Help identifying 8th Gen Nobufusa Type 98 Tsuba Markings

[EMR516]

I recently got a Type 98 made by 8th Gen Nobufusa. I cannot identify the markings on the Tsuba. All the parts are serialized 27. Also do not know the ink stamp on the wood is. Any help is greatly appreciated! (Posted some extra pictures)

 

[Bruce Pennington]

Hello Evan!

 

Your fittings were made by the Wakasei Co. of Tokyo.  The four stamps are (thanks @Kiipu and @BANGBANGSAN!):

若瀬 = Wakase.

 

The drag, while not 'rare' is a bit unique, and was aparantly made by the Wakasei Co. too.  On one side it says roughtly "New 'idea', utility use" + the Wakasei logo, and the other is a patent number 213917 (all from Richard Fuller's book).

 

You can see more like this here:

Gunto Tsuba

 

[EMR516]

Thanks Bruce! Very much appreciated! I’ve been trying to get my hands on a copy of the Fuller book. As well as Slough’s book & Plimpton’s new book. Unfortunately education in the form of textbooks is quite expensive… Makes me even more grateful to have access to this forum!

[vajo]

8th gen. Nobufusa?

I'm not sure with this.

 

Try to compare with others.

 

 

This is 7th generation

 

8th generation of Nobufusa

 

It is very hard to say what generation your Nobufusa is. The best is to bring it to shinsa. Nobufusa swords are highly rated and with hozon there is no doubt on authentication. 

 

For me the mei looks to "modern" on your sword. 

[lonely panet]

Could suggest that comparing the mei between father and son.

"father" Nobufusa cuts his mei with a cleaner fine,   thinner stokes " from my observations". where as "son" Nobufusa appears bolder with fuller and slighty fatter strokes in his mei.

also examine the blades tradition, as the 8th worked in yamato, aswell as Bizen. 

 

  

[PNSSHOGUN]

Unsure of the exact connection but quite a few Nobufusa blades can be found in these Wakasa Koshirae with extended drag.

[EMR516]

I also wondered myself why the seller thought it was 8th Gen over his father & I also noticed the tang looking rather “clean” I can relate to the concern. This is a rather new subject in my never ending PTO rabbit hole I fell into some time ago. So all the info is greatly appreciated, thank you. I’ll post some more pictures soon to see what you guys think. 

[EMR516]

Also was wondering opinions about the wear. Looks to have had fairly honest field use? Or would this be considered just handling use?
 

[vajo]

High quality koshirae.

Nice one.

Did you have some pictures of the blade?

[Bruce Pennington]

I agree.  I love the larger sakura and the dimpling work.  Plus the tsuba is quite thin, giving it an elegant appearance.

 

Evan, thanks for the edge-view of the sayajiri!  Haven't ever seen that aspect before, and surprised at the thickness of the drag.  I agree with you that it looks 'carried'.  The sweaty palm oils in the ito, to me, show it was held quite a bit in someplace hot.  My dad's Mantetsu tsuka had the same look.

[lonely panet]

We need pics of the blade, ie hada, hamon, overall sori hamachi etc