Odd Kanji

[Ted Tenold]

Can't seem to make out this kanji. Any thoughts?? Soshu ju (X)shige. Darned if I can figure it out. :?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

 

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

I'm unsure....maybe Nori 徳

[Markus]

Hi Ted,

 

I think its a writing variation of "tsuna" (綱), namely basically with this one as basis (網).

[Ted Tenold]

Thanks Jacques. The form does make it look like it could be Nori, but the work, shape, age, and signature rule out those listed by that name.

 

Thanks Markus. I suspected it was some form of Tsuna, and wanted to make sure it wasn't something really obvious I wan't seeing, you know, like turning the house upside down looking for the car keys for only to find them sitting in plain sight. :lol:

 

There is one Tsunashige in Hawley's but only one. No other info I can find so far on this maker. Just one of those guys with a career of obscurity I guess.

[John A Stuart]

Could be one of a hundred sue-Soshu smiths making swords at the end of the Muromachijidai. Just the haste in inscribing the mei so lightly seems indicative. How does the sword stand up? Better than kazuuchimono? John

[Ted Tenold]

John, yes better than a bundle sword. Quite nice actually, with sparse konie, but a lively and active yakiba with bright habuchi. Better than most, but still only a shadow of Soshu's former glory.

[reinhard]

Ted, Meikan lists two TSUNASHIGE in Sagami. One was working around Tenbun- and the other around Eiroku-era.

 

reinhard

[Ted Tenold]

Ah, thank you very much Reinhard!