Sword smiths name, school and active period

[Caracal]

Need help!

This sword is up for auction.

 

Does anyone know anything about the smith - Masachika 正近, and the school Naminohira 波平 in the region of Satsuma 薩摩 and the active period of the smith.

 

I can't find anything??

[SteveM]

Smith is Yasutoshi (安俊)

 

Looks like this sword has its own YouTube clip

 

[Marius]

http://www.sho-shin.com/sai21.htm

 

http://www.sho-shin.com/sai23.htm

 

 

Nami-no-hira is also written as Namihra. 

 

As for the smith, from Markus Sesko's Index:

 

YASUTOSHI (安俊), Ōei (応永, 1394-1428), Satsuma – “Naminohira Yasutoshi” (波平安俊), Naminohira school, according to tradition the son of Yasumitsu (安光), ayasugi-hada in combination with a suguha

 

Hope this helps

[Jussi Ekholm]

Steve beat me to it. I tried to check Yasutoshi from the Satsuma sword book I have but no Yasutoshi were mentioned in it. I know Markus has an entry of Ōei period Naminohira Yasutoshi. I would be bit skeptical of the Nanbokuchō dating that the video has. To me something towards later part of Muromachi period seems more plausible on this one.

[Geraint]

If the nagasa is now 35.6 cms then even when first made it would only have been about 40cms, so we are looking at a shinogi zukuri wakizashi of about 40cms.  Might just fit with Oei?

 

Doesn't mean it's not a nice blade and after all you would not be buying the sellers opinions on this one.

 

All the best.

[Baba Yaga]

The CD with the registration is a good touch for establishing valid price and authenticity that not there.    

[Caracal]

Thanks for the reply.

Can it be interpreted as a blacksmith who does not exist?

It seems like a it is a sword from Shinto with strange nakako and signature. Am I right?

 

[SteveM]

The swordsmith with that name does exist. He's the one noted by Marius in the post above. This sword has been cut down from its original size. The part of the original nakago with the name on it was preserved, and this piece was bent back and now forms part of the new (shortened) nakago. Its called "orikaeshi mei". Its not so unusual. 

 

Whether the signature is authentic or not requires more training and resources than I have. This sword should exhibit "ayasugi hada", if it is an authentic Yasutoshi, but you can't see much of the hada with that video. Also, the video states the item is a sword, but the length actually means it is classified as a wakizashi, which is noted on the registration card. 

[DoTanuki yokai]

I would like to see the bent over part from the side but from what I see it does not look legit. 

[Ken-Hawaii]

Where is a photo of the bare blade, ao sugata can be determined?? The mei is the last feature you look at.

[Jacques]

The Nihonto meikan lists 9 Naminohira Yasutoshi in koto times

[Caracal]

Sold for 900 US-dollar at auction