Can anyone give their opinion please

[Gareth]

Is this Naminohira Yasumoto wakizashi blade real or a fake. 
I’ve tried photographing  the blade better but it’s hard to capture the blade details without glare and focus issues. 
 

it’s currently out of polish so there’s surface scratches. The Habaki is two piece and copper I think. 
 

any suggestions will be welcome 

[Stephen]

Gareth I seen your PM, I can't verify this mei maybe Ray can or another member. 

 

Looks real Nihonto though. 

[Gareth]

Ray looked at the mei weeks ago for me, he told me who it was but didn’t say it was fake. I took that as it wasn’t but I might pm him. 
 

I really appreciate you taking a look Stephen 

[ROKUJURO]

Gareth,

did you compare with certified examples?

[Gareth]

No I haven’t. I posted on here and ray commented on the mei. 
 

would that be the next step

[Gareth]

This is it a little closer if this helps 

[Shugyosha]

Hi Gareth,

Ive had a bit of a look on-line but there isn’t much by way of comparison for the mei. That said, my gut feeling is that this smith would be an unlikely target for fakery as he isn’t well known, but you never know. 
 

You could try photographing with a single point of light in a darkened room to see if that brings out any details but I suspect that, due to the state of polish, you’ll find it hard going. 
 

If you have no joy on here, there’s a Token Society meeting in Birmingham next month and also the Birmingham arms fair - you could walk it in to one of those and see if someone will look at it for you. 
 

 

[Jacques]

3 波平安元 Naminohira Yasumoto are recorded in the Nihonto meikan one Koto (OEI) and two Shinto (Kyoho, Tenmei) Due to the nakago shape, Oei is a possibility.

[Gareth]

John and Jacques

 

many thanks for also contributing to what I’ve asked.

 

Ive been in contact with bill tagg in the UK who has given me some info and pointed me in the direction of a trusted person who can window/blade polish. 
 

again many thanks for all your input. It’s greatly appreciated 

 

Gareth 😊