A Kuniyoshi Tachi?

[D_Oberg]

hello all, and greetings!

I am a novice collector what has loved Japanese swords my whole life. I've studied Martial arts since age 9, (i'm 40 now) and am currently and for the past few years; studying Shinkendo. Anyway, on to why I posted here:

I was browsing this site earlier, decided to register and here I am with my first post.

 

I noticed on ebay someone has what appears to be a Kuniyoshi tachi posted for sale. Now, call me crazy, but unless I am mistaken there is only ONE of these known. Which obviously casts a bit of dispersion on the possibility of this one being real. (reference: http://www.nihonto.com/abtartawataguchikuniyoshi.html The thing is, it looks legit. Nakago looks right, hi look right (what there are of them), Nagasa looks right. Can't make out much in terms of hataraki or jihada owing that its in bad polish, but is that a characteristic nioiguchi there? hmm. If it's a fake it is pretty darn well thought out. Let me know what you all think. I mean, I've taken my Ebay-lumps in the past, so my mind says,"Bahh!! No way." But if I look in the mirror while thinking that I have one eyebrow raised like "Dr. Spock." Obviously more and better picts should be posted of this sword. Let me know what you all think.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330416296668&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

 

Thanks all, Nice to "meet" you,

All the best,

Daryl

[D_Oberg]

Compare the mei with this one: http://www.sho-shin.com/1st-son.htm It's just above half-way down the page.

What am I missing here? Someone kick me in the teeth and say, "Dude, look here.. see? total fakery..."

I know we can't see the hamachi/munemachi. Could a real Kuniyoshi have that ji-are/fukure? (looks like one.)

[Veli]

Hi Daryl,

 

Please remember that there has been more than 100 listed smiths who signed "Kuniyoshi". If you take a close look on the diagonal stroke in the "Kuni" kanji on the Juyo Bunkazai tanto you referred to, and compare it to the ebay blade's signature, you find a significant difference.

 

There are no national treasures on Ebay.

 

 

BR, Veli

[paulb]

Daryl,

In support of Veli's comments it is very unlikely tht you would buy a national treasure on ebay. I know that in the past some, I even think a member here, has bought a relic which transformed in to a Juyo balde on polishing. However if you consider this as one example against the number of blades which appear on ebay, the chances are somewhat similar to winning the lottery.

You mention that someone has gone to a lot of trouble if it is a fake, well they did, that is why the subject is riddled with blades which still today scholar are uncertain about. Forgeries by such smiths as kajhei (spelling) are superb and he is notorious. They were very, very good at copying early works.

Also consider you mention you are a relative novice, there are many extremely experienced dealers and collectors who regulalry trawl through ebay, it has been my experience that if I identify something with the outside chance of being reasonable those with greater knowledge have also seen it and regretably they always seem to have more money than I do.

I think the quotation "there are no bargains on ebay" rings true in 99.9999% of cases. It is certainly not the place for novice collectors/sudents to attempt to buy their early pieces.

 

With regard to this sword- the images tell you (well me) absolutely nothing. I can see no detail other than the shape which looks bland.

Regarding your comments about "only being one Kuniyoshi" no this is incorrect. There are as Veli says many listed. The most famous, Niji Kuniyoshi and Rai Kuniyoshi are amongst the best swordsmiths in history. There are many Juyo Tokubetsu Juyo and national treasure blades made by these smiths. Regrettably I dont think this is one of them.

It is possible that we are wrong and this on restoration could prove to be a master work however based on what can be seen, the nature of ebay and pure statistics I think it extremely unlikely.

Best Regards

Paul

[D_Oberg]

Indeed, thanks for the input guys. My own thoughts were similar on the points about much more learned folks trawling ebay and noticing what I would not. And now that you mention it, there is more curve in that Kuni ideogram on the Bunkazai than the on the ebay sword. And just to clarify: I'm familiar with the popularity of the name Kuniyoshi through time, I definitely wasn't being clear enough: I meant Awataguchi Kuniyoshi. (Don't know why I didn't say that.) And yeah, there are no treasures on Ebay! I got burned once. Not terribly, but I will never forget that sinking feeling in my heart and stomach when I opened my sword package. It was 'only' $600, but that was 10 years ago, and I never want that feeling again.

I've done much better since

Thanks again guys. I've got another question on a blade I recently purchased at the Florida token Kai which I'll post when I've got some more time.

 

All the best,

Daryl

[lbkmd43]

FATAL FLAW open blister to core

[Tsugio Kawakami]

FATAL FLAW open blister to core

 

That's fatal? I thought that was just undesireable, but not quite that bad...

[Mark]

i have seen good blades with umegane to repair open blisters. I think it would have to be a good blade to make it worth the trouble but i think i very good polisher could repair it

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Poorly made and pretty tired.

[Jean]

http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/sale/10046.html

 

Umegane - find it

[Tsugio Kawakami]

http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/sale/10046.html

 

Umegane - find it

 

 

...not that little dot in the hamon on the omote, is it?

[Eric H]

Eric

[Tsugio Kawakami]

Eric

 

That be the one I'm talking about.

[Jean]

Yes, this is it (and I am not copying M. Jackson - ).

 

Well done but unfortunatelly in the tempered part of the blade. Taking into account the price ...... (Yes, but it is dated and signed - some shall say ...)