mercierarmory Posted October 11, 2013 Report Posted October 11, 2013 I was contacted by the seller of the matchlock I just purchased that he has decided to also sell the katana his grandfather brought back. The blade is in very rough shape. There are numerous nicks throughout the blade and I have my doubts that it is worthy of investing in restoring it, but there is this kanji on the nakago. The tsuka was broken in half but all the fittings were present so I recovered them as seen in the next photo. The tsuba is very simple but a faint signature can be seen. I don't know if this can be seen well enough for a translation though. The fuchi and kashira have a nautical theme with sea shells but the menuki is a pair of foo dogs. Of course my main question is on translations, but I am curious of a possible age. The tsuba makes me think it is earlier than later, but I don't have the expertise as many of you have here. Over the past couple days, I have been quite lucky to not only get the matchlock and parade sword, but now this katana. Even better is I collect coins and old paper money too for my boys for when they get older and he apparently has "tons" of both he wants to sell. Mike Quote
Mark Posted October 11, 2013 Report Posted October 11, 2013 sword looks to say Tadayuki but it seems very poorly written Quote
mercierarmory Posted October 11, 2013 Author Report Posted October 11, 2013 I definitely see yuki , but seeing the first as tada is tough for me. It is not a clean signature making me think it was not a high quality blade. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted October 11, 2013 Report Posted October 11, 2013 Mike, the TSUBA might be signed YAMAKICHIBEI, just a guess. However, it doesn't look like a typical one. The blade may be older than WWII. The MEKIGI-ANA is drilled, but the patina of the NAKAGO looks more like late EDO, as far as I can see from the pictures. Quote
mercierarmory Posted October 12, 2013 Author Report Posted October 12, 2013 If the blade could be late edo, could the tsuba be one of the copy YAMAKICHIBEI pieces I have been reading about? Any odds it is an original? Mike Quote
1tallsword Posted October 12, 2013 Report Posted October 12, 2013 I agree tadayuki .. with that said the mei is very off for me and seems incomplete.. would like to see some pics of the blade please, Jeremy Quote
mercierarmory Posted October 12, 2013 Author Report Posted October 12, 2013 Here are some other pictures of the blade. Sadly as I said, it is very rough. There are numerous nicks and chips along the edge but no fatal flaws that I can see. About 1/16" of the kissaki is chipped off too. Someone has however at some point opened a 3" window to get a better look at the hamon which although it is tough to photograph, is very turbulent with numerous peaks. I don't know the best way to describe it. Mike Quote
ROKUJURO Posted October 12, 2013 Report Posted October 12, 2013 If the blade could be late edo, could the tsuba be one of the copy YAMAKICHIBEI pieces.....?... Mike, as you may have read here on the NMB, the signature only confirms the specifications of a blade (or a TSUBA). Any judgements will be difficult with these photos and the condition the blade is in. Even close in-hand inspection and good light may not be easy and result in a safe KANTEI. The TSUBA could be anything, it has no relation to the blade or it's age. It is like a tie to a suit. My recommendation is that you preserve the blade by oiling it from time to time (read the chapters on care and treatment here on NMB), REMOVE the oil before putting the blade back in a SAYA, and show the items to a knowledgeable expert, perhaps on a club gathering or a show. The damages are bad but in my opinion could probably be 'repaired' by a good TOGISHI - of course not without loss of material. What could you do yourself right now besides this? You could start a research as to the signatures, find originals an compare. Good luck and courage! Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.