Japanese Bunmei katana ?

[Lee997]

Found this sword in Shirasaya described as Japanese Bunmei, now I’ve read a few books and been interested for many years but don’t recall the description Bunmei ! 
can anyone educate me what this is please? And of course is it any good? 
 

thanks, Lee.

[Grey Doffin]

Bunmei is a nengo, time period. Began in 1469 and lasted 18 years. Can't tell much of anything about the sword from the tiny pictures.

Grey

[Lee997]

7 hours ago, Grey Doffin said:

Bunmei is a nengo, time period. Began in 1469 and lasted 18 years. Can't tell much of anything about the sword from the tiny pictures.

Grey

Thanks Grey and now I shall chastise myself for such a weak effort of identifying a time period? Unfortunately my memory is not very good at all and although I’m studying swords regularly small details still elude me.

I am grateful for your reply, and at least it would appear they are accurate with their appraisal? 
 

I’ll see if I can post a better picture, not sure about picture upload sizes? 
 

Rgds Lee.

[Lee997]

More pictures hoping for better quality but I think their to big to load ?

[Geraint]

Dear Lee.

 

As with any auction item, and indeed many from some dealers, you need to know what you are looking at unless you are going to adopt the blind squirrel approach.  Very few auction houses have the expertise to make any sort of assessment about a Japanese sword, you will find many very recent reproductions listed and mis translations.  In this case the position of the mei suggest that it is all that is left of a longer signature after the sword has been shortened, do they mention that?  It is also the wrong side of the nakago for a date so where they got Bunmei from I don't know.

 

The second kanji looks like the 'shu' normally used as the shortened form of a province name, have a look here, http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/prov.htm  Also here if you want to check out Bunmei, http://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kanji/nengo.htm

 

Have fun!

 

All the best.

 

[Matsunoki]

It does actually say Bunmei on the other side……and it’s got some interesting repairs!!

 

[SteveM]

I was just finishing writing this when Colin made his post. So this is somewhat redundant, but:

 

The tang is signed "文明-" (Bunmei-) on the opposite side. You can see the pictures on the auction site. The pics in this thread just show the signature side of the tang. The two signature characters are unclear (something plus 川？州？). No guarantee the date and/or the signature aren't forged. 

 

Hard to say what the merits of the sword are, because of the poor photographs. (Not Lee's fault, but rather the fault of the auction house). Greatly shortened (ōsuriage), unclear mei, loose hada with some small openings, and no paperwork. None of those are a deal-breaker, but without better photographs they aren't much call for excitement either. The biggest problem is the hot stamp? that is in the blade, and what looks like a filled area of similar size and shape to the hot stamp right next to it. I think they would be considered fatal flaws. They certainly detract from the sword's desirability. 

 

On the positive side of the ledger, it looks to be a genuine (and genuinely old) Japanese sword. But that is about it. 

[Brian]

Could be wrong. But what I think we may be seeing is an umegane that has fallen out.
Not a good thing. Would drive most collectors nuts.

[Matsunoki]

…….or maybe an umegane abandoned half way through the process?

[Lee997]

Thankyou for all your responses and lots of useful information to digest! The imperfections would certainly account for th3 low estimate of £200-£300. 
it did cross my mind that even with the faults, if it can be had for a low price it could be worthwhile as an object to study? 
 

Lee.

[John C]

Lee:

Just more food for thought. Umegane, in general if filled correctly, are not considered fatal flaws. But the question may be how many imperfections are you willing to accept? 

 

John C.