Muramasa- Thoughts on condition and generation?

[Cameron]

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/n339327497

[Hoshi]

Why would someone offer a Muramasa:

 

1) On a site with low reputation consequences for defrauding someone else

2) While losing tons of money because it has no NBTHK paper

3) When living in Japan with access to the top appraisers just next door

 

Either:

 

1) The seller is a fool

2) The seller is very pro-social, and has a strong desire to give money to others anonymously on internet

3) ...?

[Cameron]

and thats what you always hope deep down, youre the lucky one that spotted something!

 

fine, fair enough, mark and avoid

[Brian]

Agree with Chris...all the facts bear that out.
But you have to admit, based on the hamon and mirror image, it really has to have some relation to the school.

[Gakusee]

Reasonably good attempt to package it as Muramasa.

Just some observations:

- while the photos are not very high-res, one would expect some more kinsuji and nie formations in the hamon and more nagare masame in the hada

- the nakago tanagobara line is not as smooth and elegant and the nakago itself is not as well proportioned as one would expect

- how do you explain the virtual disappearance of the yasurime but the reasonably crisp mei. With such condition of the mei, you would have better preserved filing lines underneath the mei

- there are some small issues with both the "mura" and the "masa". But closer inspection/magnification is necessary and will probably yield more

[Hoshi]

- how do you explain the virtual disappearance of the yasurime but the reasonably crisp mei. With such condition of the mei, you would have better preserved filing lines underneath the mei

 

 

Agreed Michael. 

 

This is a classic fail in fraud: deep, clean chiseling of a new mei. The result is that the mei is too deep and crisp and doesn't fit with the overall condition of the Nakago. It ends up 'standing out' on its own and just giving away the gimei without need for further study. This is one of the most difficult part of making a good Koto gimei. 

 

Other than that there are clear call backs to the school in shape and hamon. It's just sleepy activity-wise...

[Cameron]

by way of thank you for all the commentary i was going to share the pictures of a sold muramasa katana with a gold inlay cutting test but ive lost the tab (was one of a thousand!)

 

heres to hoping the thought will count!