Cookie4Monstah Posted November 30, 2023 Report Posted November 30, 2023 Greetings everyone, Can I get some help with the mei on this katana. It’s being advertised as an “ancestral blade” and is coated with a dry film of cosmoline. I did not see an arsenal stamp on it but appears to have been remounted for WWII. Many thanks, Khalid Quote
xiayang Posted November 30, 2023 Report Posted November 30, 2023 吉近 = Yoshichika 昭和十八年七月 = July of Shōwa 18 (1943 CE) 7 Quote
Brian Posted November 30, 2023 Report Posted November 30, 2023 Wartime arsenal produced blade, not traditionally forged imho. 1 Quote
Ed Posted November 30, 2023 Report Posted November 30, 2023 There were several Showa period smiths who used the mei Yoshichika. Sesko's lists one from Mino (Gifu), Slough's and Fujishiros list one, Mori Yoshichika. Mori Yoshichika worked from Taisho to Showa and made high grade gendaito. There were others. Is this sword by one of these smiths? Is it traditionally made? Who knows. No one could say for certain judging solely on those two poor photos. 1 Quote
Brian Posted November 30, 2023 Report Posted November 30, 2023 Those arsenal/rack markings and numbers (paint/laquer) are almost exclusively used on Showato. Not to say you can't find them on Gendaito (exceptions exist) but by far the majority are on stamped arsenal blades. 2 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted November 30, 2023 Report Posted November 30, 2023 On 11/30/2023 at 4:58 AM, Cookie4Monstah said: Can I please get some help with the mei on this katana?..... Expand It is not a KATANA, but a TACHI. 1 Quote
Cookie4Monstah Posted December 1, 2023 Author Report Posted December 1, 2023 Greetings, I have two more photos for you to review for more context. How is this a tachi and not a katana? Also can we tell which Yoshichika this is? I assume such a determination can only be made at shinsha. Best, Khalid Quote
SteveM Posted December 1, 2023 Report Posted December 1, 2023 The mei is signed on the side of the sword that faces outward when the sword is slung from the waist, i.e. tachi style. But its not such a big point of distinction with wartime blades, as they were all worn the same way. In other words, they were all made to be mounted in wartime scabbards with wartime belt hooks, so I think the placement of the signature is more an affectation of the smith rather than an indication of what he intended the sword to be. If this sword were to be registered, my guess is that it would get registered as a "katana". But, as I say, its not a major point - not with this era of swords, anyway. Regarding the Yoshichika, I see only one Shōwa era Yoshichika (吉近) in Markus Sesko's index: civilian name of Yoshioka Tetsujirō. 3 Quote
Ed Posted December 1, 2023 Report Posted December 1, 2023 On 12/1/2023 at 2:15 AM, SteveM said: The mei is signed on the side of the sword that faces outward when the sword is slung from the waist, i.e. tachi style. But its not such a big point of distinction with wartime blades, as they were all worn the same way. In other words, they were all made to be mounted in wartime scabbards with wartime belt hooks, so I think the placement of the signature is more an affectation of the smith rather than an indication of what he intended the sword to be. If this sword were to be registered, my guess is that it would get registered as a "katana". But, as I say, its not a major point - not with this era of swords, anyway. Regarding the Yoshichika, I see only one Shōwa era Yoshichika (吉近) in Markus Sesko's index: civilian name of Yoshioka Tetsujirō. Expand Steve, check Sloughs and Fujishiros for additional Yasuchika gendaito. 1 Quote
Geraint Posted December 1, 2023 Report Posted December 1, 2023 Dear Khalid. So what you are looking at is a Showato, by no means is this an ancestral blade so that's that out of the window. That is either misinformation or sales pitch. Missing ito, same and menuki, easily done but at a cost, and do we assume that it has a saya? As Ed suggests not a lot more can be said from these photographs other than the blade appears to be in reasonable condition. Let us know how this turns out for you. All the best. 1 Quote
Cookie4Monstah Posted December 1, 2023 Author Report Posted December 1, 2023 On 12/1/2023 at 1:34 PM, Geraint said: Dear Khalid. So what you are looking at is a Showato, by no means is this an ancestral blade so that's that out of the window. That is either misinformation or sales pitch. Missing ito, same and menuki, easily done but at a cost, and do we assume that it has a saya? As Ed suggests not a lot more can be said from these photographs other than the blade appears to be in reasonable condition. Let us know how this turns out for you. All the best. Expand Geriant, I have come to the realization that “purchasing” and “learning” do not correlate to one another. More often than not that is learned the hard way. I broke even on my first restoration and was not happy with the blade after all the kizu in it became very apparent upon polishing. They really detracted from the beauty of an elegant hamon in a visually obtrusive manner. I was intrigued by this blade because of the way it was represented. I wouldn’t take the risk on pursuing this one. There are many diamonds in the rough in the wild still. I stumbled into this one yesterday I look forward to sharing more details in the future. Best, Khalid Quote
Cookie4Monstah Posted December 1, 2023 Author Report Posted December 1, 2023 I just want to take a moment to thank everyone that has replied thus far. We went from an advertised “ancestral” blade to a showato that might not even be a gendaito. Someone may likely overpay for this item (as advertised). https://live.affilia...word-ancestral-blade Quote
John C Posted December 1, 2023 Report Posted December 1, 2023 Ouch. They estimate 300 to 700? in that condition for that blade, 100 to 300 is more reasonable. John C. 1 Quote
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