Heringsdorf Posted March 20, 2016 Report Posted March 20, 2016 Hello, I saw this kogatana for sale by Eric Molinier. He says its made by Sendai fujiwara kunikane during the edo period. To me it somewhat looks like a gendai blade. Is this actually an edo period kogatana, and is this gimei or shoshin? Thank you all. Quote
Brian Posted March 20, 2016 Report Posted March 20, 2016 No way to know for sure without a shinsa. It is a fine example though, in stunning condition. Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted March 20, 2016 Report Posted March 20, 2016 What makes you think it's Gendai, Max? Eric is usually pretty accurate on what he sells. Ken Quote
Heringsdorf Posted March 20, 2016 Author Report Posted March 20, 2016 What makes you think it's Gendai, Max? Eric is usually pretty accurate on what he sells. Ken Hello Ken, I was thinking that it might be gendai because of the exceptional good condition this kogatana is in. I have never seen a edo period kogatana in such good condition. Quote
Heringsdorf Posted March 20, 2016 Author Report Posted March 20, 2016 Maybe the mei side was polished / cleaned also? Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted March 20, 2016 Report Posted March 20, 2016 My sword mentor has four katana made in mid-Kamakura (pre-1333), but look like they were made yesterday. Granted that most kogatana aren't made to the same high standards, but looking at overall condition of any blade instead of speciifc details may lead you astray. Ken 1 Quote
Heringsdorf Posted March 20, 2016 Author Report Posted March 20, 2016 Ken, What specific details do you see on this kogatana that point towards edo period vs. gendai? Quote
Ken-Hawaii Posted March 21, 2016 Report Posted March 21, 2016 I'm the wrong person to ask, Max. Peter Bleed, an NMB member, has studied the Sendai Kunikane group for many years, & I suggest PMing him to ask his opinion. Ken Quote
Peter Bleed Posted March 21, 2016 Report Posted March 21, 2016 The blade that Max calls our attention to does seem pretty fresh, but i think that Eric is probably right in calling it "Edo period". I have a nice little kogatana signed Fujiwara Kunikane saku. Like Eric's blade it has been recently polished but I had the mei side left as it was.. I have been kind of assuming that mine was made my the 13th generation. And if that were the case, I suppose that it could have been made in Meiji times. He died in Meiji 36.My signature seems rather difference from Eric's. In any case, I do not believe that a shinsa would attribute these little things to a specific generation. I suppose that they could be "gimei", but mine has a nice masame-hada so it seems like a Kunkane blade - and I like it a lot. Peter Quote
Heringsdorf Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Posted March 21, 2016 Thank you Peter for the information. Eric told me that this kogatana was part of his collection, and that he got it years ago in Japan. It was polished then and the mei side had a slight clean up only no polish. He said that the condition before the polish was already very good. He also mentioned that this might be 11th or 12th generation kunikane. The jihada is ko-itame. Quote
Darcy Posted March 24, 2016 Report Posted March 24, 2016 I'd have no problem thinking it to be end of line work. I saw one of their katana and it was so well made I thought it stood with beginning line work. I thought it was in fact. Just with these things kogatana, it's not like mei have been strictly worried about with them... if it is expensive based on who made it then should get a paper made for it as a condition of the sale. If it's cheap, buy it who cares. Quote
Heringsdorf Posted March 29, 2016 Author Report Posted March 29, 2016 I found in my kogatana book this mei for kunikane. Looks quite similar in my opinion. 1 Quote
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