Tadamitsu koto mei?

[waljamada]

I'm told this mei reads Tadamitsu and is Bizen.  I can't seem to also find a koto Tadamitsu that signed with only two Kanji.  Also the tsuba is signed but to me looks quite modern.  Wondering on thr accuracy of the mei translation and opinions on authenticity.  Dont have any better photos or a complete tang photo.  Also my gut says this was a shortened sword.  The  cutting edge is 14"  but the tang seems quite long.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Thee are quite a number of Tadamitsu listed in Sesko's Swordsmiths A to Z. As far as jidai, please post photos of the completely-bare blade, so we can see the sugata.

[SteveM]

Tadamitsu is correct. As above, I can't comment on possible age.

 

The tsuba is trying to say 正吉 (Masakichi), but yes I agree it's some kind of modern cast replica. 

[Jean]

20 years ago, I had a papered nijimei sword Signed Tadamitsu  so it exists.

[Babu]

The horimono appears a much later addition but the double bohi are closer to contemporary.

My concern would be how well that Horimono was executed and what it's hiding.

It would be good to see images that held good resolution when zoomed into though . These sadly do not.

The tsuba is modern. It's a bit of a mishmash of fittings but it's still might be worthwhile.

I gather this is your research before purchase?

[waljamada]

 

Ok, so nijimei Tadamitsu does exist.  I agree the dragon horimono looks a newer style and I cant make out any detail of it in the photos provided.   Could be a cross eyed and bucktoothed dragon for all I know.  The other side's bohi (would that be classified as a bohi or horimono?) does look more of period.

 

It is research while I mull over purchasing it.  I must admit to a mindset on smaller blades being less "bang for buck" but I wouldn't mind having literally one.  This one might satisfactorily cover both the tanto and wazikashi category for me...eventhough I know it wouldn't be classified as a tanto; its not far off.   Never actually held a tanto or wazikashi in hand to see how they feel and what I think about them.  Do they also have a powerful elegance feel?

[Babu]

In double sword fighting techniques at least one if not both swords would be better served as wakizashi.

It would still be a formidable weapon in a master's hands.

Indoor urban fighting also suits a shorter blade such as a wakizashi or O Tanto.

Up close and personal and your going for a nice tanto.

 

The double bo hi shows less depth and has endured a polish whereas the Horimono is much more recent or was really really deeply cut. Hard to tell which.

Some beautiful tachi or katana are now at wakizashi size due to changes in acceptable length over time.

I have a wakizashi that's as light as a wand with single hi and small kissaki.

It's a scalpel as opposed to a cleaver.