Ujishige question

[uwe]

Dear members,

 

I was ask by a friend for help about his recently aquired wakizashi. Well, as a "katchu-bunny" my sword collecting years are already a while back. The mei reads "大和守藤原氏重" (Yamato no Kami Fujiwara Ujishige), but all I came up with, in my limited sword library, was the first generation Harima Ujishige, around Meireki (UJI 162). Unfortunately, I can't find this exact mei anywhere (neither in the books nor on the net), to compare the signature in question with confirmed examples. Can somebody bring me on the right track?

 

 

 

With some hope for help, thanks in advance!

 

[SteveM]

Similar mei, but with the 大掾 title (maybe you already saw these?). 

Apparently he received the Daijō title in Meireki 1 (1655), so perhaps your friend's sword is prior to that (applying the usual caveats about authenticity, etc.). 

 

 

One dated from Manji 2 (1659)

https://ginza.choshuya.co.jp/sale/sword/20/02/ujishige.htm

e-sword says this one is from Kanbun era. 

https://www.e-sword.jp/katana/1610-1078.htm
 

[David Flynn]

I have a Ujishige katana dated 1789.  Because of the date, he is listed as Shinshinto.  However, he was making swords before this date and didn't have a relationship with Masahide, I would class this sword as Shinto.

[O koumori]

UJISHIGE        1st     MAN-JI 1658     HIRAMA       22-23              S 202   UJI 162    CHU-JO         250
UJISHIGE        2nd     GEN-ROKU 1688   HIRAMA         23                       UJI 163    CHU-JO         200
UJISHIGE        3rd     GEN-BUN 1736    HIRAMA         23                       UJI 164    CHU-JO         200
UJISHIGE        1st     HO-REKI 1751    HIRAMA                                  UJI 169    CHU-JO         200
UJISHIGE        2nd     MEI-WA 1764     HIRAMA         23                       UJI 170    CHU-JO         250
UJISHIGE        3rd     TEN-MEI 1781    HIRAMA         23               S 203   UJI 171    CHU-JO         250
http://www.sho-shin.com/smiths1h.htm           Name ID Name (Kanji) Gen Province Era School Teacher H/TT/FS Rating             Ujishige UJI162 氏重 1st Harima Meireki (1655-1658)     25 / 250 / Chu-jo saku             Ujishige UJI163 氏重 2nd Harima Hōei (1704-1711)     15 / 200 /             Ujishige UJI164 氏重 3rd Harima Genbun (1736-1741)     15 / 200 /             https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/list?id_op=%3D&id=&name_op=starts&name=Ujishige&kanji_op=%3D&kanji=&province=All&start_era=All&school_nid=All

[uwe]

Thanks David and Dan!

@Steve

Yes, I saw these examples and they caused my doubts. Also “Kanzan” has only the mei with the Daijō title, where at least the “Uji” and “Shige” characters are quite different chiseled. Unfortunately, the few pics of the blade I got are too blurry to judge the workmanship. 

 

[Bart]

Hello, did you or your friend found out more details about this mei? I am comparing it to this one and can see some similarities.