Gimei Or Not?

[Klaver]

Hello, what do you think? Is this one Gimei? Will it pass shinsa? 

 

Signature seems: Settsu Kami Tadayuki

[Brian]

Yes, no and maybe. 
You are never going to get an answer to that question here, or we wouldn't need shinsas. Everyone is going to point out any differences, but no-one is going to say "yes..it  looks perfectly shoshin"
Does the work match?
 

[dominnimod]

Yes, no and maybe. 

You are never going to get an answer to that question here, or we wouldn't need shinsas. Everyone is going to point out any differences, but no-one is going to say "yes..it  looks perfectly shoshin"

Does the work match?

 

What prevail to spot gimeis, the signature or the work?

If for example you see a blade that signature seems different,but the shape,hamon and nakago shape is characteristic of a smith,

could it simply be an elaborated gimei?

[Brian]

Work is more important than mei. Work determines the smith. If the signature looks ok, but the work is really wrong, I suspect papering will be a problem.

[dominnimod]

Work is more important than mei. Work determines the smith. If the signature looks ok, but the work is really wrong, I suspect papering will be a problem.

Ok,thanks

[Chango]

Definitely not Shodai (1st gen) Tadayuki (wrong mei, wrong nakago shape). There are several later Tadayuki generations you could look into as well.

 

Judging purely from your pic, nakago doesn't look like Awataguchi Tadatsuna school however; I would suspect gimei.

 

Here's my Tadayuki (1) nakago for comparison (signed Sesshu Ju Fujiwara Tadayuki, he signed blades in a few different ways) http://imgur.com/XKSeQpp

 

(Disclaimer, I'm not an expert! There's a good pamphlet available on this school by Hawley called "The Awataguchi Shinto School of Sword Making"; Marcus Sesku's books (Shinto Meikan and Nihon Shinto Shi) are good sources of info too.)

[Ed]

I don't see how anyone can comment on that photo.  You need a better closeup photo of the mei.  Crop all the unnecessary areas out and orient the photo correctly.  Surely you know they are read point up, nakago down. 

[Klaver]

I think there is not “one” way to see if a signature is Gimei. The reason for this thread here is what you semi professionals think. Haha, yes of course only shinsa can give a direction, I do not think they are always 100%. Gimei is something always was happening from time to time for reason we cannot imagine probably.

 

First the (gi)mei  looks rather rough and uneven.

 

Also Settsu no Kami means younger brother of the 1st gen I think, but you also have 2 generations or even three.

Anyway, smith falls under Tadatsuna school which has a lot of choji midare, but this blade does not appears to have this.

So my guess it Gimei but are curious about others minds to more or less.  If not appreciate by others sorry for posting. 

[Klaver]

picture

[Ed]

Jordy,

I appreciate the effort to add the new photo.  Unfortunately at 38KB, I simply can not see it well enough to give my opinion (for what it is worth anyway).   I tried using a magnifying glass but can't tell much more than it looks somewhat poorly cut.  

[Chango]

Settsu is a place name (present day Osaka area) and one of the major sword production areas of the Shinto era and "no kami" is an honorary title, also quite common.

 

If I remember right, Shodai Tadayuki signed "Settsu No Kami Tachibana Tadayuki" late in his career. He did several hamon patterns (mine is suguha) but Tadatsuna school blades are probably best identified by shape. A single photo of the nakago just isn't enough information to make an educated guess on authenticity (or lack of).