Recent Purchase. Is the signature Tadayoshi?

[Lilbuddha]

Hello all-

 

I recently purchased a sword from an antique dealer, who is going out of business. I would like to know if the signature on the sword is Tadayoshi or not.

 

I am a novice to sword collecting as of three days ago, so I have a lot to learn and have been researching as much as I can store in my mind.

 

I've attached pictures of the nakago with signature and nakago-jiri.

 

From comparing the signature I believe the first two symbols are for the Hizen-to region. The third symbol I believe means province? Not 100% though. The fourth symbol I've seen described as "made by" and the last two I believe are Tada and Yoshi respectively. Am I close here or completely off base?

 

Would I be able to tell which generation this sword was forged by?

 

I've also been reading that Tadayoshi is prone to forgeries as well. Are there easy tells that would point out forgeries?

 

 

Thanks for your time!

 

Take care,

 

Lilbuddha

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Mei reads HIZEN NO KUNI NO JU TADAYOSHI

 

Think it's 100% gimei (false)

[Ed Harbulak]

Definitely gimei, or fake signature. In this case, the easiest way to tell it's a fake signature is the second character, the "zen" of Hi-zen. The Tadayoshi school wrote the "zen" character differently. The stroke in the lower middle center of the character is written properly, but the Tadayoshi school put that stroke on the outside right of the right hand verticle stroke. Find an authentic signature of any of the mainline Hizen smiths and you will see the difference at once. So much to learn and so little time, but keep learning.

Ed

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Just looking at the nakago shape you can see it is gimei :lol:

[Lilbuddha]

Jacques-

 

What about the shape of the nakago makes it gemei? Do you know where I can find pictures of a true Tadayoshi to compare?

 

Also, I was told that this sword and a few others were brought back from a serviceman who served during WWII. If that is true is there a way to tell what period the sword is from?

 

Now I'm curious as to when forgeries for Tadayoshis' were popular.

 

Thanks Ed and Jacques for your input!

 

Lilbuddha

[Brian]

Hi (Please sign posts with a name and initial as per the rules, thanks)

 

Tadayoshi is probably one of the (if not THE) most forged signatures on Japanese swords. These gimei were done throughout the ages, so dating them is difficult.

If you do a google search for Hizen Tadayoshi you will come up with plenty of examples. The ones with papers will give you a good comparrison.

 

Regards,

Brian

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Jacques-

 

What about the shape of the nakago makes it gemei? Do you know where I can find pictures of a true Tadayoshi to compare?

 

 

Very easy to explain, the nakago of your blade has a big lack of "elegance".

Tadayoshi's nakago are long and very well done with a relatively narrow nakago-jiri

 

Un exemple coming from the book "the school of Hizen Tadayoshi" written by Roger Robertshaw

 

 

 

Just a question, is it a katana or a wakizashi?

[Lilbuddha]

Thanks Jacques.

 

It is a katana.

 

After looking at the picture I understand what you mean. There definitely is a noticeable difference between the two.

 

Take care,

 

Lilbuddha

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Oh, it is a katana... so the mei is at the wrong place (Tadayoshi school signed long blades in tachi-mei)