osafune norimitsu blade

[Cola]

Hello all,

 

I came across this blade at samurashokai.jp, and it seems very interesting; But I am a rookie and a little bit scared of all the possible problems with forgeries, questionable inscriptions etc.

https://www.samurais....jp/sword/25103.html

 

It is signed bishu osafune norimitsu, and dated to 1470. 

 

But since there are (apparently) a lot of smiths that signed osafune norimitsu, I can't really find many other examples to compare the mei.

Bishu Osafune Norimitsu is mentioned here as a famous smith;

https://nihonto.com/...f-the-muromachi-era/

 

But the hozon certificate and the asking price do not seem to support that this is indeed a blade by a very famous smith. 

 

So my lazy question is: Would you trust this blade and mei to be genuine (or rather trust the NBTHK papers)?

And a less lazy question; how would you go about finding works by the same osafune norimitsu to do the comparison myself?

 

 

[Katsujinken]

This is perfectly legitimate. It’s just a later generation Norimitsu, not the “famous” one, and it’s a short blade, hence the lower price. There were many smiths who used this name. 
 

Always nice to see a signed and dated piece, though. 

[Shugyosha]

Hi Carlo,

I can't see anything about the paper or sword that would make me think that it is anything other than as stated. There are several smiths signing this way, but probably 3, perhaps 4 who were active during the period to which the sword is dated: https://nihontoclub....a=All&school_nid=All

 

If you go to the www.aoijapan.net website (where they list the swords they've sold previously) you will get a number of hits if you use the search facility but you'll have to sift through them: https://www.aoijapan...=norimitsu&x=22&y=13

 

Alternatively or in addition, a general internet search on "Osafune Norimitsu Bunmei" returns a number of hits for swords made around the same time as this one.

[Cola]

Thanks for your replies and advice! I think it's a very interesting blade, and I will check out the references.

 

It just baffles the mind how there are many smiths over centuries using the same name.

Imagine the chaos if there were 10 Vincent van Goghs of varying skills active between 1750 and 1920 signing their paintings in the same way.