Thoughts on the smith from these papers ?

[Jon]

Hi 

 

just doing a bit of research on a blade I’m thinking of purchasing, it’s papered, just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the smith ?

[Ray Singer]

From the previous discussion it seems he is not a documented smith. 

 

 

[Ray Singer]

Actually, he is in fact listed in Sesko:

YOSHITERU (義輝), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Tottori – “Hōki no Kuni-jū Kayūsai Yoshiteru” (伯耆国住華悠斎 義輝), real name Maeda Yoshitarō (前田喜太郎, the first name can also read Kitarō), born May 3rd 1902, he studied under Kawashima Tadayoshi (川島忠善), gō Kayūsai (華悠斎), he worked as guntō smith, ryōkō no retsu (Akihide) (see picture right)

[AlexiG]

He is also on p170 of Gendai Toko Meikan. From what I can teel, the key info is in what Ray wrote above.

[lonely panet]

Judge to sword. Show some photos

[Jon]

AGuys your a bunch of absolute jems, cheers for that info ray and Alexi.  As requested a couple of pictures.

[Geraint]

Dear Jonathan.

 

I would go cautiously here.  You know who he is and what he is, this blade does not seem to be a great example of his work.  If you look carefully at the images you will note some fairly nasty flaws in the very narrow shinogi ji and there is something not too good about the nakago, my first guess would be that a date has been removed.  For a gendai smith one might expect a very tidy nakago with some nice kesho yasurime, as you can see from the oshigata that Alexi kindly posted.  The blade is essentially out of polish in in fairly unremarkable koshirae which, by definition, has to be recent.

 

Remember that feeling when you got your Yoshimasa?  I don't think you will get that with this one and by the time you have got it here it will probably cost you more.

 

Either way let us know how it turns out.

 

All the best.

[Jon]

Hi Geriant, cheers for that, really sound advice Thankyou. Having a really good look I can see what you mean. I think I will step away from this one.

 

Thankyou for the advice. Regards Jon