Orikaeshi mei

[Bencld]

Hi all. Just wondering peoples opinions on orikaeshi mei? Was it done on swords considered to be worthwhile as it seems like a lot of work to go through just for an ordinary blade ? 

 

I now understand why my nakago looks like it does after reading this article as a bizen sukesada nakago I would expect to be a bit wider/stumpy?

 

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/suriage.html

 

Is it possible that the rest of this mei may have been shaved off as described in the above article? I have done a fair bit of searching and there are not too many niju mei SUKESDA around?

[Ray Singer]

Hi Chris, I have not seen an orikaeshimei which appear to be been shaved down through the turn (in the portion that wrapped around the bottom of the nakago). From what I have seen, in nagamei where only the smith name has been folded over, the upper portion of the mei would follow around the curve.  I don't personally feel they would have filed down the inscription above the smith's name, as the intent seems to be to preserve as much of the inscription as possible. It's possible yours was always a nijimei. And nijimei Sukesada do show up from time to time.

If I were to generalize, it does seem that orikaeshimei were done on better quality swords. I've usually taken them as a good sign (evidence that the blade may be something of quality).

 

Best regards,

Ray

 

 

[Soshin]

I agree with @Ray Singer statements above. My only katana is a koto with an orikaeshi-mei of Kanemoto (兼元) done after the sword was shortened. In my case the original signature was just two Kanji characters. Your sword also likely only had a two-character signature before the sword was shortened.