luisboni Posted December 30, 2019 Report Posted December 30, 2019 Posting my new sword pics from my military collection. Seems this one is possibly from the hojoji school. It looks like it was shortened for war fitting. Any insight by the community would be welcomed Quote
Ray Singer Posted December 30, 2019 Report Posted December 30, 2019 Please show the entire nakago, including the nakago-jiri at the bottom. I am not seeing evidence that it is suriage. Quote
Ray Singer Posted December 30, 2019 Report Posted December 30, 2019 Interesting, signed Kunitsugu on the reverse. Quote
luisboni Posted December 31, 2019 Author Report Posted December 31, 2019 I thought I saw something in the reverse but wasn't sure; so what can this mean ? Is this piece legit? Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted December 31, 2019 Report Posted December 31, 2019 The execution of the Mei looks poor, there is a very high chance this is Gimei. Quote
luisboni Posted January 3, 2020 Author Report Posted January 3, 2020 Thanks for you input Ray and John. Dual Mei Inscriptions Regarding the mei, your comments have developed the following observations and questions. Reverse mei looks blemished away, by time I may suppose. Presuming the blade mei is Gi Mei, maybe the Gi Mei inscriptions can assist determining the blade time period. If that is so, then: What time period did Kunitsugu worked as a Smith? Does this time period overlaps with Masahiro’s (1600’s)? Is the blade characteristics similar to blades of this time periods? Presuming both mei are authentic: is there anything that the community has seen out there as a double smith forged katana? Or in the other hand this is a mu mei with a Gi mei inscription. Blade characteristics Looking at the blade I found it quite attractive in particular its hamon and its current condition. I have to ask: Am I looking at a genuine Edo period nihonto, a gendaito or neither (fake blade)? My aim was to buy a gendaito that was traditionally forged and used possibly in WW2. Did I fail in my search? =( What could be this item value? Any input in my observations and questions are welcomed. Thanks in advance. Quote
Ray Singer Posted January 3, 2020 Report Posted January 3, 2020 This does not appear to be a gendaito. I would lean towards the blade being shinto. There were a number of smiths who signed,l Kunitsugu, this will require some legwork to determine whether there was an authentic Kunitsugu mei and for which smith, however it appears that the mei was removed (rather than being deteriorated). Additional note, aside from the formation of the mei Masahiro the sword itself does not appear to be in the style of Shinto Hojoji. Quote
luisboni Posted January 8, 2020 Author Report Posted January 8, 2020 Thanks again for your input Ray. Based on your experience and the attached pictures am I looking at a genuine Nihonto? ( attached a picture for better appreciation of the blade curvature) Quote
raaay Posted January 8, 2020 Report Posted January 8, 2020 Hi Luis the curvature if a true reflection in your photo " may suggest a Kanban -Shinto style sori " roughly about circa 1650 , but they also made swords in the Shin-Shinto period that were also made with little sori. Quote
Ray Singer Posted January 8, 2020 Report Posted January 8, 2020 Luis, there is no doubt that this is an authentic Japanese sword. Quote
luisboni Posted January 9, 2020 Author Report Posted January 9, 2020 Thank you all for your input, I have learned a lot about my blade. Have a great rest of the day. Cheers. - Luis Quote
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