Shinto Wakizashi - Shigetsugu from Tosa - please comment.

[2devnul]

Hello everyone, 

 

I would like to show my new acquisition and ask for any comments. I bought Suriage Wakizashi in perfect condition and polish, attributed to Shigetsugu from Tosa. 

I only found two smiths (Shodai/Nidai) from that region. If you can share anything more about the smiths then I will greatly appreciate this. 

Thank you all for contribution to the discussion. Cheers! 

 

 

[2devnul]

This is the only info about Shigetsugu (Shodai) I was able to find on Internet so far. Raw translation from Japanese so ...

 

Shigetsugu lived in Kochi, his real name was Nakazawaemon and he learned sword smithing from Kunimasu, second generation Yoshimichimona from Osaka. Swords signed by him are rare, probably due to the fact that he was smithing swords for Kunimasu. Based on his swords it can be assumed that he was talented and highly recognized smith. 

 

Source: https://nihontou.jp/.../katana/1516/00.html

 

國益の作刀に従事していたためでしょうか、現存する作品数が少ないようで、土佐重次の作品は、巷ではそうそう見かけることがありませんが、本刀の作風を見るに、非常に技量が高かったことが窺い知れます。

 

 

[cisco-san]

Hello,

 

Hawley lists three Shigetsugu

 

[2devnul]

It is a challange to find more details about any of smiths. Also to find other swords with atribution to Shigetsugu from Tosa. Indeed looks rare. 

[2devnul]

Hello,

 

I'm still looking for any info about Tosa Shigetsugu blacksmiths. Any chance anyone has a sword from this smith? 

 

Here is my attempt on capturing some Hada.

 

[2devnul]

BUMP!

 

Hello,

I'm still looking for any info about Tosa Shigetsugu blacksmiths. Any chance anyone has a sword from this smith? 

[Jacques D.]

Nihonto meikan translation by Markus Sesko

 

Quote

 

Shigetsugu (重次), 1st gen., Tenna (天和, 1681-1684), Tosa – „Tosa-jū Shigetsugu“ (土佐住重次), „Shigetsugu“ (重次), civilian name „Nakazawa Hiko´emon“ (中沢彦右衛門), student of the 1st gen., Kunimasu (国益), he worked for the Yamanouchi family (山内), the daimyō of Tosa´s Kōchi fief (高知)

 

Shigetsugu (重次), 2nd gen., Genroku (元禄, 1688-1704), Tosa – „Tosa-jū Shigetsugu“ (土佐住重次), civilian name „Nakazawa Iheita“ (中沢伊平太), he lived first in Kōchi´s (高知) Kakegawa-machi (掛川町) but moved later to Ōmi, there exists the theory that he worked there as gunsmith (teppō-kaji, 鉄砲鍛冶) and joined the local Kunitomo school (国友)

 

 

For once, the photos show that the quality of the work is not that good

 

[Toryu2020]

Adam - in many cases student work can be hard to find, it may help to look for works by his teacher, then you can compare to see how close he came to the work of the master...

[Bugyotsuji]

There were hundreds of Kunitomo smiths, but checking the lists I have found eight who worked in Tosa, including a 'Kunitomo Iheita' 国友猪平太 (with a slightly different Kanji) signing under 土佐藩 'Tosa Han'. He is described as 3rd generation, and there is a known gun signed and dated Genroku 2.

[2devnul]

12 hours ago, Jacques D. said:

For once, the photos show that the quality of the work is not that good

Which specific photos do you refer to? Hada/hamon? Can you please elaborate more about low quality? What exactly I should look into? 

 

@Toryu2020 Thanks for the hint, I will look for 1st gen., Kunimasu (国益) work to see if I'm lucky.

 

@Bugyotsuji Thanks! I will check it out. 

 

[Bugyotsuji]

Also it is worth remembering that people often changed their names or titles, also when switching from gunsmithing to swordsmithing, etc. 

The swordsmith Hankei was a gunsmith first, known as Noda Zenshiro.

 

Personally I am interested in those who changed from swords to guns and vice versa. 

[2devnul]

For me the first question will be is the sword maker 1st or 2nd Shigetsugu. NBTHK says nothing about it. Mei (especially 2nd Kanji) is barely visible. Therefore my idea was to look for other swords from both smiths, compare and maybe judge/guess which generation is mine. It is difficult to find any swords from these smiths on Internet. I will give it a shot and check Kunimasu's work (if any available). 

[Bugyotsuji]

日本刀・居合刀の販売専門店　美術刀剣　刀心

 

刀 重次（土佐） ～無疵無欠点！一振で直刃・湾れ・互ノ目・丁子と、四種の刃文を楽しめる！上研ぎが施された重次の最高傑作～ |

[2devnul]

@Bugyotsuji

Thank you!

 

https://nihontou.jp/.../katana/1516/00.html

I can see some similarities, but probably I'm seeing what I want to see. 1,980,000 yen for Katana, I paid 3500$ for mine Wakizashi. If it is indeed same smith, then maybe I didn't overpay that much. 

 

https://www.nipponto.../swords/KT124055.htm

Kunimasu's work seems to be totally different.  

[2devnul]

So could it be same Shigetsugu (Katana, link from above)? Or I'm seeing things I want to see. 

Some pictures for easier comparing.