Mid Muramachi period blade

[Don Wong]

 

Hello to All, Although I have had this sword in my care for newly 20 years. I bring it out, handle and study it from time to time. I have done some research when I 1st acquired it. I would like to share what I know. I would like to share it with people in the know. 
 

I have been told it was made at about 1500. It’s present condition is old polish.
 

Blade length is 27.5” long. 
 

I have not touched it since I acquired it from a WW2 vet, it was a war price at the end of the war.
 

The saya has some writing on the saya it’s self, and then some writing on the tape ad shown.

 

Habaki is brass, doubt it’s original.

 

Fuchi and kashiwa are also Brass, nice quality.

 

It handles so very nice, very sharp. The edge dulls as it nears the tsuba. 

 

The tip has damage from battle of some sort, see kissaki images.

 

There is black rust, fingerprints on the blade, scuffs , scratches, etc, etc…

 

The signature on the blade says Gassan, highest possibility it is Gimei…

 

I may have to retake tank images, let me know…

 

Just researching for my next course of action.

 

I have done nothing to this blade since it has been in my possession, except for the shoestring tsuba wrap. I did it to keep the beautiful sharkskin in place.

 

Its the best I could do with photos…

 

Please forgive me…

 

Just want any and all comments, all are welcome…

 

[Franco D]

Hello,

 

46 minutes ago, Don Wong said:

I have been told it was made at about 1500.

 

Shape suggests even earlier. Perhaps, Oei, late Nambokucho time frame.

 

52 minutes ago, Don Wong said:

The tip has damage from battle of some sort, see kissaki images.

 

Most likely from mishandling, not battle damage. Shallow hamon with chips (?) as well will require an excellent polisher (ask before choosing), if it ever comes to that. 

 

57 minutes ago, Don Wong said:

There is black rust, fingerprints on the blade, scuffs , scratches, etc, etc…

 

Keep it oiled, just a light film of sword oil to prevent rust from developing or progressing. I purchase sword oil from Bob Benson at bushidojapaneseswords.com .

 

1 hour ago, Don Wong said:

The signature on the blade says Gassan, highest possibility it is Gimei…

 

Requires better images. 

 

 

 

Regards,

Franco

 

[Don Wong]

Ok I will get better pictures of the tang signature…

 

Thank you

[Alex A]

Agree with Franco

 

Blade is slightly shortened too, the 2 ana (peg holes) close to one another always a giveaway.

 

Usually a "Bizen" thing, well, see it mainly with Bizen

 

Nakago-Jiri looks Bizen too.

 

Cheers.

 

 

[Don Wong]

Ok, here is a better image of the tang signature…

[Jacques D.]

22 minutes ago, Alex A said:

 

 

Blade is slightly shortened too, the 2 ana (peg holes) close to one another always a giveaway.

 

Usually a "Bizen" thing, well, see it mainly with Bizen

 

Nakago-Jiri looks Bizen too.

 

Cheers.

 

 

The fact that there are 2 mekugi ana near each other is not and will never be an indication of the shortening of a nakago. It is an indication of the use of another tsuka (on the battlefield, it is faster and more convenient to drill a hole than to make a new tsuka). This sword could also have been worn either as a katana or a tachi. 

 

Nothing of Bizen in this nakago...

[Alex A]

Jacques, looked at more machi-okuri waks (not being pedantic but around the one hand sword length which can be pretty long but lets just say waks)  over the years than i care to remember and funnily enough they have mostly been Bizen and all had 2 ana about an inch or so apart. 

 

Where have you got this "other tsuka" notion from?, its intriguing . So Tsuka readily fit other swords?, hmm

 

This is what i think. Fighting/blocking a blade with one hand on the blade was a complete nightmare, imagine it, big naginata coming down on you, your tired and your nakago only has room for one hand.

 

Holy****, what can we do about such an issue ?, we can slightly shorten the blade to enable us o get 2 hands on the grip, thats what we will do!!, that way, when we are knackered from fighting at least we can stop blows.

 

It may be a Katana, but still applying what ive seen, right or wrong, dont matter.

 

The nakago-jiri in the photo looked Bizen, rounded.

 

Why does everything need to be a competition with you?, why cant you just make a point?

 

Great scott!!!, your that sure about everything, sometimes i think you have created a god dam time travelling device with your love for physics

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Don Wong]

Close view of nakago end.

[Alex A]

Hmm Jacques, does that not look Bizen ?

[Don Wong]

What do people think about the signature?

[David Flynn]

Signed Gassan, It would have to go to Shinsa  for verification.  Probably mid to late Muromachi.   Alex, definitely not Bizen.

[Jussi Ekholm]

Do you have clear image of the folding pattern (hada)? Or can it be seen in the current condition?

 

I think the signature as plausible, depends on if the work fits for it, old Gassan work often had quite specific traits.

[Alex A]

5 minutes ago, David Flynn said:

Signed Gassan, It would have to go to Shinsa  for verification.  Probably mid to late Muromachi.   Alex, definitely not Bizen.

 

David, i was explaining Bizen similarities, i did not say it WAS Bizen

 

Only so much can be known from the DISTANT images

[David Flynn]

Alex, methinks you may be a bit Touchy.

[Don Wong]

11 minutes ago, Jussi Ekholm said:

Do you have clear image of the folding pattern (hada)? Or can it be seen in the current condition?

 

I think the signature as plausible, depends on if the work fits for it, old Gassan work often had quite specific traits.

 

[Don Wong]

I will get the best image of the Hada as I can get… Let’s see…

[Alex A]

No, David, just state an observation 

 

And have Jacques give me some new-fangled idea on how tsuka are automatically interchangeable, like a size 9 shoe

 

[Don Wong]

Does this help?

[Don Wong]

[Don Wong]

[Alex A]

You guys expecting to see Asayugi ?, my eyesight not good, im struggling

 

Its times like these you need Aoi art style pics

[Don Wong]

[Don Wong]

The best my I-phone will do…

[Alex A]

Don, maybe you can describe what you see, easier in hand https://markussesko.com/2015/05/13/kantei-2-jigane-jihada-2/

 

Think im seeing some mokume in there?

[Don Wong]

Different lighting

[NewB]

👋

 

This is not the best way but it works. Try it.. and no, you don't need professional camera or professional lighting! Hope it helps

 

 

 

the other option is having a vertical light, shooting at the blade at about 60 degrees, just like the example below. We would like to see the folded steel detail

 

Cheers

 

J&U

 

[Don Wong]

Different lighting

[Don Wong]

Understood 

[Rivkin]

almost certainly not Gassan, a dense hada does not match anything of the school and the writing is also a bit too strong and fresh for the school.

Shape wise... looks early but the work is not the best match. Not nearly as active as early Mino, not as periodic as Yoshii, too clustered for Kozori...

they still made strong koshi zori on occasion into 1510-1540, which what I think this is.

With two-three clustered gunome (as long as there are groups of three) one is tempted to say Mino... but a minor Bizen Sukesada I personally feel is also possible. I've seen similar type having green paper to Mino Seki and papering now Bizen. Does not really change much in blade's valuation.

 

[Franco D]

Thank you for posting additional images.

 

Additional comment (opinion):

 

Without checking. First impression of this mei (which might be completely wrong), looks added.

Nakago jiri doesn't look correct for Koto Gassan.

Submit to shinsa for professional opinion.

also, search Koto Gassan mei. 

 

Additional questions/suggestions/info to seek;

High shinogi?

Lacks Niku?

Ayasugi hada? 

Shape of mune?

 

Study, study, study!