Assistance Needed

[James]

Hello

 

There is a katana I'm considering purchasing (not eBay); please help me with the translation.

I think it may be Dotanuki but I'm not sure.

Also, if someone could be so kind as to let me know if it is genuine or not, I'd be very thankful.

Here are the photos (these are the best the seller could take with his camera).

 

[Nobody]

mei;

 

Ref. http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/kiyokane.jpg

 

date;

 

Feb. 1945

 

[James]

I didn't think Dotanuki signed tachi-mei. Thanks for your help

[Guest reinhard]

The mei reads:

 

Sanshu (Mikawa province) Ju (resident of) Tsutsui (family name) KIYOKANE (artist's name) saku (made this)

 

Showa 7th year (1932 A.D.) 2nd month

 

If the mei is genuine, this is an early Showa-To from former Mikawa-province (being part now of present day Aichi prefecture); I can't see any connection with Dotanuki whatsoever?

 

reinhard

[James]

There's no connection to Dotanuki; I suppose I just got confused with the similar look of the kanji.

[Grey Doffin]

The downside of a possible gimei pales in comparison with the downside of a nakago that has been welded onto the blade.

Grey

[Guido]

7th year (1932 A.D.)

廿年 = 20'th year = 1945 = as Koichi already stated ...

[Brian]

The downside of a possible gimei pales in comparison with the downside of a nakago that has been welded onto the blade.

Grey

 

I'll emphasize that in case anyone missed it. There are some telltale grinding marks there that need to be investigated.

 

Brian

[Guido]

The downside of a possible gimei pales in comparison with the downside of a nakago that has been welded onto the blade.

Grey

 

I'll emphasize that in case anyone missed it. There are some telltale grinding marks there that need to be investigated.

 

Brian

So you really think it's plausible someone welded a Nakago from a not-so-hot Shôwa smith to ... well ... what? ... a tire iron?

[Brian]

Well....we've seen gimei signatures that were lesser quality than the work itself..so anything is possible :lol:

Not saying it was an attempt to add a better name. Could be a broken nakago that was badly repaired. Could be the guy who did it didn't know it was a Showa smith. Could be nothing wrong with it at all, and someone was just grinder happy that day. Just saying to check out that area closer

 

Brian

[Grey Doffin]

I think the blade was broken and the nakago was welded back on; no reason why a happy grinder would limit his grinding to such a small ring around the nakago. Since no effort was made to disguise the weld it was done to make the blade whole again, not to deceive anyone.

Either way, there isn't a lot of value in the sword.

Grey