Older Looking blade in Kai-Gunto Koshirae - Signed 金重 - KANESHIGE or KINJUU?

[tbonesullivan]

Been pondering this one for a while. It came in Kai-Gunto fittings, but the Habaki definitely looks older, and it has a tang that does not look to be Showa period. There is a 金重 KANESHIGE listed during the Showa period, but the older smiths I can find are all listed as KINJUU.  It's not in the best polish but the Hamon is very active and a nice shape (TOURAN). I've gotten as good of a picture of the Mei as I think I can, as well as the blade in the fittings, and the overall shape.

[Shugyosha]

Hi David,

For me it's definitely older than Showa looking at the patina on the lower part of the tang. I'd guess shinshinto from the absence of obvious hada but that might be the state of polish, lighting etc so it may be older. It's been shortened, I'd guess to fit the wartime mounts and you can see a difference in the patina around the upper mekugi ana and lower one.

[sabiji]

Some data (dimensions) of the blade would be good. As well as some better photos of the kissaki/boshi, the ha/munemachi area, the complete nagako, and larger photos of the ji and shinogi-ji.

 

It is not a toran, rather a gunome midare. As John writes, you can't see a hada, but a very highly condensed hada is found not only in Shinshinto, but also in the high period of Shinto around Kanbun to Enpo. In the kanji, neither the tagane and tagane-makura are clearly visible, nor the yasurime. Therefore, I do not believe that the blade is Shinshinto.

 

Only one thing is certain, "the Kinju", disciple of Masamune (whether Sho or Nidai) is not. Many later Kinju - if the signature is genuine - are Seki swordsmiths or have their roots in Mino-den.

 

[ROKUJURO]

The SUGATA would fit in KANBUN JIDAI, and the patina of the NAKAGO as well.

[tbonesullivan]

Ok, here are some pictures of the Hamon, Hamachi, and Kissaki. The polish is pretty degraded, with some staining, around the kissaki. I tried indoor light as well as indirect sunlight. I can definitely see what looks like ITAME or MOKUME HADA.

[tbonesullivan]

A few more pictures, showing the Tang, a MON on the Kabuto-gane, markings on the end of the tsuka, and the Habaki.

[Geraint]

Dear David.

 

What's not to like ?  Your latest photographs confirm what I was wondering.  Nice complete kaigunto with a mon, older blade signed tachi mei, certainly looks polishable if you decide it's worth it.

 

Good find.

 

All the best.