Yukihiro RJT?

[John C]

Hello everyone:

I have some concerns about the representation of a mei on a Muto Yukihiro signed blade. I am interested in this sword, which is being presented in an auction. But the signature on the blade is written in a different style than the one being presented by the seller in a book page. Could this be the same smith? I believe the date on the blade is Showa 1943, however there do not seem to be any star or other stamps to indicate RJT. Any insight you could provide would be much appreciated.

Full disclosure: Seller (Hennadiy2006 on ebay) is asking 2750.

John C. 

[John C]

Re: Here is the book page being presented for the sword above.

John C.

[vajo]

Mei looks good for me. 

 

can't say anything about the blade, because the pictures are to blury. Ask him for better pictures, look for nie and ara nie. 

The position of the mei is correct and the yasurime is done in the correct way. The mei looks old. If it is a gendaito i can't tell it from the pictures.

Polish looks like a wartime polish. 

 

Japanese Japan WW2 Showa Yukihiro Signed Katana Sword w/ Scabbard | eBay

[vajo]

That picture looks like gendai. Its promising.

 

I think it is a nice sword. For a reasonable price. 

 

polisher marks

 

 

[vajo]

Damn - i wanted to refer from looking at ebay on swords during these times to spare money.

And now i see a lot of nice swords. 

F...k Putin!

[John C]

Vielen Dank, Chris. I will take all of that into consideration.

John C.

BTW: Ich hatte fur drei Jahre im Deutschland gewohnt.

[John C]

My apologies: the name of the smith is Muto Yukihiro from Fukuoka prefecture. 

2 hours ago, John C said:

I have some concerns about the representation of a mei on a Muto Fukuoka signed blade.

John C.

[John C]

Further information:

I have checked 3 other mei from nakago posted on NMB referencing this smith. All 3 mei match the sample in the book for RJT smith Yukihiro. At least 2 reference the star stamp. The blade in question on this auction uses a different style of mei. There are more kanji, two of which I cannot identify. Do you think this is the same smith?

Thank you,

John C.

[vajo]

John i think it reads 

 

Chiku go koku ju muto jukihiro kin saku

Something like: respectfull forged by smith yukihiro for the defense of the country.

But I'm not really good in reading kanji.

 

Yukihiro was a RJT smith but not every sword was stamped with a star stamp. I think this was a ordered sword for a special person.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Two Muto Yukihiro Mei for comparison, example on left was from 1943 and right was 1941. A good school of smiths.

[John C]

John:

Thank you. It goes toward confirming my suspicions. This is now 7 examples of Yukihiro signing one way, while the signature on the blade in question is signed differently. Could be an anomaly, but who knows.

John C.