Can any one help with some info on this sword? I beleave its a katana.

[aaron]

my step father passed away a little over a year ago while moving my mom to her new house i found this in a upstairs bedroom basically storage room. It was in a chest that belonged to  my step fathers father. in the chest along with the sword there was old Japanese photos post cards and personal letters and military things some old Japanese money. the markings under the handle are white because i rubbed a candle on it so it would show up on my camera it will wipe off no problem.

[Mikaveli]

Can you post photos of the tang aligned vertically (blade up) and add photos of the blade and kissaki (tip)?

 

First impressions are that it's a Chinese reproduction, but it'll be clearer after a closer look.

[rematron]

Hi Aaron.  Welcome to NMB.  The only thing I can say with certainty about your sword is that it is a WAKIZASHI because the blade length is less than 24 inches.  In my opinion it looks real and traditionally made.  Others will chime in.

 

Edit:  I should add that the koshirae looks off to me (especially the saya) but the blade itself looks right so far.  Yes, better closeup verticle photos of the blade, tip of blade would help for a more concrete opinion.

Edited April 7, 2023 by rematron
add content

[aaron]

yes i will post them soon a s i get back home. about 20 minutes

[rebcannonshooter]

Hi Aaron, your sword is signed "FUJI-WARA SHIGE-YUKI".  While there were a number of smiths that signed  "shige yuki "  most of the ones that incorporated the clan name of "fuji-wara" into their signature were from the Bungo Takada school.  But, I haven't found one that only signed Fuji-Wara Shige-Yuki.  The silver habaki is a good sign!

Hope this helps, Tom

[Grey Doffin]

Hi Aaron,

Here is a care and handling brochure you should read:

https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/

Resist all urges to fix anything on the sword; well meaning amateurs often do damage.

Cheers, Grey

[aaron]

[Mikaveli]

  On 4/7/2023 at 4:26 PM, rematron said:

I should add that the koshirae looks off to me (especially the saya) but the blade itself looks right so far.  Yes, better closeup verticle photos of the blade, tip of blade would help for a more concrete opinion.

Expand  

I had the same thoughts about the koshirae - suppose it could easily be put together after.

I'd be very happy to hear that the blade is genuine.

[aaron]

Thank you to everyone who has responded so far i do appreciate it. what is something like this worth? I don't want to sell it just wondering.

[Brian]

The saya is mother of pearl. Quite unusual, a lot of work, and can't have been cheap. Not sure if that is original to it or added later, but the sword is genuine...no fake here.
I think value would be in the region of $1000-1200, but that's a wild guess.

[Ed]

Second generation Bungo Shigeyuki (c. Kanbun 1661-1673) signed Fujiwara Shigeyuki.

 

[aaron]

Hi Ed i have a question are you saying the sword was made in the 1661-1673 time period?

 

[Baba Yaga]

Interesting meji saya! It's not Mother Of Pearl, Mother of Pearl is made from Pearl. Without in hand, I suspect Abalone Shell. 

The sword is Authentic. Authentic what is the big question. Again without in hand sword appears Shinto and pretty thick. 

[Brian]

Mother of pearl comes from the inside of many different shells, not from pearls. Many of the mollusks doesn't even make pearls.
I have had plenty of the shells with MOP inside. The stuff from inside abalone shells is still called mother of pearl

 

[Grevedk]

Hi Aaron,

 

I believe that both first and second generation Shigeyuki used the prefix of Bungo Fujiwara. Both smith’s are rated as above average. 
 

Quote:

Nihonto Club    https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/SHI745

Shigeyuki (1st gen)
ID    SHI745
Province    Bungo
Era    Kanei (1624-1644)
Active Period    1624-1644
Lineage    Image / Interactive

Source    Rating    Reference/Page
Hawley    30    SHI745 
Signatures:
豊後國高田住藤原重行 

bungo kuni takata ju fujiwara shigeyuki
 

All the best

 

Soren

[Jussi Ekholm]

One problem is that Shigeyuki lineage of Bungo school was quite unknown. I have Bungo Taikan, and I thought I would check signature for the smith but I couldn't find reference for any of the 2 Shintō Shigeyuki smiths listed in the book. I know Markus has 4 Shintō Shigeyuki from Bungo listed in his index.

 

Well here is result of my quick online search.

 

Unfortunately this Fujiwara Shigeyuki signature is not showing well in the pictures but in general style I feel this is quite similar signature: https://www.e-nihontou.co.jp/products/detail/1067

And possibly this might be closest in style with old attribution papers: https://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords7/KT334737.htm

 

These two signatures are quite different from yours and I do believe not the same Fujiwara Shigeyuki as yours.

https://www.seiyudo.com/ka-020423.htm

https://ikedaart.net/?pid=138492246

 

Then interestingly there was a Fujiwara Shigeyuki for sale few months ago that had NBTHK papers with Kuni Fumei (Unknown province) - Shintō.

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/f1082713353

[aaron]

thank you for you time to check into it and for the info. So is it really from the 1600s or can you really even get a close to approximate age on something like this? If it is is  in pretty good shape for something that old.  again thank you I think its pretty interesting and I find myself wanting to know all I can about it.

 

[aaron]

One more question what does it say on the  Tsuba

[Bazza]

OTTOMH - BUSHU MASAKUNI...

 

BaZZa.