Seki stamp size!

[Amon]

Hello gents!

 

I was wondering if anyone has information about if it is any "standard" size of a Seki stamp?

Why I'm wondering is because I have a blade by Munetada and it has the Seki stamp but it is

so very small so you can barely see it, it almost looks hidden in the yasurime

I have read that they sometimes made these small ones so they easily could been removed later on.

 

The blade itself has an interseting sugata with an 2.6cm torii zori, nagasa is 67cm.

A hamon with many tobiyaki.

 

Thanks in advance,

[Ted Tenold]

Given the tens of thousands of swords produced in Seki arsenals, variations of any kind in the stamps are bound to be present including size, depth, detail clarity, etc. Stamps do wear out and get replaced and there were likely many of them within any singular factory. So I wouldn't read into the "removing later" part too much. There was no reason to feel they'd need to remove them at some point, otherwise they wouldn't have put them on to begin with.

[Brian]

John,

I'd also ask..given how small and indistinct you say it is...how sure are you it is a Seki stamp?

Given the large number of different stamps that were used (see F&G) is it not possible it is one of the other smaller stamps that were used?

 

Brian

[Amon]

Ted, Brian - thanks for your replies.

From what I can see it looks like a Seki stamp.

And for what I know Munetada was a low/middle grade Seki smith

but that is unfortunately all I know.

 

Thanks,

[loiner1965]

  Amon said:

Ted, Brian - thanks for your replies.

It sure looks like a Seki stamp.

And for what I know Munetada was a low/middle grade Seki smith

but that is unfortunately all I know.

 

Thanks,

can you post a pic....could it be the smiths personal kao like kanemune has....just a thought

[Amon]

Hi Steve!

 

I'm gonna try to take some close up pictures tomorrow.

 

Regards,

[Amon]

Hello!

 

Here are the pics, very hard to see with your own eyes

but the camera did a pretty good job.

 

Regards,

[SwordGuyJoe]

That looks like the "standard size" and looks like the same size as my Sadahiro. The thing that seems less than standard is the placement. I have always seen these up further near the habaki, not that close to the mekugi-ana. I know that nearly anything is possible on these blades, so now I have seen something different. Thanks for sharing.

[Amon]

Hi Joe!

 

Huge thanks for the information!

 

Best regards,