signed, Bishu Osafune ju Suke is it a Gimei ?

[Jon]

I’m looking at this katana, it’s signed  Bisho Osafune ju suke according to the sales blurb, but I’ve looked up some examples and I’m not convinced at all but as a novice I would appreciate some advice.

 

[Jon]

This is an example of an authentic Mei for Bisho Osafune ju suke 

 

[Ray Singer]

Rather than 'Bisho Osafune ju suke', the mei is 'Bizen no kuni ju Osafune Suke[sada]'. 

 

Not signed in a typical way for that lineage. 

[Jacques]

More than 70 Sukesada - good luck finding the right one... 

[Alex A]

Any clear pics of the actual blade?

 

Look like the classic auction style images.

[George KN]

This is the second time I've seen a sword in this forum from a recent auction in the UK - I was very, VERY, tempted to bid on this one when it came on, as I was looking to buy my first Katana, and it had a beautiful tsuba. And I still think it is a beautiful sword, but when I asked for pictures there looked to be pitting in the blade I personally didn't know how to fix, so I didn't end up bidding...

 

 

 

Out of curiosity, since I was so close to buying it, are these fatal flaws? Can they be repaired?

 

And if anyone wants to know how much it went for, it sold for £1,000, plus auction fees of 28.8%+ 

 

 

 

 

[Geraint]

Dear Ghoul414.

 

Can we have your name please, so that we know how to address you?  To answer some of your questions, and working solely from these photographs, the sword in question has a narrow suguha hamon with some edge nicks that would probably polish out leaving a really narrow suguha and a slender blade.  It is presently out of polish so very little can be seen of the workmanship.  The other flaws are from poor forging, it is hard to tell but the area around them suggest that there might be others lurking below the surface.  You mention that you don't know how to fix these and that brings up the very serious issue that only a correct polish by a trained togishi should be contemplated, no DIY here.  That would be expensive for this katana and might well reveal more faults.  

 

So what you have is a gamble, given the forging flaws this is unlikely to end up being a fine blade and to polish it correctly is going to cost a lot of money.  If you want to hang this on your wall as is then why not? As a collectable sword a significant chunk of cash needs to be spent on it which might reveal some nasty surprises and render it virtually worthless.  The koshirae looks pleasant so I would guess that this will either end up as a display piece, or it might resurface shortly on a dealer website with a considerably inflated price tag.  

 

Just some thoughts to be going on with.  I'm sure others will add to this.

 

All the best.

 

 

 

[George KN]

Hi Geraint, 

 

Thanks for verifying my gut feeling - after seeing those pictures I instead went for two others, which I'll ask this forums advice on as soon as they actually get here (delivery after auctions takes so long!)  

 

My bad on the name too, good to meet you,

George

[Brian]

It looks like it went through a very poor amateur restoration job...or half of one.

[Paz]

About to say the same thing as @Brian said. The boshi and everything looks poor in my opinion. 

it will need a polish which will cost you another 1k and then you will have to ship it out of the UK to someone to polish it. 

 

Thats 1k saved and you could put that towards another better quality work. 

 

Who is the auction in the UK by the way ? Thanks