Yasuhiro on eBay

[patrick7813]

There is a gunto mounted sword listed on eBay as by the Yasukuni Shrine smith Yasuhiro (nee Miyaguchi Shigeru), signed as Miyaguchi Yasuhiro, with the starting bid at $5K and a Buy-It-Now price of $7.5K http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-SWORD- ... 2a2e2b89ba

 

The description states the nakago is dated as “A lucky day in May 1945” (I did a quick scan and I think the kanji translates as that). My question is since Yasuhiro was no longer associated with the Shrine forge after 1936, how could a blade be forged and dated by him in 1945? I’m unaware of any examples where he used the mei of Miyaguchi Yasuhiro after leaving the Shrine (believe that was forbidden). The nakago appears suspiciously “new”. There are also odd tidbits in the description, for example, using an explanation of a Chinese flower, the Bellflower, for defining a kamon present on the kabuto-gane, that raise questions.

 

I have no intention of bidding. I’m just curious. Opinions of what I’m actually seeing here (e.g., gimei, etc.)?

 

Cheers,

[Kai-Gunto]

I think nakago looks to new too .Maybe gimei.

[SwordGuyJoe]

The blade seems to line up closely with other yasukinito. The mei seems fine, though what has me worried is the kesho yasurime. All papered examples of this mei are kiri. He/his forger uses kesho with his subsequent mei when he signed "kunimori". The nakago jiri is off putting as well. Not similar to his jiri while at the Yasukuni shrine. I say pass.

 

- Edit: Added info.

[cabowen]

I think the mei is ok.

 

Sometimes he still signed Yasuhiro even outside the shrine after he left there. Apparently, there was no problem with this.

 

Be nice to know the length of the blade.

 

I have seen quite a few of his blades but honestly, haven't seen a long blade that impressed me. The nicest blade was a tanto made as a gift for a German diplomat, given by the mayor of Hachioji city.

[patrick7813]

Guys

 

Thanks for all the feedback. This has been a teachable moment for me.

 

I have a Kunimori gunto mounted blade with a midare hamon. Most of the others of his I've encountered or seen have a suguha hamon.

 

Cheers,