jason_mazzy Posted April 13, 2015 Report Posted April 13, 2015 https://books.google.com/books?id=ik-E8G6FMQsC&pg=PA175&lpg=PA175&dq=no+kami+Sukemasa&source=bl&ots=epwzW1A8yW&sig=bvBLb9mcEV2Ut7xweO47qoQW6Rs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=gggrVdHtMIKrgwTG24CICg&ved=0CDkQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=no%20kami%20Sukemasa&f=false Quote
stevel48 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Posted April 13, 2015 It matches to Suzuki Yamato no kami Sukemasa Yamamoto Jitsubei. Awaji Islan chief smith Yamamoto family 5th generation. He went to Osaka in Genroku period, became a student of Takagi Sukenao (student of Sukehiro), After he received the title Yamano no kami, he went back to his home land Awaji island, became Tokushima Han-ko (work for Tokushima han). Quote
Markus Posted April 13, 2015 Report Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks for the update Steve. Have to add this mei to my Swordsmith Index that I am revising at the moment anyway. So seems you have an early blade from this Sukemasa when he was in his "exciting" earlier years in Osaka receiving his honorary title and learning from Sukehiro. What is the workmanship saying? Suguha or toranba in the style of his master? Quote
cabowen Posted April 13, 2015 Report Posted April 13, 2015 Sukemasa was actually a student of Sukenao. His workmanship, including the nakago, is said to be very similar to late work of his teacher. Here is a picture of one of his blades for your comparison. Compare the kesho yasuri and style of mei...Maybe post the papers and a photo of the full nakago if you can... Quote
stevel48 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Posted April 13, 2015 I wish I had more details for you but it is most definitely o gunome midare To toranba as in the image above. I just have the copy of the paper so far. It's shipping back to me this week from Japan. I'm thrilled! Quote
Markus Posted April 13, 2015 Report Posted April 13, 2015 Sukemasa was actually a student of Sukenao Sorry, meant Sukenao as stated in the index. Thanks for the reference. So this blade is dated Shotoku 2 (1712) and the mei looks much more "artistically matured" than the one signed Sesshu-ju. Quote
stevel48 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Posted April 13, 2015 Which group did the shinsa? NTHK Tokyo branch. Quote
cabowen Posted April 13, 2015 Report Posted April 13, 2015 He is not recorded as signing Sesshu ju, and the kanji are indeed quite different than the example I posted....I am curious as to whether or not the Sesshu ju blade has kesho yasuri...It seems rather odd that the blade would be in the style of Sukenao but not the nakago...The "den" Sukemasa seems unusual since the blade is not really mumei. Quite interesting... Quote
stevel48 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Posted April 13, 2015 There's lots of patina but the angle and direction of the file marks match Kesho. Quote
cabowen Posted April 13, 2015 Report Posted April 13, 2015 NTHK Tokyo branch. The NTHK-NPO or the NTHK-Yoshikawa? They are both in Tokyo... Quote
cabowen Posted April 13, 2015 Report Posted April 13, 2015 There's lots of patina but the angle and direction of the file marks match Kesho. Thanks for that and for the added info on the shinsa. Look forward to additional photos once you have it back. It should look great in polish! Quote
stevel48 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Posted April 13, 2015 not that i have stumbled across gold but this seems to be a lucky find from the piles of junk on eBay. I'll have to have it appraised for insurance purposes. All in i'm only $2,500 into the sword so I am quite happy. Quote
Bugyotsuji Posted April 13, 2015 Report Posted April 13, 2015 Congratulations Steve. No 6 in your list above. Not bad. Quote
stevel48 Posted April 15, 2015 Author Report Posted April 15, 2015 It's here and it's awesome. Photos later tonight and a write up on the polishing thread offered by Kunitaro. 1. Stamp of Judges : Miyano , Oosawa, Kawashima, ??, Oohashi 2. Remarks : Jōkyō-koro (around 1684-1687) 3. Nakago : mekugiana : 2 Yasuri : Sujichigai 4. Curving : 5. Boshi : Sugu-cho ni komaru-kaeri (based on suguha and Komaru turnback) 6. Hamon : Yaki-takame (high/wide Hamon) Konotare-shitate no Gunome-midare (based on ko-notare with Gunome-midare 7. Kitae : Itame-tsumu (tight itame hada) 8. Tsukurikomi : Shinogi-zukuri, Iori-mune, 9. Mei-bun : Settsu ju Yamato Ika-kire (cut off) 10. No. : 6234 Quote
stevel48 Posted April 16, 2015 Author Report Posted April 16, 2015 Photos here http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/12772-sword-polishing-service-in-Japan/page-3?do=findComment&comment=172707 Quote
stevel48 Posted November 20, 2015 Author Report Posted November 20, 2015 I have spent time studying the blade and school and it is most certainly a text book example of Sukenao s work done by Sukemasa. It follows all of the style and school characteristics that have been recorded. It's really nice to have such a great example of a school done by one of its smiths. Maybe one of the last of the school. Quote
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