3 Minamoto Moriyoshi with different Mei at AOI

[Bushido01]

There are currently three Minamoto Moriyoshi swords on AOI.com with different prices and diffrerent mei. If you are interested to take a look, two of them are in their katana section; No. 08005 for 850,000 Yen and No. 05260 for 1,150,000 Yen. The third one is in their auction section, No. AS0974 for 800,000 Yen.

 

I am just wondering which one/s is/are the real deal.

 

Best,

[Ray Singer]

Hi, all three of these are authentic Tanigawa Moriyoshi. He went through a stylistic change, aiming more for Kiyomaro in the later part of his career. All of these blades have the sotoba style nakago of his earlier swords with a pointed nakago-jiri (reflecting his origin in the Kongobyoe tradition). The nakago of his later swords were modeled more on Kiyomaro. You can see a beautiful example here...

 

http://www.samuraisword.com/nihontodisp ... /index.htm

 

- Ray

[Bushido01]

Hi Ray,

Thanks for the information, it’s good to know. But, how one suppose to know a true mei when a sword smith signs in so many different ways. The one you mentioned even has different yasurime and the mei’s placed differently than the others. I realize that you should buy the sword and not the signature but why none of them is papered? I believe NBTHK and NTHK issue certificate for a Showato if the sword maker was famous and dead, isn’t that true?

Regards,

[Jean]

I realize that you should buy the sword and not the signature but why none of them is papered?

 

You are talking of a reputed sword dealer who has a return/refund policy, that is your guarantee

 

BTW, they are spledid swords

[cisco-san]

I believe NBTHK and NTHK issue certificate for a Showato if the sword maker was famous and dead, isn’t that true?

Regards,

I never saw a papered Showato !!

[Bushido01]

You are talking of a reputed sword dealer who has a return/refund policy, that is your guarantee

 

Jean,

I'm sorry that you totally misunderstood my point/question. I know Tsurata San for many years and have bought a few swords from him over the years and always been very happy with my purchase and his service. In fact a few years ago, I posted a message on this forum about AOI and how good their customer service is.

My question was/is simply about learning more about how to compare meis.

Regards,

[Jean]

Rod,

 

You shall have to invest more than a sword price to buy all the books necessary to get the different mei from different smiths and spent hours studying them and fakes to be able to determine if the mei is sho shin or not but it will take years. I see 2 alternatives

 

 

either buy the sword from a trusted fellow or a reputable dealer who guarantee the mei

 

or,

 

Be acquainted with very knowledgeable Japanese Gentlemen.

 

other alternative is to see if:

NTHK can validate the mei, without putting it to Shinsa

or

a reputable Japanese dealer is ready to validate it

 

Years ago, Kazushige Tsuruta offered this service, I did it years ago for a sword in auction in France.

[Bushido01]

Jean,

 

Agreed with you 100%.

 

Thanks,

[Bushido01]

I never saw a papered Showato !!

 

Klaus,

They are out there. Here is one by Tsukamoto Yoshiaki which I bought a few years ago from AOI.

Regards,

Tsukamoto Yoshiaki.pdf

[Ray Singer]

Hi Klaus,

 

Just to clarify, the NBTHK will paper a traditionally made Japanese sword by a gendai smith who is deceased. There are two Tanigawa Moriyoshi in collections here in Miami (a special order tanto originally from Aoi Art and a special order hirazukuri wakizashi). Both are papered. The NBTHK will not paper a blade with a showa, seki, star or other stamp which indicates the sword is not traditionally made...

 

- Ray

[cisco-san]

I never saw a papered Showato !!

Klaus,

They are out there. Here is one by Tsukamoto Yoshiaki which I bought a few years ago from AOI.

Regards,

Hi Klaus,

Just to clarify, the NBTHK will paper a traditionally made Japanese sword by a gendai smith who is deceased. There are two Tanigawa Moriyoshi in collections here in Miami (a special order tanto originally from Aoi Art and a special order hirazukuri wakizashi). Both are papered. The NBTHK will not paper a blade with a showa, seki, star or other stamp which indicates the sword is not traditionally made...

- Ray

Many thanks for your comments. Sorry, it was my mistake. I meant with Showato => non traditional made sword!

Btw. I hope to get paper on one day for my Kanemichi sword (hopefully traditional made ) which is made Showa 15

[Grey Doffin]

The NBTHK will not paper a blade with a showa, seki, star or other stamp which indicates the sword is not traditionally made...

I know of a Miyairi Shohei (Akihira) katana with a star stamp and NBTHK Hozon papers, and I know the papers are legit.

Grey

[Ray Singer]

Hi Grey, I also have seen an NBTHK papered blade. My understanding is that they did issue papers for star-stamped blades in the past but no longer do so. I would be interested to hear if anyone has a recent experience submitting such swords...

 

- Ray