago-ana I suspect to be shakudo. Am i correct? Thank you.

Dear Sirs, Wondering if any can provide me the pictures/scan of pages from the Daido a.k.a. Mutsu kami Kanemichi blade, on page 45 from Japanese Swords & Sword Furniture in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston? The reason is that I have a Daido Naginata-Naoshi blade myself and would like to see/compare with this example.

Dear Sirs, Thank you for your comments. No fine or less fine Kozuka/Kogai will come close to this tsuba - I will keep it in the box As I still am impressed by the complexity/workmanship (it must have taken a lot of time to carve) and to show the layers, I have posted some additional pictures. When in hand, the "core" metal looks a little less dark, compared to the surrounding metal. Must say I hate taking pictures of tsuba. Always pictures get to look so crude and tsuba always look much, much better in hand.

If its Sadayoshi, I am wondering why he has more than one copy :D http://www.ebay.com/itm/19th-C-29-5-8-SHINSHINTO-KATANA-SADAYOSHI-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Tsuba-/281210224569?pt=Asian_Antiques&hash=item41796f7fb9

I notice the rim and some design is very thin compared to other examples I have seen. The layers in the steel is very visible (seen from the side). Can someone tell me more about this Tsuba, approx age etc.? It measures: 6.9 x 6.8 cm.

However you must consider this statement from Aoi Art regarding polishing: http://www.aoijapan.com/news-from-aoi-art

Very, very good picture! Some of the best and most detailed I have seen. Must have been a lot of work to set up the lighting and everything.

Wow, that was a pleasure to read and view the lots of pictures. Thanks for sharing.

Dear Morita, I do not have the Nihonto Meikan. Is it possible for you to share a scan or the info from the Meikan? Found those in Marcus Seskos Index. Should probably be one of the two first first listed if Sōshū-jū Masatoshi (Masatoshi = 正俊)?? Good smith? Thanks again for your valuable help --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Masatoshi (正俊), Eiroku (永禄, 1558-1570), Suruga – „Sunshū-jū Masatoshi“ (駿州住正俊), „Sōshū-jū Masatoshi“ (相州住正俊), Shimada school, according to transmission the student of Odawara-Sōshū Masatoshi (政俊), there exists also the theory that they were actually the same smith, suguha, ō-midare. Masatoshi (正寿), Genji (元治, 1864-1865), Shimotsuke – „Sōshū-jū Masatoshi“ (総州住正寿), student of Hosokawa Masaaki (正明) Masatoshi (政俊), 1st gen., Eiroku (永禄, 1558-1570), Sagami – „Sagami no Kami-jū Masatoshi“ (相模国住政俊), „Sōshū-jū Masatoshi“ (相州住政俊), Odawara-Sōshū group, according to transmission a student of the 2nd gen. Shimada Sadahiro (定広), gunome, ko-midare, wazamono Masatoshi (政俊), 2nd gen., Tenshō (天正, 1573-1592), Sagami – „Sōshū-jū Masatoshi“ (相州住政俊), „Chōhōji Masatoshi“ (長峯寺政俊), „Jōshū-jū Chōhōji“ (常州住長峯寺), son of the 1st gen. Masatoshi, he also worked in the vicinity of the Chōhōji (長峯寺) in Ishioka (石岡) in Hitachi province, it is said that there exist blades which are just signed with „Chōhōji“, we know a broad tantō with sakizori, it has an itame with much nagare and masame and a gunome-midare mixed with sunagashi and mura-nie, that means the blade has all in all a rather rustic and „provincial“ appearance

Dear Morita. You are fantastic! Thanks so much for your help. I have an additional picture that might help on the smiths name?

Hi Morita, Thank you. No, I do not have pictures of the blade or nakago at this moment. I have seen the blade live of course and afterwards asked seller to send me some pics of sayagaki for translation. Can you read it?

I am considering buying this blade (locally), but I would like to know what sayagaki says before buy. Seller does not know. To me its looks to be written by Kanzan Sato?... Hoping some of the experts here can help and tell me what it says? Thank you so much for your help.

Hello guys, Can anyone be so kind to help me with the translation of this mei? Thank you.