Tsuguyuki Bungo or Echizen?

[pcfarrar]

I recently picked up an interesting katana in high quality shin-gunto mounts signed Fujiwara Tsuguyuki. Hawleys gives two smiths working in the 17th century one in Echizen and the other in Bungo.

 

The hamon is a very active nie based suguha, with uchinoke, sunagashi etc. The jigane seems to be a tight ko-itame. Can't find a single mei example of the Bungo or Echizen Tsuguyuki in any book I own.

 

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[Ted Tenold]

Peter,

 

I'd say Bungo would be a pretty good bet on this one. The Bungo smiths habitually signed with "Fujiwara" first, and many had "yuki" as the second kanji in their name. Though I haven't looked further myself, there were a ton of smiths in the school and you may not find anything on this one specifically.

 

Aside from that, the visable work resembles Bungo style to me. I'd expect a little more activity and perhaps a bit more width in the habuchi for Echizen work.

 

My two cents....

[pcfarrar]

Thanks Ted. I have a few Echizen Shimosaka blades in my collection and they have a much wider habuchi than this katana.

 

Would it be worth using one of my shinsa slots at the UK NTHK shinsa on this katana? I guess the odds of it being gimei are pretty slim?

[k morita]

Hi Peter,

 

The mei is not "TsuguYuki".

Right reading is "MuneYuki"　統行,in Bungo Takada.

[pcfarrar]

Thanks Morita san. Not quite an unkown Bungo smith anymore.

 

The mei looks to be a good match to the example in Fujishiro.

 

MUNEYUKI TAKADA [KEICHÔ 1596 BUNGO] SHINTÔ CHÛJÔSAKU

He is called Nakama Shingorô, and there are some of his works from the kotô period. He became the founder of the shintô Takada. (Wazamono)

Signatures: HÔSHÛ TAKADA JÛ FUJIWARA MUNEYUKI

FUJIWARA MUNEYUKI

Plate II: FUJIWARA MUNEYUKI

[Ted Tenold]

  pcfarrar said:

Would it be worth using one of my shinsa slots at the UK NTHK shinsa on this katana? I guess the odds of it being gimei are pretty slim?

 

I personally wouldn't worry about it being gimei. I've never seen or heard of a gimei Bungo Takada sword, unless it was one signed "Hizen Koku ju xxx Tada xxx". :lol: The Takada school was capable of qualitative swords, but their vast norm was a more utilitarian weapon. It makes sense that it was in higher grade gunto mounts as Bungo swords are regarded as being good cutters, and Fujishiro notes this with the "wazamono" rating. Submitting it to shinsa will really only confirm what is already pretty much evident; sig is likely good (I'm no shinsa judge but imho it looks righteous), quality for this group/smith is slightly above average (at least from the images shown). However Fujishiro notes that this was the founder working in Keicho. Some of the activity you described might bump it up from other utilitarian works as well. As an early work of the school I'd offer that it might be worth the submission to document and affirm this. It really all comes down to your priorities and intentions, and might also depend on how many other blades you were considering submitting. If your slots are limited and you are forced to make choices, I'd consider using the positions for blades with more obvious qualitative aspects, and/or those with more merit potential. If you've got more slots than swords, then it's just a personal matter of whether you want an affirmation and rating.

 

Admittedly a verbose, yet wishy-washy answer on my part, but in summation I'd consider submitting it on any qualitative aspects of the work first without worrying about the mei.

[Brian]

Peter, Sounds like you have quite a few slots in the shinsa, early bird gets the worm?

What is the nagasa of this blade? Looks quite long from the pic. Agree with Ted, and I guess it also depends on if you are going to keep it and just verify what it is, or are going to sell it and hope the papers will increase the interest in it.

 

Oh, and Ted..I love the location in your profile

 

Brian

[pcfarrar]

Thank you Ted for your very informative post.

 

I have 6 shinsa slots in total with my brother. Probably wont be another shinsa in the UK for some time so its a good chance to get as many blades as you can in. This should be my only Bungo hopefully

 

The katana has a 27" nagasa, would have been around 30" originally. Its not completely suguha, towards the habaki-moto there is a small area of choji and there are a 3 patches of gunome interspaced evenly going up the blade.

[Ted Tenold]

  Brian said:

Oh, and Ted..I love the location in your profile Brian

 

Thanks, Me too! My last location would have been listed as the "Peoples Republic of California". Glad that's over... :lol: