Two wakizashi

william m · April 15, 2008

Hi there!

I was on the old forum but it seems my account was deleted when the forum moved.

Anyhow I have two wakizashi that I rather like and am considering doing some work on. However the longer of the wakizashi has a very long mei, if you are able to help that would be fantastic! Sorry for the poor quality of the photos, I will have to get a decent set up tomorrow with good lighting. The longer wakizashi is the one I would really like to restore, but I am wondering where on earth I can get a matching end cap for the saya.

Thank you,

William

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/ ... G_0863.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/ ... G_0864.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/ ... G_0866.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/ ... G_0871.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h156/ ... G_0872.jpg

Jacques D. · April 15, 2008

Hi,

Hard to read :?

My guess:

Wakizashi number one:

Norishige

Wakizashi number two

Bizen no kuni YosazaemonnojÃ´ Sukesada.

Very big names.

william m · April 15, 2008

Hi Jacques,

Thank you very much for the help so far. It is greatly appreciated! :D

I will get some better photos hopefully tomorrow. Can't wait to find out exactly when these swords were made!

Cheers!

William

April 16, 2008

Hi William,

Unfortunately, it looks like someone cleaned the nakago of your Sukesada with wire-wool or something similar. That devalues the sword far more than a missing kojiri and is also much more difficult to put right.

Please tell me it wasn't you!

Simon

pcfarrar · April 16, 2008

The sword on the left with the sotoba nakago is probably Chikuzen Kongobei.

Jacques D. · April 16, 2008

Hi,

The sword on the left with the sotoba nakago is probably Chikuzen Kongobei.

Norishige name doesn't match with this school where all smiths used th kanji Mori ç›› in their art name.

william m · April 16, 2008

Ha ha don't worry Simon, I had nothing to do with that.

May I ask how you were able to identify the mei, I looked in one of my books "The connoisseurs Japanese sword book" but the amount of information is quite overwhelming! I think I will have to stick with tsukamaki.

Any request on anywhere I should take photos of tonight?

Thanks!

William

pcfarrar · April 16, 2008

Norishige name doesn't match with this school where all smiths used th kanji Mori ç›› in their art name.

That's because its gimei

The nakago almost exactly matches a Muromachi Shobu Zukuri kongobei katana I have in my collection.

Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini · April 16, 2008

Welcome William.

Jacques D. · April 16, 2008

Hi,

That's because its gimei

Right Peter, the Sukesada too.

pcfarrar · April 17, 2008

Both the tsuba look very nice btw.

william m · April 17, 2008

Yes the tsuba are quite nice, the silver one is signed with both the school and the smiths name. I had a Japanese college at work translate the tsuba for me. Now I know the school and smith I should hopefully be able to date the tsuba.

I didn't get around to taking better photos last night, ill try again tonight!

William