Help identifying an antique katana

[james1263]

Came across this katana at an online auction, listing states it has been identified as pre-1860 by a museum curator but nothing else to go on.

 

Any ideas what kind of blade this is, quality/period wise?

 

Last picture is the best I can isolate what looks like a signature on the tang, not sure if anyone can read it.

[Mark S.]

It doesn’t look like a mei in that last photo, and it wouldn’t ‘curve’ around the mekugi-ana  like that.  It could be real?… but it is in very poor condition and the ability to restore is questionable.  WAY too many unknowns to blindly make judgments on, not even sure I could do it in hand.  Of course this is just my opinion, but I would pass unless they are practically giving it away which is unlikely.

[ROKUJURO]

James,

just a hint how you could make it easier for us to help:

Take care to show sharp, well focused photos. Show the NAKAGO (= tang) vertically tip-upwards so we may be able to read (if there was something to read, that is...) without breaking our necks. Signatures are best identifiable when the light comes from the side; a dark background may also help.

[james1263]

Thanks for the replies! I’m unable to provide any better pictures because this is an online auction listing, but it definitely sounds like something to pass on.

 

The listing if you’re curious: Lloyds Lot 500

[Geraint]

Dear James.

 

Well the auction photographs are not much use, are they?  Pre 1860 simply means that it is a genuine Japanese blade made before the end of the Edo period, a safe but uninformative bet.  The koshirae was not to bad but is now in need of some attention, the tsuka ito is gone and so, as far as I can see, are the menuki.  The blade is so badly out of polish that you have no chance of spotting even quite serious flaws unless you view it in hand and even then it's a doubtful proposition.

 

So let's say you buy it.  You are going at the least to get a proper polish which is not cheap.  While you are about it probably a shirasaya and maybe habaki.  Some restoration on the koshirae, new menuki and ito......  You can see where this is going, can't you?  Add to all that the fact that during polish you may well find, "something nasty in the woodshed", and you are in for quite a gamble.

 

On the whole I think you would be wise to pass.

 

All the best.