Wakizashi - Iga Kami Fujiwara Kinmichi?

[nickf76]

Dear everyone,

 

Greetings from Switzerland!

 

I am a new user here, and it is amazing to find so much information and contributions to this site.

 

As my first post, I have a potential interest in buying a sword from an acquaintance here, i think that it originally comes from Aoi-Art in Japan.

 

What do you think of the attached item?

• Wakizashi 50.9 cm or 20.03 inches

• Supposedly “Iga Kami Fujiwara Kinmichi” but the nakago is very rusty.

• No hozon paper

 

Do you think that the signature is gimei, considering the deep rust in the tang? The sword was probably found in a bad state and re-polished?

 

Many thanks for your valuable input; i have attached two pics

 

Best regards

 

Nick

[cabowen]

Yes, signed Kinmichi. Too rusted to determine much from the mei. If sold from Aoi Art, their description should indicate what generation, if they think the mei is good, etc.

[Alex A]

Hi Nick, is there any of the paperwork from Aoi art?

 

Alex.

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

From what i can see it is not the shodai. The ji Kin is not chiseled the way he used and he didn't engraved kikumon.

[nickf76]

Hello to you all,

 

many thanks for your replies. i just received the text description for the item (from Aoi Art): so i guess it did not pass the NBTHK Hozon Paper but it did receive an Aoi Art estimation paper....

 

Does this mean that the Wakizashi has less value in the market? I went to see it last night and the blade itself looks very healthy and nice, the only thing is the rusty tang when you take it out of the Tsuka!

 

I am intrigued by antiques that have a story, and i am kind of drawn to find out its history if i purchase it.

 

-----------------

Wakizashi in Shirasaya, with Koshirae.

Signature: Iga Kami Fujiwara Kinmichi.

The blade was polished.

Blade length : 50.9 cm or 20.03 inches.

Sori : 1.1 cm or 0.43 inches.

Mekugi: 1

Width at the hamachi : 3.04 cm or 1.19 inches.

Width at the Kissaki : 2.16 cm or 0.85 inches.

Kasane : 0.62 cm or 0.24 inches.

Era : Edo period Kanbun era.

Shape : The blade is wide and thick healthy blade.

Jitetsu : Itame had and Masame had mixed with jinie attach.

Hamon : Niedeki suguha and noter mixed with sunagashi.

Boshi is Ichimaai style.

Special feature : Iga Kami Fujiwara Kinmichi was a stream of the kanemichi in Muromachi period.

Eccyu kami masatoshi, first generation Kinmuchi Yoshimichi and also Dewa Daijyo Hujiwara kunimichi and so on were student of the kanemichi.

This sword has Kikumon on the nakago but the condition of the tang is not so good.

Therefore we don't guarantee 100% as hozon paper right now.

I think the blade itself genuine signature.

Koshirae :

Tsuba :On the round shaped iron tsuba, some design is engraved and open work.

Fuchikashira : On the iron plate, waves are engraved.

Saya : Black color roiro saya.

Menuki : a phoenix is engraved with gold color.

Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata.

----------------

 

Cheers

 

Nick

[runagmc]

They don't say that it failed Hozon shinsa, only that they can't guarantee it will pass... at least that's the way it reads to me. There's no way to know if it was ever submited. If they thought it was shoshin mei, I would think they would have submited it, but who knows. And yes, I'm sure the lack of Hozon papers affected aoi-art's asking price...

[Alex A]

Hi Nick, it would be worth more with papers and its a shame about the nakago however its good that you got all that information from Aoi art. Sounds to me like you really like the blade. Before you buy it, ask yourself if you can live with the rusty nakago?. Ask yourself could you buy a blade with papers and no faults for the same money? I think the fact that Aoi art did not put it in for shinsa says a lot.If you get the blade for a bargain price then fine, remember, if you come to sell this blade in the future buyers will be put off by any faults.

 

Alex.

[nickf76]

Thank you for your replies!

 

have a great weekend

 

Nick