Minamoto Masanao Gendaito. Real deal or gimei/fake

[OliverP]

Gentlebeings,

 

I am currently in the market for a new Katana for Iai/Battodo practice and came across this auction:

 

https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/28899779-Japan-seki-ju-masanao-saku-gendaito-lange-katana-blade-schwert

 

It would fulfil my requirements in all ways regarding Nagasa length and a shallow Sori as it suits my cutting style. Currently the blade is at 1500 EUR and I am considering to place a bid on this myself. Do you think that this is real ? The Nakago looks strange to me (maybe someone polished it ?) and if this not a “fake” or gimei, would you recommend buying it? And if so, at what point would I be paying too much ? Mind you, not for collecting but for being mounted for Iai and Batto.

 

Any thoughts are very welcome

[vajo]

The blade looks strange to me. The pictures are very small, but the shape doesn't look like promising. I'm on the fake side.

 

This is how a masanao should look like.

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

This could've been made as an inexpensive Iai sword originally, hence the difference in quality. To be honest you can probably find better Iai blades already in mounts for less, or even consider the higher end Chinese ones.

[Ken-Hawaii]

If you're going to cut with it (tameshigiri), don't you want to use an inexpensive shinken, rather than a Gendaito?

[OliverP]

If you're going to cut with it (tameshigiri), don't you want to use an inexpensive shinken, rather than a Gendaito?

I am cutting with a number of swords (Tenshin Ryu Battodo) including mid- and high end Chinese shinken. It is not unusual to use Gendaito for tameshigiri.

[jason y]

Blade doesn't looks to be a good cutter for cutting mats..

You need to find the blade that's thin & wide.

[Greg F]

Banzan may I ask why you dont just stick to using Chinese made blades for cutting and iaito for iaido?

 

Greg

[peter k]

it looks like a Japan made shinsakuto to me. it's probably one of komonjo's blades from ebay.

[OliverP]

Hi guys,

 

Thank you for the advice and sorry for not responding here earlier. Turned out it was actually one of Komonjo‘s „gimei“ blades. @Greg, to answer your question. There are mainly two reasons for that:

 

a) to connect myself to the history and tradition of the art

b) most Shinken from China only have a nagasa of 71-73 cm, which is too short for me