Mei translation help needed on tsuba and katana

[ww2colorado]

Guys I have been offered this Katana and I am unsure of its age as well as signatures wondering if they are authentic.?

Any help is greatly appreciated

[ChrisW]

It looks real to me! As to the age and veracity of the mei, I cannot say.

[ww2colorado]

Chris thanks. Still trying to figure this one out

[Ray Singer]

My best guess is Munekage.

 

宗景

[Bugyotsuji]

Consider 篤興 Atsuoki for the tsuba.

[ww2colorado]

Raymond singer,bugyotsuji, thank you both very much. Can the age be estimated by blade or fittings as there is no date signature

[ROKUJURO]

Chuck,

the age is of much lesser importance than the quality and condition. The NAKAGO of the blade looks like KOTO to me, but the position of the TACHI MEI seems to be wrong. The fittings are no help in guessing the age of the blade as they were often changed.

More good photos of the naked blade from above (not at an angle) without HABAKI and detail photos would perhaps allow to say more. 

[uwe]

I guess the Tsuba is:

 

“文遷(?)篤興” - “Bunsen(dō) Tokuoki”. The “dō” (堂), however, is missing. So I’m not very happy with this.....

[Bugyotsuji]

Uwe, I found the Mei in my reference listed under Atsu, and not as ‘Toku’. I don’t know why.

[Jacques]

The only one Munekage (if this reading correct) i found is a shinshinto swordsmith

[Ray Singer]

I have the same request. The blade seems to have an exaggerated sori, but it may just be the photos. A photo of the bare blade from directly above will help with the evaluation.

[Kurikata]

Tsuba mei is Tokuoki (篤興) - Haynes 09786.0 - who was born on November 17th of Bunka 10 (1813) and who passed away on December 10 of Meiji 24 (1891) at the age of 79.   He was the eldest son of Yahan Teigogai.  He married the eldest daughter of Kawarabayashi Hideoki (川原林秀興) and became his student.  He worked in Kyôto.  After the Meiji Restoration, he was placed in charge of the government office for the encouragement of industry located in Kyôto.

Tokuoki’s (篤興) family names were Sasayama (篠山) and Fujiwara (藤原).  His art names were Bunsen (文僊), Bunsendô (文僊堂), Hôsendô (方仙堂), Ikkôsai (一行斎), Manundô (万雲堂), Masaichirô (政一郎), Ôsumi (大泉), Sensai (仙斎), and Shôkatei (松花亭).

[uwe]

So "Bunsen" is also ok....Thx!

 

 

Hi Piers,

 

yes, "Atsu" is also a possible reading. Simply couldn´t find an matching craftsmen with this name

[ww2colorado]

Guys i am waiting on more pictures from the seller, the blade does look too have a nice sori. I will get back with more pictures as soon as I am able

[ww2colorado]

Guys would the tsuba be valuable by itself? I like it more than the blade LOL

[Bugyotsuji]

Just found the reading of Atsuoki (coincidentally) in another Japanese Tōsōgu book by the famous collector Shigeo Fukushi.

Ikkōsai 一行斎　Atsuoki 篤興　

Maybe in the west it is read Tokuoki but in Japan I keep finding Atsuoki.

[uwe]

Another proof, that names are always tricky Piers! I can also live with “Atsuoki”    

Thanks for the update!