Whats Your Opinion

[diprivanman]

I'm new to swords. I came across this one. It looks like a gimei. They claim it is a high end shinto blade. Price seems too cheap < $2000.

Any thoughts.

[Guest Nanshoku-Samurai]

I would want to think it is a Mino / Seki Showato. Max

[Rich T]

it is signed Seki Ju Mino ............. then I cannot makeout the rest. A better shot of that signature would really help.

 

Cheers

 

Rich

[Nobody]

The smith was one of WWII Seki smiths. His name appears on the following list.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/seki.htm

[Nobody]

The smith was one of WWII Seki smiths. His name appears on the following list.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/seki.htm

BTW, the mei consits of

(Seki ju) + (family name) + (smith name) + (saku).

[diprivanman]

You guys are amazing. Thanks.

[Rich T]

but how can you read that LOL, I maybe see a Hide in there, but that is just a guess :-)

 

Rich

[Nobody]

but how can you read that LOL, I maybe see a Hide in there, but that is just a guess :-)

 

Rich

With my mind's eye.

 

Hint;

The family name is Watanabe (渡辺). But there are still four Watanabe(s) on the list.

[Rich T]

and I was looking at the Watanabe's for a while, so I will go with

 

Seki Ju Watanabe Yoshitake saku

 

:-)

 

Rich

[Nobody]

I agree with you, Rich.

 

The mei looks 関住渡辺吉武作 to me.

[Grey Doffin]

It looks to me like an arsenal stamp has been removed. If you see a depression in the nakago just above the mei there's a good chance the stamp (and evidence of WWII origins) has been removed and the nakago patinated to make it look older than Gunto.

Grey