Any observations?

[ice-hot]

Hi,

I got this sword from a friend of the family who brought it back from Japan after WWII. The Mei has me confused. It is on the Ura side up near the Habaki. I know It is not the Mei of the smith, but why would someone put a little know smith on the wrong side? "Shigemitsu" from what I can find was not a well know smith, so what would the purpose be in this Mei? It looks to have been put on the last time it was shortened. But why? It doesn't add any value!

I have asked about it at many of the prominent sword websites (maybe even some of you that frequent this forum) and received many differing answers.

I recently contacted Sumie Kashima at Usagiya website and was told it was most likely not the Mei of the smith that last shortened the sword, maybe an attribution to the original smith by someone that shortened it and was sorry to have removed the Mei?

Maybe it was a much, much longer Tachi and so the Mei is left on Ura side?

Any observations, positive or negative would be appreciated.

I have many photos at this link:

 

http://s728.photobucket.com/albums/ww29 ... /?newest=1

 

Thank you,

JohnA

Click on "slideshow" at photobucket for easier viewing.

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi, perhaps the place to begin is to submit the sword to a shinsa to try and determine who actually made this sword, establish a known fact based upon the workmanship. Otherwise, chasing an unknown variable like this may only lead to becoming completely lost. Thanks for the images.

[ice-hot]

Yes Franco,

I agree that would be the best way to proceed, unfortunately I have to many bills at this time (don't we all) to do that now. Do you think it is worth sending off to Shinsa? I don't know.

I guess I was just looking for more opinions about Mei's. I find it interesting that something so valuable to a Samurai and so difficult to make by the smith would have the Mei removed so often with no attribution to the man that put his heart and soul into making it.

Please forgive my ignorance, I hope to learn and learn to hope.

Thank you,

JohnA

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello,

 

  Quote

Do you think it is worth sending off to Shinsa?

 

Generally speaking, if the sword is Koto o-suriage and of good quality and in good polish, then sending it to shinsa becomes a very reasonable consideration. If the sword is Shinto or Shinshinto o-suriage, then wait for shinsa to come to someplace within a reasonable distance to attend. If this were my sword I would wait for a shinsa and then submit it. Enjoy it along with the fittings until then, an interesting piece! Who knows someone may come along that recognizes what those characters are in the meantime.