Quite a long mei and saya kanji as well (plus an interesting tsuba to boot)

[Shuriken]

Hello all,

 

I am always grateful to the forum to see what I (we) can learn from mei. I would be grateful for anyone who can shed light on this mei and the saya inscription as well. Thank you!

[Mark S.]

The last 5 kanji are Izumi no Kami Kanesada.  Working on beginning.

[xiayang]

志津三郎兼氏後裔和泉守兼㝎 = Shizu Saburō Kaneuji's descendant, Izumi no Kami Kanesada

 

The inscription on the saya appears to be an address in Fukushima (福島) and a name (中澤四郎 = Nakazawa Shirō).

[Shuriken]

Thank you @xiayang and @Mark S.. That's an interesting mei. The first referenced smith is without peer, so the claim of being a descendant or student is intriguing. The descendant smith comes up also as quite the artist. Somehow (am I cynical?) I feel like this is all a bit too cute. Like someone really went far to try and convince the viewer. Does anyone have a book reference to this mei (gimei?). 

 

On a separate note, the seppa have a "cutout" section to them, where an edge was cut off. No idea why or how.

[Scogg]

The seppa look like they have their edges “cut off” so they don’t obscure the kozuka hitsu-ana, Or maybe another part of the tsuba. I have a sword with seppa like that 

 

Looks like there’s also a leather seppa, which was probably added recently to prevent rattling 

[Mark S.]

4 hours ago, xiayang said:

志津三郎兼氏後裔和泉守兼㝎 = Shizu Saburō Kaneuji's descendant, Izumi no Kami Kanesada

 

The inscription on the saya appears to be an address in Fukushima (福島) and a name (中澤四郎 = Nakazawa Shirō).

That would have taken me for ever… IF ever… well done.

[Mark S.]

1 hour ago, Shuriken said:

Does anyone have a book reference to this mei (gimei?). 

 

I don’t have a specific reference to that mei, but you might want to invest in Markus Sesko’s book on the 11th generation Kanesada.  Both book and .pdf download.

 

https://markussesko....generation-kanesada/

[PNSSHOGUN]

The Mei is his later style, though all the examples in the book Mark posted are Katana Mei.

[Shuriken]

@PNSSHOGUN what differentiates a katana mei from a tachi mei?

 

[Scogg]

Here's a helpful link on the different terminology surrounding mei.

 

Typically a smith signs their name on the side of the sword that faces outward when worn - so depending on the type of sword (tachi vs katana), you might see signatures on different sides of the nakago

http://www.ncjsc.org/gloss_mei-1.html

*And there are always exceptions to the rule, especially when gimei is on the table.
Best of luck,
-Sam

Edited January 5, 2024 by GeorgeLuucas
exceptions to the rule

[Shuriken]

Nice...thanks!