My New Shin gunto with old blade

[VIPER]

Hi guys.........I am the new kid on the block. I have just purchased this shin gunto which has a signature on both sides of the tang. I bought it just as a nice shin gunto so anything else is extra. I would also ask opinions if the signature is good. Any comments or information would be much appreciated as I am trying to gather as much info as I can..........Thanks again Jimmy

[VIPER]

Tang2

[VIPER]

Tang3

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tang5

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tang6

[VIPER]

tang7

[VIPER]

Some of the rest of the sword.

[VIPER]

blade2

[Brian]

You can post 5 pics in one post, just go through the upload procedure for each one.

Please don't forget to sign each post with a name and initial as per the rules. (Easier to just add it in your signature)

 

Thanks,

Brian

[VIPER]

Sorry Brian......Still getting the hang of posting here.. Thats all for now. Thanks again guys for your help........... Jimmy Pace

[VIPER]

Here are a few General shots of the blade..............Jimmy Pace

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

If i'm not wrong the mei reads

 

Omote : Bingo no kuni Mihara ju nin Fujiwara kai Masauji saku.

Ura : Tenbun ju shi nen hachi gatsu (1545, eighth month)

[Stephen]

Jacques

 

would that be Masauji or Masachika?

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

Maybe Masachika, i don't see the kanji well :?

 

Edit,

 

You are right Stephen, it is Masachika

[kusunokimasahige]

Lucky YOU !

 

KM

[VIPER]

Lucky YOU !

 

KM

I guess I did OK for 2500usd. They are still out there. I guess.......Best Jimmy

[kusunokimasahige]

well since its not a shin gunto (apart from the mounts) but a blade from the 1500's

 

you most definetely are

 

KM

[VIPER]

I know that shinsa is the only real way to determine authenticity but how do you guys feel about the chances of the signature being genuine...Also the length of the cutting edge is 28 inches......Best Jimmy

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Jimmy,

I have 4 references in my library with oshigata of Masachika. Given that there were maybe 4 different smiths with this signature (according to Hawley's) who could have made your sword, and that my oshigata probably aren't all from the same smith, the mei on your sword does fit well with some of those oshigata. What's more, the mei on your sword feels right; it looks like a true signature, not a forged one.

Grey

[nagamaki - Franco]

Greetings,

 

Sword has a nice shape, steel looks good, here is an article on Bingo Mihara School to help fill in some background information.

 

http://www.nihontocraft.com/Mihara_Nihonto.html