Authentication Humbly Sought

[hddennis]

This is painful but maybe it will help someone else. I believe I made a rookie mistake based on what I thought was a bargain. Yes I should have known too good to be true. I purchased a wakizashi online based on poor photos and believing I was dealing with another collector. It arrived this morning and besides the blade being junk I believe the fittings are all reproduction. What say you based on my own poor photos? Does anyone recognize these as current or modern reproductions?

 

Thanks,

Howard Dennis

[Infinite_Wisdumb]

i would need to see them by themselves, off of the sword to fully analyze, but I agree in current state they look sus

[hddennis]

3 minutes ago, Infinite_Wisdumb said:

i would need to see them by themselves, off of the sword to fully analyze, but I agree in current state they look sus

If I end up stuck with this mess I will go ahead and dismount it and send more pictures. As it stands now I'm hoping to return it. I think if I could just find this tsuba online it would prove my point to seller. Wishful thinking?

[1kinko]

This is how I started making tosogu. A modern Japanese sword with abominable tosogu. 1 class with Patrick Hastings, 3 classes with Ford, and 10 years practice. Best hobby I’ve ever had.

[ChrisW]

1 hour ago, hddennis said:

If I end up stuck with this mess I will go ahead and dismount it and send more pictures. As it stands now I'm hoping to return it. I think if I could just find this tsuba online it would prove my point to seller. Wishful thinking?

If you're really set on buying nihonto, you should buy from known dealers (listed on this site) or buy from the many folk on the forums here. This site is always a safe bet since its pretty much self-filtering and reputation is everything.

My thoughts on the item: Its real, but low-end late Edo, possibly for export. It could possibly be a put-together by a less-scrupulous dealer and then sold as a complete item. The ito looks fairly new and might be very recent, or could just be young and well-preserved (but still overall low-end). Can't really say anything about the blade since its not really visible in any of the photos provided.

[Spartancrest]

Hi Howard - the guard looks like it is correct but has had a 'touch up' with some paint perhaps. Do you see any crosshatching on the iron holding the 'gold' [nunome]? Is it the lighting or does the 'gold' leaf gradually turn grey/green - meaning it is not 'gold'? 

Someone has assembled the sword incorrectly, there is a cut section on the seppa that should be on the hitsu side of the guard so in effect it has been put on upside down.

 

What is that scrap of fabric doing between the seppa and the fuchi?

 

I think the Fuchi/kashira are at least a match pair 'Mino Goto' not top grade but not rubbish either I have seen far worse.

JMHO 

[hddennis]

40 minutes ago, Spartancrest said:

Hi Howard - the guard looks like it is correct but has had a 'touch up' with some paint perhaps. Do you see any crosshatching on the iron holding the 'gold' [nunome]? Is it the lighting or does the 'gold' leaf gradually turn grey/green - meaning it is not 'gold'? 

Someone has assembled the sword incorrectly, there is a cut section on the seppa that should be on the hitsu side of the guard so in effect it has been put on upside down.

 

What is that scrap of fabric doing between the seppa and the fuchi?

 

I think the Fuchi/kashira are at least a match pair 'Mino Goto' not top grade but not rubbish either I have seen far worse.

JMHO 

Thanks, yes it looks like it was slam banged together and I'll work to correct that. You and Chris may be right it may be just late low quality. The Tsuba does look repainted and I thought it was copper but it is magnetic and rings when struck. I can't see any cross hatching on the leaves but maybe the repaint is hiding that as the metals on the rim all have cross hatching. I'll see what the blade offers in a few days when I get a chance.

Thanks to all for responding and making me feel better,

Howard Dennis

 

[hddennis]

Just wanted to let you know I cleaned the Tsuba with lacquer thinner and it made a large difference, it looks a lot better now and has proper color and cross hatching.

 

Howard Dennis

[Spartancrest]

Nice job it does look much better.  You can just see a little seppa-shadow line where it has been mounted for some time, it isn't a recently made piece.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Not the original seppa. See how it partially covers the hitsu-ana? And looking at the sekigane, I'd be surprised if a blade that well without more fillers. &/or reshaping of the nakago-ana.