New Addition to my collection > Thoughts Please??

[Glenn]

 

 

 

 

 

 

1st post longtime browser, I received this sword from a friend who's uncle brought it back from New Guinea.

I think it maybe an old blade in a late war Koshirae. 

Blade is 58 cm in length and very heavy. 

Opinion's please

regards Glenn 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 7, 2021 by Glenn
better photo's

[Shugyosha]

Hi Glen,

I can't see much of the signature as the photos don't expand but at first blush it looks like there's a good chance it is an old blade. If you can post a couple more close-up pictures of the tang you'll get some more information.

 

Also, don't balance the blade on it's tip - they can chip!

[robinalexander]

Hi Glen, 

Yep, what John said above.

 

You pics are all very good in terms of subject matter but in order to get some honest opinions from those more knowledgeable, they will definately need to be clearer and maybe larger. Especially, the mei (kanji) on the nakago.

 

Are you sure the blade itself is 85 cms (33.5 inches)?

 

Nice hamon.

 

Rob

 

 

[robinalexander]

PS....the blade is measured from the tip to the mune-machi which is the small notch in the back of the blade (not the cutting edge) down nearer the tsuka (handle)

[Geraint]

Dear Glen.

 

Yes to all the above but the mei reads Bitchu no kami Yasuhiro.  As I am sure you are aware the mei may be genuine or not but when we get those larger photographs we will be able to tell you more, hopefully. 

 

All the best.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Interesting piece, and look forward to LARGER pictures! The tassel is not an original one.

[Shugyosha]

Thanks to Geraint's eagle-eyes, and subject to the "if genuine" proviso, we can say that it was made by one of three smiths with this name and title:

 

Yasuhiro(康広), 1st gen., Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Settsu

Yasuhiro(康広), 2nd gen., Jōkyō (貞享, 1684-1688), Settsu

Yasuhiro(康広), 3rd gen., Kyōhō (享保, 1716-1736), Settsu

 

So that would put your blade in the window of 1661 to 1736 date wise. Have a look on the other side of the tang, as there is sometimes a date which would help to tie things down further. As Geraint says, If you are able to provide some better pictures it might be possible to match the signature to a verified example by one of these smiths.

 

More general information: the "Bitchu no kami" part of the signature is an honorary title and the whole thing means Yasuhiro (smith's art name) lord or protector of the province of Bitchu. This is not necessarily connected with his place of work and in this case we know that he worked in Settsu which was one of the old provinces of Japan and probably in Osaka which was a significant centre for sword production at the time.

 

[Glenn]

hi john i was holding the handle blade was not on the tiles it does look like that in the pic though . the blade is 58cm sorry about that i haven't worked out how to do the pics properly yet  glenn

 

[Grey Doffin]

If you take pictures on a dark background we'll be better able to see details.

Grey

[mywei]

Hi guys,

 

the mei is signed 備中守橘當一康廣 - Bitchu (no) kami Tachibana Toichi Yasuhiro

 

if shoshin will probably narrow it down to 1st generation Kii-Ishido Yasuhiro ~Kanbun era, who signed 紀伊國當一康廣 (Kii no Kuni Toichi Yasuhiro) before his title was bestowed and moved to Settsu

 

See: https://www.juwelier-strebel.de/asian-art/Japan/567-katana, https://www.samuraishokai.jp/sword/15117.html

 

[Dave R]

 This looks very like one of those blades still in shirasaya that then had the minimum done to make it serviceable in combat. Traditional tsuba as well. A nice find indeed.

[Glenn]

thanks to everyone for there help . very interesting    regards glenn

[Volker62]

Hi fellows

 

 

one of my so called" long time baby's"

 

one of the extremely rare reward swords made by my friend Kenzo Kotani san, aka Yasunori

 

truly a beauty!

[Volker62]

immpecable Gunome Choji thick deep Nioi- kuchi

 

long ashi reaches to the edge..

 

 

66,9 cm Nagasa

[Glenn]

hi guys does any one know what is written on the saya   regards glenn 

[mywei]

鎌浦 Kamaura

Probably the owner's name