2 swords for discussion

[GoldenDrachen]

Hello gentlemen

 

I have received 2 swords that I have bought recently (some comments were made already in my first post about them, but pictures were bad so here I am again). These are the first ever blades I am holding in my hands. I would like to establish some starting point for my future judgement.

I will greatly appreciate if you nice people could comment on these pieces. Everything is interesting (I really enjoying reading your comments here!!! )

Is there anything good about them?

 

Too many pictures so I have google album with them here

 

Regards

Vitaly

 

[Guest Simon R]

My first instinct was that both swords had their tsukas rewrapped by an amateur. However, looking at the plain iron fittings of the daito - especially its round washer 'menuki' - I now think this might be a Satsuma Rebellion piece (although the habaki is very crude, even for the knock-together nature of that conflict).

 

I'll wait for those more knowledgeable to weigh-in.

[GoldenDrachen]

  On 2/24/2023 at 3:35 AM, SRDRowson said:

My first instinct was that both swords had their tsukas rewrapped by an amateur. However, looking at the plain iron fittings of the daito - especially its round washer 'menuki' - I now think this might be a Satsuma Rebellion piece (although the habaki is very crude, even for the knock-together nature of that conflict).

 

I'll wait for those more knowledgeable to weigh-in.

Expand  

Thank you!

As I understand both swords are traditionally made?

I am hanging only with wakizashi.

Unfortunately no options so far...

Is the signature legit? ( Ray Singer previously mentioned that it is not consistent.) But maybe closer look will bring more clarity?

 

 

[SteveM]

相州住冬廣 Sōshū-jū Fuyuhiro 

Made by Fuyuhiro of Sōshū province

 

Sōshū is present-day Kanagawa Prefecture. A lot of smiths used the name Fuyuhiro. I don't know if the signature is real or a forgery, but the sword looks to be a real Japanese sword. It was (and is) common to put names on unsigned swords to drive up the value. I wouldn't get my hopes up that this is a super valuable item, but also I definitely wouldn't be touching it with bare hands, as authentic Japanese swords are very prone to rust, even at the slightest touch. There are tips on care and handling here on the board. I'd wipe down the sword ASAP with a microfiber cloth, or kleenex if you are in a pinch, and find some lightweight oil for the sword. 

 

The design on the handle for the small knife is "peony and shishi" which is a common theme. The fuchi/kashira looks like bamboo and rabbit. I'm not sure of the significance, but my guess is strength and longevity for the bamboo, and fecundity for the rabbit. The scabbard is polished and lacquered ray skin. Again, a pretty common style of scabbard (personally I like these scabbards). Hard to keep them from cracking and splitting, so if you live in a dry area be careful of this.  

 

In all, it looks like a genuine wakizashi in vintage mounts, but most of the value will be in the sword blade itself, and an unpolished, unpapered Fuyuhiro wakizashi faces the dilemma of potentially costing more for polishing and papering than the finished product would be worth. Certainly worth enjoying, and caring for, as is.

 

The longer sword is too hard to pin down, except to say that it looks like the product of the "Shintō" (new sword) period (approx. 1600 to 1800-ish). The scabbard looks like it has some interesting lacquer effect on it. Another honest, vintage Japanese sword and scabbard, but hard to say anything about value. The sword and condition are the important things, and, as above, the condition of this sword merits a professional polish, but the dilemma about cost/value is the same. 

 

 

 

[GoldenDrachen]

Hi Steve

 

Thank you so so much!!!!

I really appreciate such in depth response. 

This covers all my curiosity regarding my swords 

Once again: Thank you!

 

Kind regards

Vitaly 

 

[O koumori]

Why are you touching the blade in picture 15?

Before collecting, please learn the basics of handling and care!

[Dan tsuba]

Really!

 

Come on.  Vitaly is a new member.  Before you “belittle” him for touching the blade, maybe it would be more helpful to the “new guy” if you referred him to some reference material that he could study about care and handling of blades!

 

I am sure he would appreciate that more!

 

With respect,

Dan

[O koumori]

OK Dan, you are right.  

Vitaly, I am sorry I over-reacted; I am a curmudgeonly old man who just doesn't want to see a century-old piece of art end up looking  like this:

 

 

 

You can find care and handling information here under Japanese Sword Care and Etiquette:  NBTHK American Branch (nbthk-ab2.org)

[Dan tsuba]

Dan K.

 

Thank you!  You are an honorable and insightful individual.  Your post is an indication of the respect that you deserve.

 

As we say in the martial arts- Osu!  Then we bow.  It is a sign of respect.  Osu means to keep training and studying.

 

Osu!!

 

With much respect,

Dan

[O koumori]

Dan,

Oshi Shinobu!

Dan

[Dan tsuba]

Dan K.

 

Understood!  Thank you my friend.

 

With respect,

Dan

[jesse]

It is just such a pleasure to read a thread where all individuals participating are responding in positive, encouraging, and helpful ways.

You guys just made my day.

From another curmudgeonly old man.

 

Warm Regards,

[Bazza]

Decades ago I had a scruffy daishou that had the handles bound with two-coloured tsukaito in blue and yellow(?).  What caught my attention here with Vitaly's wakizashi is that the daisho saya were also rayskin, though the rayskin was just hanging on by the skin of its existence.  I thought at the time the blades weren't much and the pair eventually went the way of providing sustenance for another acquisition.  Vitaly's sword hints at a 'school' or group that fitted out swords in two-tone tsukaito with same saya.

 

BaZZa.