My first attempt at buying an older sword.

[Crusader22]

I agree on the open available connection to the best experts here. I have privately had exchanges with a few, and everyone has been helpful.

 

Im not concerned at all, I guess if I'm this happy with it, what could be wrong?

 

Im anxious to get a solid ID of the blade and smith/period for sure. I know I need to provide more photos of higher quality first.

 

No comments or opinions are unwelcome!

 

Jeff

[GeorgeLuucas]

Hi Jeff, I am looking forward to more photos. Even if the signature is gimei, the blade still appears to be genuine. 
 

Your post inspired me to create this little photo guide. I hope @ROKUJURO approves . I’m open to feedback. 

 

Be sure to take photos well lit against a dark background. Ideally centered overhead with the tip north and nakago south. You’ve already covered a couple of these, but here’s my guide that I hope helps.  

Best of luck,

-Sam

[Shugyosha]

Hi Jeff,

I'm glad you're enjoying your new blade. A solid ID might be a bit tricky, but this is where the fun begins:

 

https://nihontoclub....a=All&school_nid=All

 

The above is a link to smiths signing Yasumitsu on an online database. First up, you can eliminate those using different kanji to those on your blade, then you need to have a trawl through to pick out those signing with a two character mei and then identify the work style of the smiths you identify as candidates to see how they compare with your own.

 

It's interesting to note that all of these candidates were working pre 1600 and for me your blade fits into this period - as Dee notes the tang colour and lack of machi point that way but also it was a long blade as the registration certificate has it down at over 70cm and it has been shortened (measuring the distance between the two peg holes and adding that on to the present blade length will give an approximate idea of it's length when unaltered). It's possible that your guy might not be listed on this database or not be in the textbooks at all, but I don't feel that it's likely to be gimei as there are too many candidates - someone faking signatures is going to do it in a way that the smith can be easily identified and it's likely to be clearly one of the bigger names of the bunch.

 

Sure it has some flaws but it's an old soldier that has literally been through the wars and there's nothing to not like, particularly if you like a research project.

[ROKUJURO]

4 hours ago, GeorgeLuucas said:

.....Your post inspired me to create this little photo guide. I hope @ROKUJURO approves . ......

He does indeed.

Anything that helps people to post usable photos is welcome. 

[Crusader22]

Tomorrow I am buying a black cloth sheet, and will follow the excellent photo advice of @GeorgeLuucas , and I will provide good photos of everything.

[Crusader22]

Well, still have not made it to the fabric store (I live in a very rural area).

 

I did find this, though, @Shugyosha, it matches what the seller told me, but Im just getting into reading three hardcover books I purchased so I can better ID the 5 Gokaden on my own, to see if the location is consistent. This is what the seller sent a link to, but I cant for sure make out the top character.

 

I also found what looks like a matching tsuba to the other metalwork, even if not period to the blade, it will be a set.

 

Jeff

 

 

[Jussi Ekholm]

I would think it could be an unknown Yasumitsu (安光) smith from the late 1500's. This particular Yasumitsu signature is quite rare character combination, and I personally don't see any of the known Yasumitsu smiths in smith indexes as a plausible option for this sword.

[Rivkin]

The writing style is consistent with Muromachi.