Just picked this up....anybody know the smith / reputation?

[USkragnut]

No stamps, and the hamon is quite lively and not the boring type usually seen on the oil quenched blades, so I assume it is gendaito?

[ROKUJURO]

USkragnut,

 

to address you politely, please sign your posts at least with a first name.

 

You found a nice blade as far as one can see. The signature is perhaps MINAMOTO YOSHISUKE, but I have no information about the smith, sorry.

[John A Stuart]

Toto ju Minamoto Yoshiharu saku. Showato. John

[mdiddy]

I think it is Toto ju Minamoto Yoshiharu Saku: http://japaneseswordindex.com/oshigata/yoshharu.jpg

[cabowen]

Toto ju Minamoto Yoshiharu made both traditional and non-traditional swords. Tokyo.

 

Is the sword dated?

[USkragnut]

No date. Any way to tell if it is not traditionally forged? Mounts are usual WWII brass tsuba and leather wrapped saya.

 

Regards

 

Sean

[cabowen]

Post a few more pictures of the blade....

[USkragnut]

Photography is not the best, and it does have some scratches from dirt in the saya or a careless owner.

 

Sean

[cabowen]

Hard to say much from these photos, as you note, they are not the best....

[USkragnut]

I'm not the best shutterbug in the world, and the polish isnt that great. Shinogi Ji has a lot of scratches and my eyes arent what they used to be. Where do you look for signs of lamination? Or do you?

 

Regards

 

Sean

[ROKUJURO]

.....Where do you look for signs of lamination?......

 

Sean,

 

is there any form of HADA to be seen? That would be a good hint for a traditionally made blade!

 

Take care of the surface of your blade, there seem to be many fingerprints which will turn into rust quite soon!

[cabowen]

One needs to look for hada and at the habuchi for signs of nie that would indicate water quenching.

[zentsuji2]

Nicely cut mei,the hamon is busy for showato,but no way to know without polish.

Possibly best to ask for a window polish to settle the issue, this way you will be sure,if not, it is a nice showato.

Let us know how it goes.

Best regards.Ian bellis

 

P.S. Check underneath the habaki, it sometimes retains polish, and hada may be seen,if it isn't rusted of course.

[zentsuji2]

Is that a mark above the top character in the mei.It is just below,the habaki.If so what is it.

Regards. Ian b

[USkragnut]

No, its just tarnish / oxidation. No stamps but their is a polishers mark under the hibachi. Parallel lines, not a signature.

 

Regards,

 

Sean