templar44 Posted January 29, 2013 Report Posted January 29, 2013 I am new to this site although I am not new to Nihonto. I have been a member of the Toronto Token Kai for a number of years and have been collecting for about 20 years. I focus my collection around Yamato blades. This site was recommended to me by a member of the club who stated that the people on the forum were helpful and knowledgeable, I recently rescued this wakizashi as well as a tachi from despair. Trying to decipher the date is proving most difficult. I managed to get the omote which I believe reads Tsutsui Echu no kuni Terukuni Nyudo Kiju. I believe the ura may have a date of 1707 but I am unable to match it properly with kanji and suitable romanization. Should the signature and date prove true I want to have the sword polished by a suitably qualified polisher. The signature looks good from examples I have seen. This coupled with the proper file marks, shape of nakago and correct and beautiful hamon leads me to believe all is in order. However, I will not get my hopes up. I am not treasure hunter I just really liked the swords.The sword was covered in old hardened grease and the tsuka is very dirty. It appears the sword was stuck in some rafters and left for many years. Anyway if you can help me I am forever in your debt. Just for fun the other sword was signed tachimei and is probably late nambokucho / early muromachi signed Bishu Osafune Kage ( last kanji cut off due to shortening). There is a small piece of the original kanji still there. For what it's worth. If anyone wants to see it I will post it. I have no idea if that signature is any good as well. Thanks for your time, T. Martin Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 29, 2013 Report Posted January 29, 2013 I believe Enkyo 延享 san nen 1746. This date correlates better with this particular smith I think.John Quote
templar44 Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Posted January 30, 2013 Thanks John. Sorry I did not get back sooner but I am making dinner for the brats and then it is off to the Dojo. If that is the case it would put it near the end of his life. Fujishiro lists him as age 75 in 1740. I am more intrigued by the minute. Gimei or a new reference signature? Jury is still out. Quote
Nobody Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 筒井越中守輝邦入道紀充 - Tsutsui Ecchu no kami Terukuni nyudo Kiju/Norimitsu 延享三年秋 (Enkyo 3 nen, aki) - Autumn in 1746 和州郡山住 (Wa shu Koriyama ju) - Living in Koriyama of Yamato province Quote
templar44 Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Posted January 30, 2013 Terrific! The only thing I am unsure of is the Norimitsu you attached at the end. Was this his original name and not his smith signature? Or is it a second generation I am not aware of? Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 His real name is Tsutsui Terukuni and if Norimitsu does not refer to a student who helped/made the sword under his auspices could be in reference to the Washu Yamato Norimitsu a Senjuin master, but, I am inclined to think disciple. John Quote
Nobody Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 Kiju/Norimitsu is his another smith's name. It is said that he started to use the name after around 1693. Ref. http://www.token-net.com/juyotoken/juyo ... iju-1.html Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 That's new. He did sign Kanekuni earlier and Kiju as a priest, but, no reference to Norimitsu. ?? John Quote
Nobody Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 Norimitsu is another reading for 紀充 (Kiju). Quote
John A Stuart Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 Goodness!! I wondered where that came from. I never expected his nyudogo as being other than Kiju. John Quote
templar44 Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Posted January 30, 2013 Just got back from the Dojo. Thank you all for your help. I am very pleased at the moment. Would a bottle of single malt be payment enough? Quote
george trotter Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 Speaking of Kiju, I picked up a daito by him in Sydney in 1988...perfect polish, excellent quality buke-zukuri koshirae of black lacquered saya in wartime leather combat cover...I still have the combat cover! (ah, the folly of youth ) regards, Quote
templar44 Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Posted January 30, 2013 Probably seemed like a good idea at the time though didn't it? I have done the same but I have more patience now. Anyway even though I study all the time the swords still found me. They practically slapped me in the face. Tony Martin Quote
leo Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 Here the mei of a Hozon papered suriage Katana by Kiju from the same year. Terrific blade. Mei looks close, but with a smith like that you never know. Pics of blade might tell more. Best, Martin Quote
templar44 Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Posted January 30, 2013 Mr. Martin thank you fro taking the time to post the photos. I definitely have my homework cut out for me. My largest concern was a good polish on the blade especially if it was done by Kiju. The fact about the blade I stated previously and that it made in the Yamato style with a wide shinogi and a lot of hira-niku lead me to believe it has a good shot at being genuine. I have added some photos of the hamon. They were the best I could do as a result of the condition. It all seems to match with this particular smith. It is too hard to discern consistent hataraki due to the condition. Anyway I hope the photos are worth viewing. Thanks again, Tony Martin Quote
cabowen Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 Based on the photos, I would lean towards shoshin. I think it is in good enough condition for a shinsa team to evaluate. Quote
templar44 Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Posted January 30, 2013 Thank you Chris that is a great help and I am very happy at the moment. Tony Martin Quote
leo Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 Tony, from what I can see, the hamon looks typical. When I am back home I will send some blade pics from my polished Kiju, so you will have an idea what it will look like. Best, Quote
templar44 Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Posted January 30, 2013 To all who have helped me so far I am very grateful. Sometimes when youresearch you feel as if you are quite alone as we are so spread out and the knowledge base can be so diverse. Tony Martin Martin I look forward to the photos. I will not reply until later as I will be working late. Night shift tonight. Quote
templar44 Posted February 1, 2013 Author Report Posted February 1, 2013 Martin Thank you for the photos. Apologize for not responding earlier but my job can be somewhat erratic with regards to hours. Anyway, I am very pleased with the photos and with all the comparisons I have been doing I have noticed a few characteristics that Kiju seems to have favoured. The first is the way the hamon comes out of the boshi. He seems to extend the hamon close to the hasaki and then jumps it up into those very high torn waves without a gradual rise. He also seems to include a few very straight (suguha) portions at the bottom of one or two of the valleys. Not always but there are a few. This may be a kantei feature of his or a coincidence in the research material I have available.No matter my ego is still at the door. I copied your photo if that is ok just for my own research purposes. If you are not happy with it I will trash them. Any additional feedback regarding this smith would be appreciated. Thanks again, Tony Martin Quote
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