Early-Mid 1700's Katana, Translation Needed!

[ChrisW]

Hey guys,

 

Been a while since I posted a blade, and while I am strapped for cash, this is a blade that I got in my trip to Arizona a while back from a gentleman by the name of Brian Quinn. A real stand-up guy and he sold this to me at a really fair price. Its fairly nice to look at and while the polish is not particularly great anymore, there's enough to enjoy. It measures 28.5" nagasa and has a mostly complete signature. I'll let the pictures do the talking since I am crap for words anyways.

 

What I'd like is a name attached to this blade and an opinion on the signature itself. Anything else is gravy!

[ChrisW]

This filesize limit is a real pain in the rear also... is that a feature of the gold membership or just a site limitation? Here's more:

[ChrisW]

One more set for the road:

[SteveM]

津田越前守助廣

Tsuda Echizen-no-kami Sukehiro

[ChrisW]

Ah... probably gimei then?

 

 

Mmm big name like that, probably gimei.

 

But, I did buy it for the shape and the hamon pattern anyways, so no bother!

[Stephen]

Crop much.??..you wouldn't have such problems if you cropped out all the background trash.

[ChrisW]

I get what you're saying, but I could without the attitude.

 

Thanks, I'll do that next time.

[Stephen]

Sorry so blunt attitude not implied

[ChrisW]

Its alright!

 

I just had to work at those photos for a while on a miserable humid day. 😬

[Ken-Hawaii]

When you're not sweating, Chris, try playing with reflected light down the length of the blade. Seeing the nioiguchi will tell us a lot.

[ChrisW]

Thanks Ken! I'll see what I can do.

 

Can anyone else glean the school/possible maker from what I've got already?

[Ken-Hawaii]

In a darkened room, shine a single light down the length, Chris. If the edge of the hamon glows, you have a strong nioiguchi, & likely a top-notch blade. Not easy to photograph, though.

[ChrisW]

I'll see what I can capture. Is there a particular angle where it might show up best at? Or just fiddle with it until I get it?

 

Thanks!

[AntiquarianCat]

I’ve been playing with how to photograph Nioiguchi. I like to point the sword to a bulb/lamp above it, with the light falling directly on the hamon. When it works it glows like this.

[ChrisW]

Thanks Juan! I'll try that first in the morning.

[Stephen]

BQ Knows his stuff suprised he didn't say smith.

If you have bright room hold at ceiling corner with a little bit of movement you should see the hamon pop out.

The more i look at the blade an not the ground the more im liking it.

Edited September 16, 2020 by Stephen
Crop rotate

[Stephen]

IMHO uchikoing daily with top grade uchiko ball will do wonders for it.

Bob Benson's are the best for the money.

[Surfson]

Steve has it exactly right, Sukehiro, and without study, I think you are exactly right - it looks gimei to me.  

[AntiquarianCat]

Hello Robert, if you don’t mind my asking what are the best tells for gimei? The signature looks oddly fresh, unweathered and deep for an old sword; would that be part of the problem?

[Surfson]

Sorry I don't have time for a long answer.  My recollection is that he had two main periods of signing, one was called Kakumei and the other was Marumei, meaning square and round.  If I am not mistaken, the maru mei period was the one in which he mostly used Tsuda, and the signatures were quite flowing, almost like grass script.  I'm sure you can google Sukehiro signature examples and find lots of discussions about it.  Even looking in Fujishiro should make it clear.  

[Surfson]

Here is a link to some discussions.  The photos I saw were of the date, but you can see the style that I was referring to immediately.  

 

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/16387-sukehiro-2nd-gen-real-or-gimei/

 

[ChrisW]

Still trying to capture a decent picture! Haven't given up yet. And upon hearing Sukehiro, I just assumed its gimei. The chance of me coming across a real one is approximately zero. 🤐

 

Regardless of it being gimei, I bought it for the workmanship which seems to be fairly high.

[ChrisW]

Also, quick question: does the signature contain some traces of gilding in it? It appears to be gold from my examination, I just assumed it was. Its definitely not a powder as I cannot remove it with a cotton swab and I am not aware of them using any kind of yellow lacquer.

[Stephen]

Last attempt to redeem n help

It looks like dried yellow uchiko powder

Did you Google the translation SM gave you.. ? You'll find more than a few examples of his mei. 

Hot water an old toothbrush will clean up the mei. Note the strokes are the chippy style.

[ChrisW]

Thanks Stephen! Had no idea uchiko could turn yellow like that!

 

And I *think* I finally got a decent picture to show some detail up close. Let me know if this works or not.

[Stephen]

Id say it's coming around. Might want to consider polish. If its worth to you.