Signed/Dated Katana with Attractive Hamon

[ChrisW]

Hello folks!

I've got a katana a friend here needs a translation/ID for. I believe it to be mid-late 1800's but I could be very wrong.

Its numbers:

 

Nagasa: 29.25 inches

Sori: 0.75 inch

Nakago: 9 inches

Height at yokote: 0.875 inch

 

Hamon appears bright and attractive, the hada is indistinct. Appears to have osaka-yakidashi with nice kaeri on the boshi. I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking:

 

[ChrisW]

More pictures:

 

[ChrisW]

And one more set of the blade:
 

[Michaelr]

Great blade Chris. Love the hamon. Thank you for sharing    
   MikeR

[Jussi Ekholm]

My guess for signature would be - 備前国長船住上野大掾藤原祐定作 - Bizen no kuni Osafune jū Kōzuke no Daijō Fujiwara Sukesada saku and date I see as - 元禄十六年二月日 - 1703.

 

 

The signature side is unfortunately bit blurry so I am not 100% sure.

[ChrisW]

  On 10/1/2022 at 11:37 PM, Jussi Ekholm said:

My guess for signature would be - 備前国長船住上野大掾藤原祐定作 - Bizen no kuni Osafune jū Kōzuke no Daijō Fujiwara Sukesada saku and date I see as - 元禄十六年二月日 - 1703.

 

 

The signature side is unfortunately bit blurry so I am not 100% sure.

Expand  

 

 

Let me see if this helps, it is broken into two parts here:

 

[ChrisW]

And here's another shot of the nengo:

 

 

[ChrisW]

Any insights welcome!

[ChrisW]

@Brian or any mods, could I get this moved to "nihonto" to perhaps get more opinions? Thank you!

[Jacques]

If possible i would like to see a photo of the whole nakago (from ha machi with nakago jiri included) 

[ChrisW]

Sure thing, will get that as soon as I am able Jacques.

Also, thanks to Brian or whichever mod moved the post!

[ChrisW]

Also, what would you gentlemen call this blade's hamon type? Yahazu-midare?

[ROKUJURO]

Chris,

just to help you:

all photos of blades should be positioned tip-upwards, especially those of the NAKAGO to help those who try to translate. A good quality of the pictures - not foggy like yours - is also helpful.

I suggest that you post translation requests in the 'translation' section, so you will probably get more replies by the respective experts. 

[ChrisW]

The translation request was already attended to by Jussi and Moriyama-san has told me that he is correct. Currently, I am just seeking opinions on the veracity of the mei as well as opinions on the workmanship which is why I asked for this post to be moved to the nihonto subforum. Regarding the quality of the photos, that is something that I cannot overcome given the situation in which they were taken (dusty garage with a cellphone). The sword is not mine nor do I own a studio setup to take pictures in, my apologies.

[ChrisW]

  On 10/2/2022 at 6:36 PM, ROKUJURO said:

Chris,

just to help you:

all photos of blades should be positioned tip-upwards, especially those of the NAKAGO to help those who try to translate. A good quality of the pictures - not foggy like yours - is also helpful.

I suggest that you post translation requests in the 'translation' section, so you will probably get more replies by the respective experts. 

Expand  

 

 

My apologies, it double posted. Please see above.

[Jacques]

  On 10/2/2022 at 6:04 PM, ChrisW said:

Also, what would you gentlemen call this blade's hamon type? Yahazu-midare?

Expand  

 

I would say Gunome midare with a hint of choji.

[ChrisW]

Thank you Jacques!

[ChrisW]

@Jacques D.

Here is a shot of the nakago and the overall of the blade:

[Rivkin]

It looks legit. The style is a mixture of shinto Bizen traits (yakidashi, sugu boshi, dense hada, no utsuri), lacks uniquely shinshinto bizen features and tries to imitate in places Muromachi elements, in places its more Kanemitsu-looking.

The signature writing is well spaced, consistent speed and force of strikes. 

Sugata is ok.

Nakago condition is quite a bit more modern (early Showa) nakago, but such things occasionally happen.

[ChrisW]

Thank you for the insights Kirill. Admittedly, I was caught off guard a bit by the condition of the nakago. It must have been well-cared for prior to its capture in WWII presumably.

[Jacques]

Chris,

 

Good news, the nakago matches well with the one Sukesada made and as what I could see of the work also matches well, I would present this blade to a real expert as it has real chances to be shoshin.

 

Nengo is Genroku 16 => 1703 it is Shinto

[Jussi Ekholm]

I agree with others that it could very well be genuine work and would be worth checking out.

 

Here is one papered signature comparison from Genroku, unfortunately the work style is different in this example: https://www.e-sword.jp/katana/1910-1142.htm

[SteveM]

Here is another signed Bizen Kozuke Daijo Sukesada from the Genroku era

http://www.sho-shin.com/shinto-bizen.html

 

It has a similar hamon - with the monouchi area being one pattern, and a more flamboyant pattern near the hamachi. 

[Jacques]

Sorry for being off topic but we must always be suspicious of what is written and check if it is correct. About Kozuke Sukesada Fujishiro gives him dead in Kyoho 6 (1721) while the translation made by Afu Watson gives him dead in jokyo 6 (1689).