koto ?

[andreas]

I have seen that someone have learn to read these things...

Would be nice if i can get little help with this.

[Brian]

Andreas,

 

I edited the pic to rotate it to upright, and ran it through photoshop to bring it down from 650kb to 127kb.

 

Brian

[John A Stuart]

Hi Andreas, It seems to read 'Bizen Kuni Ju Muneyoshi'. #1 kanji is a little odd and the whole mei is loose to read. John

PS- It would be nice to see the whole thing. J.

[andreas]

Ah, sorry it was upsidedown.. really sorry about that. Thank's for the care both of you!

Here is full blade, but you know how hard it is to get one good photo. Hmm anyway got something

[pcfarrar]

Nice sword but is that a hagire I can see?

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

from Machi, parallel to the Ha or in the nakago ?

[Nobody]

reads Hizen (no) kuni ju Tadayoshi (肥前國住忠吉).

[pcfarrar]

from Machi, parallel to the Ha or in the nakago ?

 

On his 2nd picture. Maybe its just dirt or something...

[Carlo Giuseppe Tacchini]

Totally skipped the second one. Now I got it. A close-up should be of big help.

[John A Stuart]

Ah yes, Nobody, The first kanji reading Hi (zen) leads to Tada (yoshi). When I read it as Bi (zen) the Tada seemed to be Mune. Hard to read being so loose, for me and so similar. John

[andreas]

Sorry, i have this little Canon, and that is pretty much best what it can take. Will post some better photos after this issue is solved :|

Anyway all comments and questions are more than welcome.

[Mantis dude]

Has potential, but most likely signature is Gimei. I am by no means expert on tadayoshi, but the kanji all seem stretched out, and there are on wrong side of tang for school, although I have seen a few like this. There appears to be some hada and a fancy hamon, so it has some things going for it. Would need more pics. Take tsuka off and lets see all of it, also some closeups of hada, boshi ,etc. Taking pictures is a pain, hard to get good ones. Good luck

[mike yeon]

Hizen Tadayoshi is a big name. If real it would date the blade at around early shinto (keicho).

 

Mantis, you bring up a good point about Tadayoshi line smiths typically signing tachi-mei. But I've seen both wakizashi and katana with katana mei. Either way Tadayoshi is a VERY strong gimei candidate. Most gimei are done in his goji mei (5 character. like yours).

 

The one real Tadayoshi wakizashi I've seen was signed "Hizen no kuni junin Tadayoshi saku." Anyway, its best to get it properly appraised if you really like the blade and get advice on what to do if it is gimei.

 

mike

[andreas]

Hi,

Here is some --> http://www.nihonto.fi/andreas

Same camera issue, that is best what i can get with it.

[paulb]

There are nine generations of the mainline Tadayoshi school. In the vast majority of cases they signed Tachi-mei on long swords and Katana-mei on Wakazashi. The early smiths also made Tanto and some, but few Naginata.

They have always been very popular, as a result they have been copied and many, very many, gimei blades exist, some very good quality ones others not so good,

The mei on this blade does not look right for the manline family or daimei from the leading students. The Hamon is not what one would normally associate with this school, although again they did make various styles (the vast majority Sugha)

Based on the images (first two) I think this is very likely to be gimei.

Paul B

[paulb]

Forgot a couple of points, not least that regardless of who made it it is a good looking sword with a lot to look at and enjoy. With regard to the signature:

1. The shape of the blade looks like a nagamaki-naoshi, a shortened pole arm.

2. If this was originally a nagamaki or naginata and shortened the original mei would have been lost. So unless the original smith also shortened the blade (which I rhink would be very unlikely) The mei would have to be by someone else. Either the man who shortened it put the name of the original maker on it to preseve its identity, or he thought he could add value by putting on a highly regarded signature.

 

3. If it was originally made in this form then I think it very likely to be gimei.

[andreas]

Yes, iam pretty sure it "was" nagamaki or naginata, but question is, is that Tadayoshi work at all hmm.

[paulb]

Im not a betting man but if i was I would say no I dont think it is. However I cant really see the hada. One of the strongest indicators of Tadayoshi school work is the very tight ko-itame hada, known as konuka or rice bran hada. This was used consistently through all generations.

Also they produce hamon which regardless of shape had a thick nioi guchi with ko-nie running through (more in the early smiths lesss in the later ones until you get to 8th. gen.)

I cant see either of these details in your blade but that may be a combination of the polish and photos.

My main reason for doubting it is a Tadayoshi blade is that they made few naginata. in more than 20 years of collecting Hizen work I havent seen a hamon either on a sword or in references that looks like the one on your sword. The mei doesnt match any I have seen.

Put those together and the most likely result is that it is not Tadayoshi school work.

But as said before it is a good looking thing and theres a lot to enjoy in it. Also remember that trying to see the finer detail mentioned above is very difficult without seeing the sword first hand.

Enjoy it and carry on looking I would be interested to hear what you find out abourt it.

[andreas]

Yes you got the point. It is nice blade whoever made it, but it's all up there, want to know, when why and finally you have blades allover your home.

It can easily take 20 years or 50...

hmm makes me wonder

[aeguy]

I concur with paulb regarding your blade. I'm by no means an authority on Hizento, but your wakizashi doesn't appear to be characeteristic of Hizen blades I've seen either in hand, or in catalog/sword book photos. However, it is still a nice looking and interesting blade in decent polish. I believe a great deal may be learned from it.

 

If you would like to obtain additional information regarding Hizento and/or Hizen Tosho, please visit Mr. Robert Robertshaw's website at, "http://www.hizento.net/". Mr. Robertshaw is quite knowledgeable regarding Hizento, very helpful and is a very pleasant person to deal with. I'm sure he would help you with an assessment if you were to ask for his assistance. Good Luck in your future Nihonto searches!!!

 

Best Regards,

 

p.s. I worked with the Ilmavoimat from 1998 to 2004. Your opening file photo with the snow, white birches and small lake in the background reminds me of Tikkakoski this time of year. I miss working on that team. Hyvaa Paivaa!!! =)

[andreas]

Hi,

Yes, i will contact him, thank's for advice. Anyway, had kickstart into Tadayoshi, it got me.

So you were at airbase in Tikkakoski as pilot or mechanic? because makes me wonder if Finnish are not flying, who is....

And yes we do have snow here ... -10 in Joensuu

[aeguy]

Terve Andreas!

 

I don't know if you noticed, but last Saturday evening I erroneously posted a Reply to your above message as a New Post. Sorry about that. :?

Since your inquiry isn't Nihonto related, it would be better if you contacted me off board via e-mail. You can e-mail me directly by clicking on the "Members" link listed under the Nihonto Message Board menu located in the upper right-hand corner of the NMB homepage. Just lookup "aeguy" and click on the provided "e-mail" link. I'd be more than happy to address and answer your question(s). Bye for now....

 

Best Regards,

[andreas]

Maybe a stuped question, but is that mark from polisher or what?

http://nihonto.fi/andreas/Munemachi/

[andreas]

Anyone, ideas or never seen such a "thing"? hmmh

[Stephen]

you talking about the cross type mark yes?.... you need to get a photo shop of some sort here is the pix cropped and reduced... dont think a polisher placed the mark.

[andreas]

Hi,

Yes, iam wondering what that mark is. Minor issue anyway, but it is there so...