Can't find this in Hawley's

[Brian Hancock]

I would be most grateful if one of you experts out there could tell me what the signature reads.I bought this off a friend and he is 99% sure the the signature is gimie.He thought it read Kanemoto or Kanesada. Its a beautiful Katana in samurai mounts.I did try and photograph the blade but gave up in the end. Any help would be a great help.

[Eric H]

Oshu Aizu Ju Kanemitsu ?

Bunkyu 2 Nen (1862)

 

Eric

[Grey Doffin]

Kanemoto, I believe.

Grey

[Darcy]

yes, Kanemoto.

[Eric H]

The last kanji is "moto", but I did not find a Kanemoto in Shinshinto time.

Then I looked for Kanesada. There are 2 possible Kanesada's. In Fujishiro Shinto S 63 and S 64. But the Kanji "Sada" is obviously different. It would be helpful to see the whole Nakago.

 

Eric

[Ludolf Richter]

It's from KAN 1563 aka KAN 2038 (Kanesada).Ludolf

[Brian Hancock]

Thanks to you all.I will photograph all The Nakago and post it.Is the signature Gimie?

[Ford Hallam]

Hello Brian,

 

I'd suggest that your friends hunch about the mei is spot on. I go further and say that whoever wrote out the kanji wasn't Japanese either. The spacing and general arrangement of the strokes reveals a lack of familiarity with written kanji.

The punch work in actually making the marks is getting there but still shows a lack of control and fluency with the tool.

 

I think forums like these where we discuss the authenticity of these things can also be a training ground for those who want to deceive. Thankfully though, quality work will never be so easily faked.

 

regards, Ford

[Nobody]

Although I do not say that the mei is genuine, its proportion is not so bad as Ford says. The attached photo shows a comparison with genuine Kanemoto (aka Kanesada 11th).

[Brian Hancock]

Thanks to all who took the trouble to help. I have posted some more pic's on photobucket and will put a link at the bottom of the page. These swords are a real bummer to photograph

This is the link and the pictures are titled "Kat"

 

http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa29 ... gers_2007/?

[Brian]

I see what Ford means about the strokes though. They seem very hesitant, and not fluid. Look at the actual tagane. Not confident at all?

Seems almost to have been copied very precisely by someone who wasn't able to carve them fluently. Or am I seeing things?

 

Brian