Possible Masahide for sale

[th6y2]

Saw a listing for a Masahige in WW2 fittings without paperwork recently. What is the likelihood this is an authentic example? I’ve uploaded the pictures of the blade provided in the listing. The only other Masahige examples I’ve seen have the signature on the other side of the nakago so I have my doubts. 

[ROKUJURO]

SUISHINSHI MASAHIDE (not Masahige) is a very famous name. A blade with this name (as TACHI MEI) without ORIGAMI is very unlikely to be authentic. But you have to look at the blade itself, perhaps it is not bad.

[Bruce Pennington]

I only have 4 of his on file, and one is a bad gimei.  There is enough variation in each to make it difficult to compare this one with the rest.  The only distinctive point I see on this one is the kakihan (enscribed kao).  It has a 'bottom' on the 'B' AND an underscore, whereas all the others on file use the underscore to 'finish' the "B".   I don't see anything obvious on the mei.

 

Example:

[Ian B3HR2UH]

Absolutely NO chance that this is genuine. My strong guess is that it is a showa era fake .

[PNSSHOGUN]

https://griffinmilitaria.com/product/1805-dated-katana-by-a-famed-Japanese-swordsmith-in-world-war-ii-army-officer-mounts/

[rebcannonshooter]

 The Kokuin on this sword is an exact match for the kokuin of the Showa swordsmith Fukumoto Amahide. Amahide's son Fukumoto Kanemune often signed for his father and others at the school. The formation of the "hide" kanji is exactly how Kanemune signed. 

I don't know much about Amahide's other students, but would be willing to bet that this "Masahide" is one of them. Does any one have more info on this group?

 

Tom

[Bugyotsuji]

The koku seals look quite different.

[rebcannonshooter]

Hi Piers,

I disagree, they even match the listed Amahide Kokuin in Slough's Oshigata book.

Tom

[Bugyotsuji]

No, I mean the one in Tyler's first post above compared to the example shown earlier by Bruce above.

 

(By the way, Masahide changed his name to Amahide in old age, I believe.)

[PNSSHOGUN]

The Showa Amahide was heavily influenced by Suishinshi Masahide and indeed paid homage to Masahide through the use of his later name, along with using the same Kokuin that Masahide used. Of what connection this has to the posted Gimei, I must admit I fail to understand the connection being implied? Also note the Gunto mounts, which are mid 30's style. 

[KungFooey]

From the seller's listing:

The blade itself is engraved (the engraving of a blade known as a “Horimono”), with one side bearing the kanji for “Inori Bu’un Chokyu”, or “Prayers for Continued Success in the Fortunes of War”

 

What war was Japan participating in in 1805? (The date on the blade.)

 

Also, below are comparisons of each kanji character and the hot stamp with an original papered Tokuho (on right). Anyone with eyes can see the difference in the chisel strokes.

[Bruce Pennington]

13 hours ago, rebcannonshooter said:

Does any one have more info on this group?

Mal Cox covered them in one of his documents: