Gimei ?

[Francis Wick]

Hi and thanks for any input/ opinions/ advice

 

i I think this mei reads Soshu ju Hirotsugu 

 

any thoughts if it’s genuine or gimei and which generation if genuine ?

 

other side of nakago has no date 

 

thank you 

[Rivkin]

my kanji reading is quite bad, but it looks like Hirotsugu.

Entire blade is needed, otherwise so far it has a chance of being real, but don't like the "tsugu" writing at all.

Typically all signed pieces are from 1500s, though 1460- generation is verifiably known, and son of Hiromitsu-founder generation (1360) is sometimes used as an attribution with mumei pieces. He is one of a few Soshu smiths who made considerable number of katanas rather than being tanto-waki dominated. 

[Francis Wick]

Ok will post blade pics 

[Francis Wick]

[Rivkin]

Needs a macro picture with a light source on the side, but...

Suguha is unusual for [Odawara] Soshu, except Tensho, plus sometime around 1460, and possibly 1370 where some believe in Kamakura Yukimitsu/Yamato looking pieces were produced by the related lineage.

This being said Hirotsugu work in 80% cases is very wide gunome midare, sometimes hitatsura, sometimes other, but not pure suguha. Its exceptionally unusual for this family.

So far the nakago shape and yasurime looks ok for Odawara Soshu, strong masame in shinogi ji is also common, suguha seems to include some uncommon activity which is ok for the school... It well maybe 1560-1570 Odawara Soshu blade. But Hirotsugu is a bit of a stretch for this type of work. I am sceptical. Maybe macro photo will reveal something else.

 

[Francis Wick]

Ok such super good observations thank you so much for the insights 🙏🏽

[Jacques D.]

14 hours ago, Francis Wick said:

Ok such super good observations thank you so much for the insights 🙏🏽

Don't be fooled, we can't see anything on the photos. No shinogi ji in masame  on Soshu den swords. Nidai Hirotsugu made suguha

 

Gimei ? probably.  The nakago on the right is from the shodai (Bunmei)

[Francis Wick]

17 minutes ago, Jacques D. said:

Don't be fooled, we can't see anything on the photos. No shinogi ji in masame  on Soshu den swords. Nidai Hirotsugu made suguha

 

Gimei ? probably.  The nakago on the right is from the shodai (Bunmei)

Thank you Jacques ! The visual reference is super helpful. The Mei is not as carefully or skillfully chiseled as one would expect it looks almost shinshinto like to me also. I agree likely gimei. Thank you