rantoulpawn Posted March 22, 2018 Report Posted March 22, 2018 It has been suggested that this is Hawley Tad 295, but the oshigata seem closer to earlier generations. I will attach several pictures, Thank you for any guidance you can share. Pat Quote
Ray Singer Posted March 22, 2018 Report Posted March 22, 2018 I believe only the yondai (4th gen) signed using the mei Omi Daijo Tadayoshi. Quote
John A Stuart Posted March 22, 2018 Report Posted March 22, 2018 Redundant post removed on this topic. John Quote
cisco-san Posted March 23, 2018 Report Posted March 23, 2018 Hi, from RogerJ. Robertshaw´s CD "The School of Tadayoshi": see also: https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-hizen-koku-jyu-oumi-diajyo-fujiwara-tadayoshi/https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-hizen-koku-oumi-daijyo-fujiwara-tadayoshi4th-generation/ Yondai Tadayoshi.pdf Quote
rantoulpawn Posted March 24, 2018 Author Report Posted March 24, 2018 Thank You Klause, this has been very helpful. This appears correct to my eyes, for the yondai mei 1710-1725. Would any one weigh in on this ! Quote
Ed Harbulak Posted March 24, 2018 Report Posted March 24, 2018 Hi Patrick, What is the length (nagasa) of your blade, is it a katana or a wak? The Tadayoshi school signed waks katana mei and signed katana tachi mei. From the pictures, your blade seems to be a katana, which is why I'm asking about the length. If it is a true katana, (24 inches or longer) then no matter how good the signature looks, it's gimei because it's signed on the wrong side. Comparing the mei on your blade vs. several 4th generation mei in Roger Robertshaw's book, the "i" second character of Om-i looks too short and stubby compared to genuine examples. Based on what I can see, my guess is that unfortunately it's gimei. Quote
Ray Singer Posted March 24, 2018 Report Posted March 24, 2018 Roger Robertshaw describes a katana-mei yondai Tadayoshi on page 197 of his book. Not saying this piece is shoshin, however Roger has said several times that there were exceptions to the tachi-mei only rule. Quote
Ed Harbulak Posted March 24, 2018 Report Posted March 24, 2018 I agree Ray. I recall reading, but don't remember exactly where, that the nakago mune of Tadayoshi school katana are slightly rounded while the nakago mune on waks are flat. However, if the nakago mune on a katana length blade is flat, it was originally made and intended to be used as a wak. Perhaps for a taller than usual samurai. It would help if we knew how the nakago mune was finished on Patrick's blade as well as the length of the blade. If I recall, the opposite is also true. A shorter length blade with a rounded nakago mune was meant to be a katana, no doubt for a shorter than average height samurai. Then regardless of the actual blade length, which side the nakago was signed on would indicate if it was intended to be a katana or wak. Life with the Tadayoshi family can get complicated. Quote
rantoulpawn Posted March 24, 2018 Author Report Posted March 24, 2018 Thank you Raymond,,Ed. The Nagasa is 26 15/16 of an inch. The nakago mune is finished very slightly rounded. Quote
Ed Harbulak Posted March 25, 2018 Report Posted March 25, 2018 The blade Roger mentioned on p. 197 of his book had not yet gone to shinsa, when the book was published. So we don't know if it passed or not. On the face of it, your blade would appear to be a katana, but signed on the "wrong" side. There are things in the mei that bother me, but not being an expert on kanji and knowing that signatures can vary, don't put much faith in my appraisal. Roger is most willing to help with anything related to the Tadayoshi school, so I would suggest sending him an e-mail with photos of the mei on your blade along with length, finish on the nakago mune, etc. Get his opinion and ask if the blade he mentioned on p. 197 passed shinsa. Since you are in Illinois you might submit the blade to the NTHK-NPO shinsa at the end of April. If the blade fails, then you have some other choices to make, but first things first, I would contact Roger then the shinsa and good luck. Quote
Ray Singer Posted March 25, 2018 Report Posted March 25, 2018 Strongly agree with Ed's recommendations. When I have a Hizen-to I am considering making a purchase of, I always consult with Roger first. Quote
rantoulpawn Posted March 25, 2018 Author Report Posted March 25, 2018 Thank you gentlemen, I will follow through on your suggestions. Quote
kissakai Posted March 25, 2018 Report Posted March 25, 2018 There is an email address in Rogers book so I used this to send him a mei image but never had a reply Quote
rantoulpawn Posted March 25, 2018 Author Report Posted March 25, 2018 Thank you Grev, I am sure he is a very busy man. Perhaps he will have some time soon. The assistance from all of you is very much appreciated. Quote
rantoulpawn Posted April 8, 2018 Author Report Posted April 8, 2018 I contacted Roger, he was not optimistic on my blade passing shinsa, but his did pass. Quote
Ray Singer Posted April 8, 2018 Report Posted April 8, 2018 Thank you for the update Klaus. Best regards, Ray Quote
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