2 Nbthk kicho for translation

[Rawa]

Hi guys, I'm new member and i recently got 2 nbthk papers but cant identify swordsmith of one and koshirae maker of another. Please help. Katana which is said made by masakiyo in 1866 but cant find any info about swordsmith with that name making swords in that period and untranslated certificate for koshirae. I will also add photo of tsuba of masakiyo katana for identification and for evaluation if this is genuine piece or fake one.

[SteveM]

Hello Marcin,

There are several smiths listed in Markus Sesko Swordsmith Index with that name, making swords in that time period. The inscription on your sword is "Masakiyo of Ishikawa Sekishū made this", and none of the entries in Markus Sesko's index mention anything about "Ishikawa", so it might be difficult/impossible to pinpoint which of the ones in his index, if any, are your swordsmith. It is also possible that the smith who made your sword is not listed in any index (an "unlisted smith", or, in Japanese, meikan more). It happens occasionally.  

 

The other paper doesn't mention any names for your koshirae. To be exact, the maker of the wooden "scabbard" part would never be mentioned. The makers of the metal parts would normally be mentioned if there is a mei on them. Your tsuba has the name Gotō Teijō (後藤程乗) on it, but the tsuba is a fake (replica) and the name on it is a forgery. The paper mentions that the tsuba for this koshirae should be a brass tsuba with an image of a dragon in clouds. The dragon tsuba has been removed, and replaced with the fake Gotō Teijo tsuba that is now on your koshirae. The dragon tsuba was probably sold off separately a long time ago. This is one of the reasons that old papers aren't to be trusted. 

[Rawa]

Tsuba posted before is with sword, in koshirae actually is soten tsuba which i added now. So it looks like big meh for me.

[Rawa]

Thx for help with that piece

[Shugyosha]

  On 2/16/2024 at 3:43 PM, SteveM said:

Hello Marcin,

There are several smiths listed in Markus Sesko Swordsmith Index with that name, making swords in that time period. The inscription on your sword is "Masakiyo of Ishikawa made this", and none of the entries in Markus Sesko's index mention anything about "Ishikawa", so it might be difficult/impossible to pinpoint which of the ones in his index, if any, are your swordsmith. It is also possible that the smith who made your sword is not listed in any index (an "unlisted smith", or, in Japanese, meikan more). It happens occasionally.  

 

The other paper doesn't mention any names for your koshirae. To be exact, the maker of the wooden "scabbard" part would never be mentioned. The makers of the metal parts would normally be mentioned if there is a mei on them. Your tsuba has the name Gotō Teijō (後藤程乗) on it, but the tsuba is a fake (replica) and the name on it is a forgery. The paper mentions that the tsuba for this koshirae should be a brass tsuba with an image of a dragon in clouds. The dragon tsuba has been removed, and replaced with the fake Gotō Teijo tsuba that is now on your koshirae. The dragon tsuba was probably sold off separately a long time ago. This is one of the reasons that old papers aren't to be trusted. 

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Hi Steve, could it be Sekishuu - Iwami rather than Ishikawa? 

[SteveM]

Yes, that's what it is. Thanks for that.