Minotagawa Naval Swords

[VIPER]

Were all of the handmade Naval Swords at Miinotagawa marked with Mum on the waves marking. I have seen some that claimed too be made there but they did not have the Mum....Thanks Jimmy

[Rich S]

A quick scan of Wallinga's book on Minatogawa show all (I think) with the mum on waves crest. There is one early sword known without the crest.

However the same smith's did make swords not for Minatogawa that are not marked. Also there was a group of swords by Kanefusa

made for a naval officer's group that have the crest on the blade, rather

than the nakago. See my section on Minatogawa at:

 

http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/gendai.htm

 

Rich S

[bdgrange]

I owned a fine Gassan Sadakatsu with the Minatogawa mon on the blade.

I saw one with the mon on the habaki and not on the nakago but made by one

or the Minatogawa smiths.

regards

Bill de

[Brian Hancock]

Hi, I have a very nice Kai Gunto made by a smith called Masakiyo. No mon or any other reference to minagotawa but he is listed in the book you mentioned with a cryptic ref. "Very little Known" about him. The swordis signed "Hizen ju Masakiyo"

 

Cheers,

 

Brian.

[TomP]

If you have Dawson's reference book, it shows three Minatogawa swords, with all having the kikusui (mum on water) on the habaki. There is also one pictured that has the kikusui on the nakago as well as the habaki. There also happens to be a blade pictured with the kikusui on the blade, but not produced by a Minato. shrine smith.

If you do check out the book, it is nothing short of amazing to see that all three Minatogawa swords pictured in the book are in the same person's collection! Amazing! I have yet to find one for sale, and I have been looking for awhile now. Some folks have all the luck.

 

 

Tom

[Mark]

I have a katana by 23rd gen Kanefusa with the Kiku on waves on the blade. I will be putting it on ebay when i get motivated. If anyone is interested before i get around to it i would sell it for $1500

 

If it is inappropriate to post this here i apoligize, please move it to the sale section-- but i only mention it as Kanefusa was mentioned in this thread

[VIPER]

What kind of price range are you looking at for a nice excellent condition mon marked Minotagawa sword. Just trying to get a feel for the market.............Thanks Jimmy