James Posted June 19, 2007 Report Posted June 19, 2007 Hello I am searching for detailed information on Tadayoshi III's works. Any information at all would be helpful; links, photos, characteristics of Tadayoshi (Hizen) swords, oshigatas. I have searched on the internet but I haven't found much at all on this very famous smith. If anyone could share some information from their books, I would be very appreciative. I am asking for this because I recently purchased a unpapered Tadayoshi III wakizashi, and while at the time I thought it would be a gimei (it was a very nice wakizashi anyway), all the information I have found on the internet about Tadayoshi III has matched the wakizashi's characteristics perfectly so far. I'll post photo's if requested. Thankyou Quote
sencho Posted June 19, 2007 Report Posted June 19, 2007 Hi james, Try this site for starters.... http://www.hizento.net/home.htm ...and post some pics too. I will definitely hit the books!! Cheers! Quote
James Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Posted June 19, 2007 Thanks. I've sent an email to Mr. Robertshaw at hizento.net so we'll see what he says about it. I've just spent some time looking carefully at the sword (just arrived today) and it seems to be very well made. All the lines are very crisp and the edge is very sharp. There is some very minimal damage (rust/very small and shallow opening) and a mune-ware but I believe all of this could be corrected with a new polish. The jigane is excellent, it seems to be nashi-ji and tight mokume. There are some small activities in the suguha hamon. The boshi turns back to about a centimetre past the yokote on the mune. You should be able to see this in the pictures. Here are the links to the photos: http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb13 ... ade002.jpg http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb13 ... da002c.jpg http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb13 ... aki002.jpg http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb13 ... ago003.jpg http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb13 ... ago004.jpg Quote
Ludolf Richter Posted June 19, 2007 Report Posted June 19, 2007 Hi James,I have checked lots of his Mei.My conclusion: 1.I believe the Mei was chiselled by the Sandai:get the sword papered 2.Your sword was made in 1661 or 1662 (Kanbun 1,when he got his Kami-title, or 2).In Kanbun 3 (or probably in Kanbun 2) he changed the following strokes (the pic is showing your Mei!): (1) Up till than the 2 vertical strokes of the 1st Mutsu-Kanji had been cutting through the horizontal line,later they were put below the horizontal line. (2)The stoke on the right side below of "Tada" was cut downwards like with your Mei.From Kanbun 3 this stoke was horizontal or even slightely upwards. (3)On top of the 2nd part of "Mutsu" he added a small horizontal stroke. (4)For that stroke I couldn't find any example:a faker would't have made such a stroke. From your pics I couldn't detect the following feature,which is typical for him (may be not yet when he made your sword at an age of 24 or 25!):his Ashi are long and thick Choji-Ashi,which look like the teeth of comb,called Kushi no ha Choji. Congratulations!Ludolf Quote
James Posted June 20, 2007 Author Report Posted June 20, 2007 Mr Richter you obviously put in an effort evaluating this sword, it's much appreciated. Excuse my lack of knowledge, but I didn't think you would find ashi on a suguha hamon? Being quite new to the Nihonto scene I wouldn't know what I should do to get it papered. Please could someone help/direct/provide info for me about this. Also, should I get it submitted for papers to confirm it's authenticity, then consider a fresh polish and get it get further papers? Or have it polished first then submitted for papers? I am a bit cautious about getting it polished since I have heard that Tadayoshi blades have thin outer steel layer. Quote
USMC-LCPL Posted June 20, 2007 Report Posted June 20, 2007 I would get it papered first... that should tell you if the blade is worthy of the cash you'll spend to get it polished. Congrats on what appears to be your excellent find, btw. How did you come across this sword? Quote
James Posted June 20, 2007 Author Report Posted June 20, 2007 I would get it papered first... that should tell you if the blade is worthy of the cash you'll spend to get it polished. Congrats on what appears to be your excellent find, btw. How did you come across this sword? What steps should I take to get it papered? I have no idea. This sword I bought off Ebay. Quote
USMC-LCPL Posted June 20, 2007 Report Posted June 20, 2007 You need to take it to something called a "Shinsa." A shinsa is an evaluation of a sword by a panel of experts who can tell you: 1. If it's authentic 2. If authentic, how important (good) is it's workmanship Finding a shinsa near you though... depends on where you live. Where are you currently? Edit: You got that on EBAY? Wow man, what Ebay auctions are you going to? All I find is acid-etched pieces of crap when I do an Ebay search. I want a piece of that action! Quote
James Posted June 20, 2007 Author Report Posted June 20, 2007 Finding a shinsa near you though... depends on where you live. Where are you currently? I live in Australia Quote
USMC-LCPL Posted June 20, 2007 Report Posted June 20, 2007 Your best bet would be to wait for a major show to occur near you. Talk to some of the mods, I'm sure they have schedules they could give you for your area. I think the NHTK also allows you to send a sword in to them by mail for evaluation... Not sure though... Quote
pcfarrar Posted June 20, 2007 Report Posted June 20, 2007 Interesting sword and a good find. Did it come from Daimyou54? You can email pictures of the mei to Gordon Robson and for $50 the NTHK shinsa panel will give you an opinion on it. I would say the condition of the polish is adequate to leave it as it is. Quote
James Posted June 20, 2007 Author Report Posted June 20, 2007 Indeed it did come from Daimyo54. May I ask who Gordon Robson is and the $50 is for an opinion only from the NTHK panel - no papers, correct? Quote
pcfarrar Posted June 20, 2007 Report Posted June 20, 2007 I'll have to check Daimyou54 more closely in future He usually has so many blades with bad problems/gimei etc. I stopped checking. Gordon Robson is on the NTHK shinsa panel. You just get an opinion on the mei, be it right or wrong. For $50 its a good place to start and you dont have the hassle of having to send your sword anywhere. I don't have Gordon's email address to hand at the moment but someone else should be able to provide it to you. Did Roger Robertshaw say the mei was ok when you emailed him? Quote
Rich T Posted June 20, 2007 Report Posted June 20, 2007 Indeed it did come from Daimyo54.May I ask who Gordon Robson is and the $50 is for an opinion only from the NTHK panel - no papers, correct? Hi James, this is Richard Turner, I am in Perth also. Email me @ ikkanshi@amnet.net.au and I will help you out best I can. cheers Rich Quote
Jean Posted July 2, 2007 Report Posted July 2, 2007 Hi James, Excuse my lack of knowledge, but I didn't think you would find ashi on a suguha hamon? Yes, you can find ashi on a suguha hamon, I have a Bizen Tadamitsu blade based on suguha with a lot of ashi Quote
Darcy Posted July 2, 2007 Report Posted July 2, 2007 That is a great signature analysis from Ludolf. Hard to contribute more than that. My own comments would be that the sword seems very well made, the jihada is beautiful and the hamon seems elegant. The jihada looks like it is somewhat non-standard for the smith as you'd be expecting more of a konuka Yamashiro-like looking jigane without such prominent chikei. But if Ludolf is right and this is very young work for the smith it would be more likely that it is made before he finalizes his typical style. The most important thing is that the sword be well-made in accordance with the standing of the smith, when you are looking at it, in that way it should confirm the signature. A big signature on a poorly made sword is less likely to be correct. Please keep us posted, I agree that the item should be submitted to shinsa. You could start with the online version of the NTHK shinsa, but I would be wanting to send the sword to Japan. Rich Turner who offered help will know everything needed for your case. Quote
James Posted September 1, 2007 Author Report Posted September 1, 2007 For those who are interested, this sword has been sent off to Colin Griffiths (CG Fine Arts) who is sending a shipment of swords to Japan for November's NBTHK shinsa. I'll post more updates as it progresses. Quote
kusunokimasahige Posted September 2, 2007 Report Posted September 2, 2007 very nice sword indeed! i do not particularly like Daimyou54 (UNDERSTATEMENT) but this is definetely one of the better things!! KM Quote
James Posted March 7, 2008 Author Report Posted March 7, 2008 Good news - Colin has emailed me today letting me know that this wakizashi has passed the NBTHK Shinsa. This news has made my day. Quote
Brian Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Congrats James! That is an excellent result, and certainly shows that if the right steps are followed, there can be a good result at the end. Make sure you send some pics when it eventually arrives back. Congratulations too go out to Ludolf for a very good call and analysis. Well done. Brian Quote
paulb Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 congratulations James you are now the proud owner of the authenticated work of one of the best (some would argue the best) Hizen smiths. His works are comparitively rare because he died at a relatively early age and he spent most of his working life signing Daimei for his father. It also proves that it is possible (if rare) to buy top rated work from dealers in Japan on Ebay. well done again, I am very envious of your sword. regards Paul Quote
Stephen Posted March 7, 2008 Report Posted March 7, 2008 Congrats James!!! and let us remember that this Forum's help in this achievement, lets hope that the well educated of the likes of Ludolf remains on this board, even thou we help the new beginners, gems like this shows how much its worth to help those eager to learn. Quote
James Posted March 7, 2008 Author Report Posted March 7, 2008 Yes, thank you NMB and to the individuals who contributed to the analysis and to my decision to have this sent to Shinsa. Greatly appreciated. Quote
Guest reinhard Posted June 20, 2008 Report Posted June 20, 2008 I was among the sceptics. It's good to be proven wrong every now and then. Congratulations. reinhard Quote
Bungo Posted June 20, 2008 Report Posted June 20, 2008 " Not sure what this says:" name of person( owner ? ) submitting the sword for shinsa and record date milt Quote
jason_mazzy Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 sorry to bring up a dead post, but does anyone know what happened to this piece? Quote
Jacques Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 Hi, Still for sale on Darcy site. Expensive for a tired blade. Quote
jason_mazzy Posted May 3, 2010 Report Posted May 3, 2010 I never noticed it on sale. was just curious because when it pulled this post oin google it didnt have that it had come back Quote
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