AndreasU Posted October 13, 2015 Report Posted October 13, 2015 Good day gues, my last purchase now is some years away. Since that I sold my "simple" gunto Katana and just kept my lovely Fujita Oumi Kami Fujiwara Tsuguhira Wakizashi. The Thread about this lovely Wakizashi can be found in the archive of this Board. Since these days I am looking for a appropriate Katana that matches the Wakizashi, ideal same sword, even perfect, same year or at least in a distance of maximum 2-5 years form the Wakizashi. It looks like "this" Tsuguhira was quite capable in this time frame and I would like to make a nice Daisho. So my Wakizashi was made 1751and does have Sohi and Bohi on both sides and is a really massive and hefty Wakizashi that does not have seen lots of polishing as the original sword shape is still very curved. I was chasing for a Katana once posted from Nihonto.us but it was a bit pricey and sold anyway after some month's. So next to this I just could find another generation (different nakago end shaping) Which I did not like form the shape at all and also bohi was missing. So if any of you would be willing to sell a Tsuguhira or does have an information where to get one, I am open for offers/information. Warm Regards Andreas Quote
Jean Posted October 13, 2015 Report Posted October 13, 2015 http://www.Japanese-sword-katana.jp/katana/1510-1126.htm Quote
AndreasU Posted October 13, 2015 Author Report Posted October 13, 2015 Thanks Jean, but this is not the Quality I am looking for. The Kissaki obviously is reshaped and the blade itself looks tired. Also it is another generation as the Nakago is the rectangle type (on the end) and not the round one which my smith did and he encryption is in a different style. Anyhow thanks for the support. Andreas Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted October 13, 2015 Report Posted October 13, 2015 I'm not sure I see what you're seeing, but regardless. What generation is yours papered to? That would help people find matches. Quote
AndreasU Posted October 13, 2015 Author Report Posted October 13, 2015 My blade is from 1751. The blade Jean posted was made between echizen-musashi edo : The Edo era first half year. KANBUN (1661-1673) so almost 100years older. However that the blad ein the offer does have TH just means that the society sees this as a work that represents the craftmanship of this era. This does not necessarily say that this blade is in a good or fine condition. For my eyes this blade is done. The Kissaki is very badly polished, totally out of symmetry, the left side is almost flattened in shape while the right side still does have some curvature. Quite easy to recognize in the pictures. Have a look at the rectangle shortly behind the Bohi of the left side. There you can easily see that the left side is polished down while the right side of the rectangle still shows a curve which, if you have some 3 dimensional understanding of metal, shows that the Kissaki there is more curved. "What generation is yours papered to" I am sure it is 2nd generation: Tsuguhira was working at Musashi province. TSUGUHIRA ÔMI NO KAMI NIDAI [ENKYÔ 1744 MUSASHI] SHINTÔ CHÛJÔSAKU He is called Fujita Yabei, and he lived in Bushû Kanda. His style continues that of the shodai, and his works are few. According to the authors of the Tsuguhira oshigata collections, it seems that many of his katana are suriage. (Wazamono) Signatures: ÔMI NO KAMI TSUGUHIRA ÔMI NO KAMI FUJIWARA TSUGUHIRA Which makes sence for me as the Tsuguhira I was interested in was done by the same smidth: A katana by the second generation Tsuguhira. Signed, Omi no Kami Fujiwara Tsuguhira Saku, and dated, Kampo Ni Tsuchinoyeuma Nen U Gatsu Kichijitsu (a lucky day in 1742, the 55th year of the cycle, in the month of the Hare). Hawatare: 2 shaku 0 sun 4 bu (61.816 cm or 24.337"). Shinogizukure, shallow sori, and chu kissaki. The difference in width between the motohaba and sakihaba is slight. There is a well cut bo hi on both the omote and ura. The hamon is gunome togare midare tempered in ko nie deki. Tobi aki and detached yahazu (arrow notch). Sungashi and kinsuji. Mokume hada tatsu, ji nie and chikei. The boshi is a medium round with moderate kaeri, there is hakikaki. Ubu nakago with two ana. In fresh polish and mounted in shirasaya with a gold foil habaki. There is sayagaki by Tanobe Michihiro of the NBTHK. NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon kanteisho. He is rated Chujosaku in Nihon Toko Jiten - Shinto Hen by Fujishiro, and valued at 2,500,000 yen in Toko Taikan by Shibata. He has a sharpness rating of Wazamono. The Shodai was from Echizen, and was said to be the third generation Echizen Yasutsugu.*1 The nidai worked in Kanda, Bushu province. His style continues the style of the shodai. According to other books there was an inheritance dispute at the time of death of the Nidai. So, the younger brother of the Nidai was sent to Echizen and given the title Echizen Tsuguhira , and, the Nidai's son remained in Edo with the title of 3rd generation Yasutsugu.*2 His extant works are rare. " So as mine is also from the Nidai, we are talking about the same smidth and work. For me it was easy to see that the swords matches each other as the Nakago is 100% exactly in shape, as the encryption is as well (grass/bamboo script) The only thing which I do not like at the sold Katana was the style of the polishing. A bit to flashy and I think is not the way done it originally looked like. Quote
SwordGuyJoe Posted October 13, 2015 Report Posted October 13, 2015 "However that the blad ein the offer does have TH just means that the society sees this as a work that represents the craftmanship of this era." I apologize to disagree/correct you, but that's not what tokubetsu hozon means. Hozon means that it's representative of the work of the craftsman, legitimizes the mei - if present, and indicates that the sword is worthy of preservation. TH means that not only is it representative, it is also exceptional. I see what you're saying about the kissaki, but I'd be willing to bet the blade would be less "tired" if it was wiped clean of dust and lint. E-Swords, in my experience only, are one of the dealers that you get a better sword than what is pictured, as compared to Aoi Art where you get exactly what is pictured. All that is moot if you don't like it. Just because something is TH doesn't mean that it appeals to everyone. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted October 13, 2015 Report Posted October 13, 2015 Do I see SHINAE in the BOHI of the e-sword blade? Or is that MUNEGIRE? Have a close look at the very good photos! Quote
Jean Posted October 14, 2015 Report Posted October 14, 2015 No shinae but scratches, the big one can be a hair or something like that. New criteria for TH "Tokubetsu Hozon Token 1) Blades with Hozon papers, good workmanship and state of preservation can receive Tokubetsu Hozon paper. 2) Blades with the following conditions are excluded from point 1. a. Re-tempered blades may not receive a Tokubetsu Hozon paper, as a rule, unless they date not later than Nanbokucho, are zaimei, by famous smiths, if the blade is valuable as a reference, and if the jiba and nakago are sufficiently well preserved. However, this will be documented as "yaki-naoshi" in the paper. b. Muromachi and Edo period mumei blades may not receive a Tokubetsu Hozon paper, as a rule. However, if a blade is attributable to a famous smithand in excellent condition it may receive Tokubetsu Hozon paper." A reshaped kissaki prevents a shinto blade to receive TH paper. However it is possible that the blade kissaki has been modified after shinsa. There was a juyo blade for sale on Aoi Art, where the juyo oshigata did not match Aoi Art's one. The blade has been probably retempered after passing Juyo.... Edit to add, Tsuguhira shodai is josaku, nidai chujo saku. For a jo saku smith, few chances to get TH with a reshaped kissaki or shinae/munegire. Quote
AndreasU Posted June 19, 2016 Author Report Posted June 19, 2016 A friend of mine said "Never search the sword, the Sword will find you" From the beginning: As I already wrote some posts before, I missed a Tsuguhira Katana, some years ago at Nihonto.us. It was sold to a private owner. I asked Andrew Quirt beginning this year to ask the buyer of this sword, to get in contact with me should he ever be willing to sell this Katana. The answer was, "I lost the data as I had a PC crash" OK, that did not sound promising... While on holiday this year on the maldives, I was doing a research again for "Tsuguhira Katana" and could not believe my eyes that THIS Katana was for sale again. This time at Nihontocraft.us, Danny Massey. Long story short, we could negotiate a price and I submitted the money last week. So I will receive this Katana hopefully end of this month and finally will have the Daisho together with my Wakizashi from Tsuguhira. How realistic is it to have A Katana and a Wakizashi from Tsuguhira, Nidai and Shodai 1 Quote
AndreasU Posted June 24, 2016 Author Report Posted June 24, 2016 Right, however it's a bit of sweet pain Katana is shipped today and now I am waiting and counting hours. Can't wait to get the gem. The first Tokubetso Hozon Sword I ever owned. What I am a bit wondering about is, why this one is gunome togare midare while most of the Tsuguhira Swords I have seen so far are suguha. Or is it just a "flashy" polish for the US market? I hope to see this in detail when I have it in my hand. Interesting anyway as it seems that there are these differences in this "Tsuguhira" style. Or is it the difference between shodai and nidai maybe? Quote
Kronos Posted June 25, 2016 Report Posted June 25, 2016 Many smiths worked in a variety of styles, particularly in the edo period. Quote
Pete Klein Posted June 25, 2016 Report Posted June 25, 2016 "Or is it just a "flashy" polish for the US market"? Yah -- we don't do it till it got da righteous 'Bling' thing happenin. 1 Quote
AndreasU Posted June 25, 2016 Author Report Posted June 25, 2016 "Or is it just a "flashy" polish for the US market"? Yah -- we don't do it till it got da righteous 'Bling' thing happenin. Hey Pete, no offending from my side forced. It is just that I heared that in the US, non advanced "collectors" like to have this wavy gunome midare pplish more than a suguha. I myself have seen one blade coming from the US which had a straight suguha hamon but got a gunome polish. Strange but either it was a bad polisher or someone thought it is beter sellable in this "design" Quote
AndreasU Posted July 4, 2016 Author Report Posted July 4, 2016 So, after waiting for almost two weeks, finally, the gem arrived. Big thanks to Danny Massey. Flawless support, very friendly communication and everything solved as promised. So, first time united: and "undressed" So, now I am looking for collectors in Germany, ideal nearby Düsseldorf, I can meet and share my opinions about this sword. Anyone? 1 Quote
Volker62 Posted August 15, 2016 Report Posted August 15, 2016 Hi guys Hi Andreas Bought the sword from e-sword short while ago! One of my proudest items,it still holds an Ubu-ha!! For a sword which is nearly 400 years old,absolutly NO flaw of any KIND! It looks like a newly made one! Its only beautiful crafted...thank you e-sword,the blade is very much better as depicted !!! Rare to find a shinto with Ubu-Ha,its my first one in 33 years ! Nothing is re-shaped!! So I wonder a little about your statement of the swords kissaki and a tired blade??? I don't think it's fair to write a result of a (in this case) swordblade only take a look to some pics! It is clearly the first Gen."Shodai Omi no kami fujiwaraTsuguhira",student of sandai Yasustugu,a high ranking swordsmithwith TBH which clearly reflect the condition and the workmanship! TOP! After checking the Koshirae asking a fellow in UK,it come clear that it is an ultra rare very early Kyu-gunto Koshirae made for the rank of warrant officer! warm Regards Volker Be always careful! 1 Quote
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