Identity or information maker etc

[Chris Wallis]

Hi guys 

 

iam trying to identify this sword purchased today in an antique centre in poor condition following a house clearance in Wiltshire.

 

have added some pictures to help and any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[Chris Wallis]

[Chris Wallis]

Another image of the Tsuba

[Chris Wallis]

More sorry if duplicates 

[ROKUJURO]

Perhaps SHIGETSUGU SAKU.

 

[Chris Wallis]

Hi Jean 

 

thank you so much for taking the time to reply 👍

 

do the symbols on the guard and the rest of the fittings mean anything ?

 

and what sort of age could I be looking at for this sword ?

 

kind regards 

 

chris

[ROKUJURO]

Chris,

there have been a number of SHIGETSUGU swordsmiths over the time, so you will have to research the blade (features like shape, HAMON, HADA) and the signature online or in books. Just looking at the signature does not help, one has to compare the style and workmanship with certfied examples.

Just looking at your pictures, I find the NAKAGO and the MEI looking relatively young as in MEIJI or younger.

The TSUBA and the other mountings look like they had a rough life, so it is difficult to guess what they might have been when they were new. In addition to that, your photos are not the best, so it is difficult to give you a reliable estimation or opinion. 
 

Generally, photos should be:
 

- well focused, not foggy or blurry
- made with a dark, non reflective background for good contrast
- made with light from the side (may not apply for HAMON photos)
- made from directly above (not at an angle)
- made with correct orientation (vertically tip-upwards, especially NAKAGO photos and TSUBA) 
- without HABAKI but showing the MACHI and NAKAGO JIRI 
- made in high resolution to see details
- showing details (magnification) like BOSHI, HAMACHI, HAMON, HADA, NAKAGO JIRI etc. or the fine work on TSUBA
- presented as cut-outs so very little background is shown
 

If you cannot supply good photos (..."these photos are all I have from the dealer...."/..."I do not have a good camera but only an old mobile phone...." ), DO NOT POST BAD ONES. They will not be helpful.