Bishu Osafune Kage ?

[templar44]

I was not sure if I should have placed this in the general discussion group or this. Because the signature may be the maker or breaker of the sword I chose this forum. If I have chosen incorrectly please let me know for future reference. This blade I purchased with the Kinju blade. I purchased it based on the blade only, not the signature, which at the time I believed to be koto Bizen. I felt it was early Muromachi period. I believe I have translated the signature correctly. The bottom kanji has been cut off when the sword was shortened. There is still a small portion of the lost kanji left. What I was hoping is anyone who may have access to more examples of signatures of Bizen smiths that could possibly align with what I have on this one. I was leaning towards a third or fourth generation Kagemitsu but I do not have enough signature examples. Of course all of this is based on whether I estimated the age of the blade correctly. I will give the measurements of the blade and some photos. Believe me when I say I have left my ego at the door and all opinions are welcome. I want to bring this sword back to life but have to know if it is really worth it or not.

Nagasa: 24" Originally: 26" (One photo shows the habaki set at the base of the two hi. This is where the original Munemachi was.

Width at hamachi: 1 3/16 inches

Width at yokote: 3/4 inch

Width of kissaki: 1 inch

Curvature: 3/4 inch Original: 1 inch

It has a low shinogi, is iori-mune with a gentle oroshi, has Katte-sagari file marks, kiri nakago. The two hi are unusual to me and I do not know how I would describe them. I do not know when this type of hi was done. One is kaku dome while the other is maru dome.

The hamon appears to be a midare for about the first 2/3 of the blade until the last 1/3 looks like a regular small gnome pattern. It is very difficult to show due to the condition of the blade.

Hope this helps and any feedback is most appreciated. I learn more by doing this type of research than just reading the books.

Tony Martin

[cabowen]

You have the correct translation.

 

The hi are a bit odd; it is hard to say if they were cut later or original without seeing how they enter the nakago. I would bet they were added later to hide a flaw.

[John A Stuart]

Tony, may I ask you, in the future please post your pics of signatures vertically the way they would be read? John

[runagmc]

Well, one thing that I CAN see from the pics is the koshi-sori. I think this sword would need to be studied in hand by a professional.

 

What is the kasane?

[templar44]

Will endeavour to post to signatures horizontal in future. The Kasane is 1 1/16 inches. Sorry I was in a rush and forgot it. I thought about the flaw theory regarding the hi as well but was unsure. I collect Yamato primarily and they are not usually prolific with hi as are some of the other schools. The original hamachi/munemachi is set just before the two hi therefore when the original habaki was set in place it probably would have covered about the beginning half inch of the hi.

Thanks for the reposes.

Tony Martin

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

 

Not the big Kagemitsu, i lean towards a bad gimei.

[Geraint]

Hi Tony.

 

Am I reading this wrong? The kasane is 1 1/16th inches?

[templar44]

I misread what you wanted. The kasane I will be able to give later on tonight. I was in a rush to get out to work.

Yes it could be a bad attempt at shodai Kagemitsu. My hopes were that someone may have a more extensive library than I do and may have recognized it as being close to someone else. I have a number of examples for the shodai and pretty much ruled him out. His symbol for Kage always seems to have the proper marks inside what I would call the small boxes. Sorry but I do not know the proper term. I am currently working so I will only be able to anwer questions or otherwise reply intermittantly.

Tony Martin

[Jean]

How do you know that the original nagasa was 26"? You are presuming that the original mekugi ana is the bottom one and that the mei is original to the blade. The 26" nagasa is very short for an early Muromachi blade.

 

The yasurime and lack of nakago tapering could indicate an earlier suriage.

 

Concerning Kage, it is very common in Osafune smith name: Kahehide, Kageyori, Kagemasa ....

[templar44]

Thanks Jean. Yes it was assumption based on the mei positioning and the fact that you can see where the position of what I deemed to be the first hamachi was placed. It is 2 inches further back from the current placement. What I thought may have been the original was positioned just to the end of the two grooves that have been cut in it. I know it is rather small for a Muromachi piece but I was not sure about the sizes of nodachi that Bizen smiths started to make. I was aware of the numerous smiths with a Kage to start their name it was just a hope on my part that perhaps a Bizen specialist might recognize a characteristic or two in the mei to point me in the right direction. I was by no means hoping for a perfect kantei from this. I don't get alot of opportunity to hash things out about my blades or others so I thought this might prove interesting to others as well as myself.

Thanks again

Tony Martin

[templar44]

I am able to post more information now that I am at home.

Geraint, the kasane is 1/4 inch.

Jean, there are more photos to go with this post. I have placed the habaki at the point where the possible first hamachi is located. It is at the front edge of the habaki. (If you can call it a habaki. It is pretty banged up.) This photo also shows how the two hi finish. Hopefully it helps to clarify the image I was trying to convey.

Thanks again,

Tony Martin