goo Posted March 4 Report Posted March 4 Recently I received help for finding translation tools. I managed to find about half of the kanji on this Nakago in Sesco's nihonto compendium and a couple of books I own. Some of the kanji is hard to read and it looks like a few choices that are close. Could someone help me out with the ones I am missing? Sorry about the horizontal pictures the hone has a mind of its own. Thanks in advance. Quote
Ray Singer Posted March 4 Report Posted March 4 Mei: Seki Kanemitsu Date: a day in the 8th month of Tensho 2 Unfortunately this inscription does not appear to authentic. 3 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted March 4 Report Posted March 4 Gustavo, it should be possible to orient the photos correctly, and if you used a dark, non-reflecting background, the contrast would be much better. I believe this is not a Japanese sword; the characters are not chiseled by a Japanese sword-smith. 1 Quote
Ray Singer Posted March 4 Report Posted March 4 This may be an authentic antique Japanese sword with the very crudely inscribed gimei added recently. The nakago, its shape color and texture, appear legitimate. Perhaps something like Kaga shinto. 1 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted March 5 Report Posted March 5 Ray, uneven surface of the NAKAGO without traces of YASURI-ME? We should see the rest of the blade! Quote
Ray Singer Posted March 5 Report Posted March 5 Ignoring the mei, there are yasurimei present and a nakago surface consistent with Shinto. Lighting is poor but it can be seen here. I would likewise want to see better photos of the blade itself. Quote
Brian Posted March 5 Report Posted March 5 I'm with Ray on this one. Looks like a legit sword with an added mei, and the nakago jiri is very reminiscent of Kaga. Quote
Bazza Posted March 5 Report Posted March 5 Interesting to see gyaku takanoha yasurime, a not often seen style. BaZZa. Quote
Jacques Posted March 5 Report Posted March 5 Nihonto meikan lists a Kanemitsu working in Tensho. It's an unknown smith. Quote
goo Posted March 6 Author Report Posted March 6 On 3/5/2025 at 3:58 AM, ROKUJURO said: Ray, uneven surface of the NAKAGO without traces of YASURI-ME? We should see the rest of the blade! to Quote
goo Posted March 6 Author Report Posted March 6 Are these pictures of the blade enough or ok? I'm starting to get cataracts I included a close up of a flaw in the forging I thought it would show the grain. I will come clean it was an eBay purchase 🤪😵💫 in gunto fittings. But it looked odd I knew it wasn't a wartime mfg. I wanted something I could practice Iado with and not worry about wrecking a nice polish. But now I am thinking there is a chance this has a bit of history. I researched the date, at that time the Hongan-ji were under siege by Nobunaga in Osaka. Perhaps the original owner had some spiritual/ family history connection to that religion and added the inscription for good luck prior to deployment during WWII. I see 🙄 eyes rolling but anything is possible. Quote
ROKUJURO Posted March 6 Report Posted March 6 Gustavo, the first photo with the dark background is o.k. but unfortunately the blade has been sandpapered so not much is to be seen. It has an attractive HAMON and some WARE but otherwise not much can be said. It seems to be sound. If you want to practice IAIDO (not Iado) with it, it is important that it has the right dimensions and balance and a new, very solid KOSHIRAE for safety. Sharp blades should not be used in IAIDO Quote
Tohagi Posted March 10 Report Posted March 10 Quite a nice hamon and of course genuine... the yasurime are uncommon...Seki? I don't like the color of the nakago, looks repatinated. Best regards, Eric Quote
goo Posted March 12 Author Report Posted March 12 On 3/10/2025 at 1:58 PM, Tohagi said: Quite a nice hamon and of course genuine... the yasurime are uncommon...Seki? I don't like the color of the nakago, looks repatinated. Best regards, Eric Any ideas on what school or smiths used this created this type of yasurime and hamon? Quote
Tohagi Posted March 12 Report Posted March 12 You should look at the "Your favorite yasurime" threat at Général section. According to Brian, gyaku takanoha could possibly be early shinto Seki... upper the community is pointing to Kaga school. If I correctly understand. 1 Quote
Brian Posted March 12 Report Posted March 12 Clearly you didn't read my post Jacques. Eric, you too. I said nothing of the sort. Quote
Tohagi Posted March 12 Report Posted March 12 Very sorry, my mystake and all the blâme on me ! I made a confusion betwen Takanoha and Gyaku Takanoha in the Brian's post. Really sorry, Brian. Eric Quote
Jacques Posted March 12 Report Posted March 12 Brian, Quote Takanoha makes me think of common Seki, I'd rather say Yamato. Quote
Brian Posted March 13 Report Posted March 13 Now tell us, for the average person coming across heaps of fairly generic out of polish blades (which will usually be Shinto or late Koto) of average quality...seeing a bunch with takanoha, how many do you think will turn out to be Yamato, and how many will be Seki? As I mentioned, it's not a rule. It is what it makes ME think of...based on the swords I've come across. I never stated it was a firm rule. For you, the swords you come across may be higher end, and more Yamato. But if you are browsing militaria shows etc, I still maintain you are going to find more generic Seki school than Yamato with takanoha. Quote
Tohagi Posted March 13 Report Posted March 13 In this threat, Shiga Seki was a possible match for gyaku takanoha. Do you think the hamon could fit? Quote
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