Need help on katana

[Hans Kondor]

Hello guys,

 

I hope I put the sword into the right section.

A friend of mine offered to me a sword. As I have no antik Japanese sword yet, I would like to hear some opinions about it.

The details about it are:

-cutting edge 27 3/4"s)

-signed by a Kotetsu and dated 1675

-The NBTHK said it was probably made by Kotetsu and one of his students as the workmanship in the blade was superb. They refused to issue papers for the blade because they said the way it was signed, Kotetsu had stopped signing his blades the way this one is signed in 1666

-dragon horimono (carving) on the left side towards the habaki and about 10 inches long

-right side also has a carving and bonji prayers

-suguha hamon

-habaki is made of copper and is silver plated, yujo style

[Hans Kondor]

more pictures:

[Hans Kondor]

Last pictures:

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

 

The NBTHK said it was probably made by Kotetsu and one of his students as the workmanship in the blade was superb

 

Stunning... it's gimei with a badly engraved horimono.

[Hans Kondor]

Hello Jacques,

 

thank you for your comment.

So the signature is a fake. And what about the swords, it can be made in Japan or a modern made chinese example?

[drbvac]

Missed some of the comments = no it it is not chinese and maybe only gimei in that it was a student of the smith.

 

Your friend is "offering" to sell it to you or give it to you? I am sure the NTHBK are not too far off and it is a beautiful blade but any idea when the hormone would have been added and why>? It is not as good quality as the blade itself. IF THE signature may be gimei only in that it could have been one of his students but will leave that to the "experts" on the forum -

 

Been wrong before

[paulb]

Hi Hans,

I am afraid the images do not show enough detail of the sword regarding hamon or hada to make any comment on. As Jacques says the horimono is not good and the mei is seriously suspect.

With regard to the comments about what the NBTHK said you need to establish the following:.

1. Who from the NBTHK and in what form were the comments made? Normally feedback from the NBTHK is very simple it either passes shinsa or it doesnt. On something as important as the authenticity of a sword by such a famous smith it is important, in fact essential, that this feedback is documented and authenticated not anecdotal as in "Mr.So and So told me" undocumented comment is of no value

2. As said above the horimono is poor quality. You ask if the sword is Chinese, No it isnt it is an authentic Japanese sword with a false signature (IMHO).

2. The shirasaya looks to be very clumsy and "chunky" You would hope that if this is a Kotetsu it would be housed in the best quality shirasaya available. this isnt the case here.

3. Kotetsu is one of the most faked smiths there is. In my limited exposire over the years I have seen seven of which 1 was authentic. It is said that copies of his work out number orignals by 10 to 1 or more.

 

If this were right it would be an important and valuable work. It would therefore be essential to confirm the provenance and NBTHK comments clearly before spening significant amounts of money on it. I doubt that will be possible.

[Hans Kondor]

Hello guys,

 

thank you for your comments. Yes I agree with you Paul, buy the item not the story, thats why I put the sword to the forum.

I checked the informations from Kotetsu earlier and was sure thats it can't be his work as the sword would cost 3500 dollars, which I don't know that the sword worth as much, but sure that a real Kotetsu made one would cost much more. About the NBTHK, all I know that the owner asked his agent who said the signature looked correct and he would submit it to the NBTHK for shinsa. The rest of the story I wrote down to you. I don'k know who replied from the NBTHK to him.

The most important to me was that the sword is original, has a real hamon, carving and similar age as it was signed. So far it looks that the carvings are bad and I guess the manufacturing date too.

[Eric H]

Frankly speaking, this sword is gimei. The mei is poorly done as well as the horimono, no need to check the hada.

Why should you spend money on a fake?

 

Eric

[cabowen]

I have handled more than a few Kotetsu blades and thus it is with a great deal of confidence that I say the signature, hada, and hamon are nothing like any of the Kotetsu blades I have personal knowledge of. The horimono is poorly done as well.

[Hans Kondor]

Hello guys,

 

thank you very much for your comments, you saved me lot of money! I will pass on it than.

[NihontoEurope]

The NBTHK said it was probably made by Kotetsu and one of his students as the workmanship in the blade was superb.

 

Hello Hans,

 

It does not at all look like a Kotetsu sword from any angle. Who at NBTHK made this statement? Or was this a misinterpretation by me?

 

Looking at the pictures, I would say/guess it's derives from the Bungo region.

 

/Martin

[Hans Kondor]

Hello Hans,

 

It does not at all look like a Kotetsu sword from any angle. Who at NBTHK made this statement? Or was this a misinterpretation by me?

 

Looking at the pictures, I would say/guess it's derives from the Bungo region.

 

/Martin

 

Hello Martin,

 

I don't know who made the statement, just the owner told me that.

 

Kind Regards,

Hans

[bmoore1322]

You mention something about papers, but dont see any pics of the papers.

 

 

Brian

[Hans Kondor]

You mention something about papers, but dont see any pics of the papers.

 

 

Brian

 

Hello Brian,

 

I think you misunderstood me, I never sad it has papers, I said he wanted one, but the NBTHK refused to issue one.

[runagmc]

Hans, I think you would be doing well to stay away from this one. The sword and story are both obviously suspect, to say the least.

[Hans Kondor]

Hans, I think you would be doing well to stay away from this one. The sword and story are both obviously suspect, to say the least.

 

Yes Adam, I agree with you, thanks!