First Acquisition (a lot of pictures)

[Curgan]

Hello all,

this is my first blade. I was enchanted to the nihonto passion and -after some time reading and lurking at the site- decided to get my first one. Since buying from the internet is very risky, I bought a papered blade from a respectable Japanese dealer, which I fell in love with from the first moment. It is now -along with a waki- awaiting mounting as a daisho at the toshigi in Belgium, who was kind enough to provide me with some pictures and guide me patiently through the mounting process. The blade although heavy handles well.

 

These pics are posted as a token of gratitude to the fellow forumites who unknowingly helped me with my acquisition. Although I have no regrets with my purchase, opinions are welcome. If the thread is of interest I will post and the sho. If it is bad ettiquete, somebody PM me and I will delete it.

 

NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho Paper

Signature: Kun 4 tou Kurihara Hikosaburou Akihide - most probably gimei

Showa 16 nen 8 gatsu Kichizitsu

Blade length : 75.0 cm or 29.52 inches.

Sori : 1.9 cm or 0.74 inches.

Width at the hamachi : 3.48 cm or 1.37 inches.

Wide at the Kissaki : 2.41 cm or 0.94 inches.

Kasane : 0.83 cm or 0.32 inches.

Era : August,1941

Jitetsu : Itame hada well grained with Jinie attach.

Hamon : Niedeki Gunome midare. In Ha, there are Sunagashi and Kinsuji.

[Curgan]

Nakago and blade

[Curgan]

hada and hamon

[Mark Green]

How would it be papered if it is Gimei.

Why would you think it is gimei?

Very pretty btw.

Cheers, Mark G

[cabowen]

Why do you think it is probably gimei?

 

Kurihara had so many people making and signing blades with his name by Showa 16 that I think it would be very hard to prove it is not a daisaku daimei.....

 

Nice blade!

[drbvac]

Where did anyone say it was gimei. Original photos look like one of AOI's and I don't think it looks odd - very nice in fact - will be interested to see daisho mounting - any pics of the other blade for the pair?

[Mark Green]

" Signature: Kun 4 tou Kurihara Hikosaburou Akihide - most probably gimei"

 

John said it in his discription, ??????

 

I think it looks very good too.

[sanjuro]

John

 

Nice blade! I think you did well. Its good to see someone starting his collection with a good sword in fine condition. :D

I would be interested to see the wakizashi also. Also I am interested to know what style are you having these mounted in?

[Jean]

I like it

[Curgan]

I am glad the thread well received so well.

Reading, listening to more experienced opinions and been able to actually pay for a good sword make for a nice acquisition.

 

I wrote that the katana is most probably gimei, because Tsuruta san from AOI, wrote "unreliable signature" at his description. He is very honest (and very near the NBTHK building), so I think he might have a point. At the end of the day, if my "gimei" is indeed an "Akihide"... well thats good!

 

The sho was already mounted in a fashion that suited my tastes and the dai will be mounted similarily. With small alterations The mounting will be kuroro saya, red-brown tsukaito, these shakudo nanako fuchikashira for the katana viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7566.

 

The sho tsuba, menuki, kozuka and kogai will be altered. The tsuba will be replaced with viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7183 and I am still seeking for a similar antique tsuba for the dai.

 

The rest I attach as pictures

[Curgan]

Unfortunately the waki has an inactive rust spot at the kissaki. However the toshigi (IMHO the best in Europe) says it is not dangerous, but can't be removed either.

[Takahashi]

Hi John,

 

great blade. I had also my eyes on it but the disclaimer on Aoi Art ("signature not reliable") prevented me from buying it.

I thought of doing some mei research on my own but it was already sold then and I got a different blade.

Nonetheless I have two questions:

 

1. Which toshigi is remounting your daisho?

2. Are you considering to get newer papers for your blade to verify the signature? It seems many people around here doubt that the blade might be gimei.

 

I am currently also looking for a toshigi in Europe and bought also a blade with older papers (Tokubetsu Kicho). I am thinking of verifying the older NBTHK shinsa by getting newer papers and I am curious how other new Nihonto collectors think about such a verification.

 

If there is a problem with telling the name of the toshigi on the board, just pm me.

 

Cheers,

[Jacques D.]

However the toshigi (IMHO the best in Europe)

 

Probably Zenon Vandamme

 

http://www.japaneseart.be/

[cabowen]

There are things about this blade that do give one pause, but as I said earlier, Kurihara had many others making and signing his blades so there is no one signature reference valid for all his blades. I would suggest two courses of action:

 

-Ask Tsuruta san why the mei is unreliable

 

-Get a hold of the book on Kurihara published 8-10 years ago and look for oshigata dated Showa 16 for comparison. He undoubtedly

had more than one person making and signing blades at any given point in time, especially later, but you may find a good match.

 

I would also check the obvious- when was he awarded the kunyonto by the government?

 

Now, before the obvious is asked, I will say that what makes this blade a bit suspect to me is:

 

I am not sure if he used the Hikosaburo in his mei this late.

 

A large blade like this was usually inscribed with more than his mei and date. He loved to add dedications, patriotic phrases, etc.

 

Largely cut mei seem more common on his earlier work.

 

And frankly, the blade appears very well made (from what I can tell from pictures-especially the jigane), almost too well made!

 

Additionally, there have been many gimei WWII era blades showing up the last 10 or so years. Kurihara is a prime candidate after the publishing of the book about him. Add to that the difficulty in verifying his mei and you have a recipe for fraud.

 

I have perhaps 50 or more Kurihara oshigata, unfortunately they are all packed away in storage....I think checking the book I referenced above would be a good start for you....

[k morita]

Hi,

Attached oshigata is dated March 1941, Tekka-dojin , Akihide saku.

Oshigata from [Nihonto oyobi Nihon-shumi].

[Curgan]

Indeed the *best in Europe* was a discreet and modest refference for mr Van Damme.

 

I will mail the AOI art manager to ask why he considers the signature unreliable. A shinsa will take part in Europe in 2011 the soonest, but, frankly, I felt well to buy it

considering it a gimei and I don't have a special urge to confirm the mei (yet).

 

The sho's specs are the following

Signature: Bushu ju Ishido Hata Morihisa.

(Shinto, Chu-josaku, Musashi province.)

Blade length : 43.4 cm or 17.08 inches.

Sori : 0.7 cm or 0.27 inches.

Mekugi: 1

Width at the hamachi : 3.05 cm or 1.20 inches.

Width at the Kissaki : 2.24 cm or 0.88 inches.

Kasane : 0.71 cm or 0.27 inches.

Era : Early Edo period.about Kanbun era(about 1661),

Shape : The blade shape is wide and thick, Kanbun shinto style Wakizashi with little Sori.

Jitetsu : Very tight Ko-itame, covered in Jinie. There is Utsuri on jitetsu.

Hamon : Ko-nie based, Choji midare and Gunome midare mixed.

There are many Ashi and Yo in Ha. Boshi is round Kaeri style.

 

Special feature : Sekido Hata Morihisa was known as Hachi-zaemon.

He was a swordsmith in Musashi province. After, he changed the signature to Toren.

He was famous for Utsuchi (copy) of Ichimonji.

On the surface, this blade looks like Katayama Ichimonji.

 

 

 

NBTHK Hozon Paper

[Curgan]

Sho blade and koshirae

[Curgan]

Sho koshirae. As soon as the daisho is ready I will post pictures...

[jason_mazzy]

I really enjoyed the koshirae pictures

[k morita]

I will mail the AOI art manager to ask why he considers the signature unreliable.

 

I think this Akihide sword is a good sword.

But, i understand the reason why AOI feels the mei unreliable.

 

The reason:

1. *Saku* or *kinsau* or *Saku kore*(made,respectfully made,made by) is not carved for end of the mei on the tang(excluding Tanto).

2.Mei is not carved for the Mine side on the Tang in an orderly manner(also Ura-mei( date)).

3.Ura-mei(date) and mei(Omote) on the Tang is not start the same positions.

-------------

A lot of Tang oshigata of Akihide are recorded in the book(attached photo).

[The man who revived Japanese sword two times].

[Curgan]

I have contacted AOI and I am posting his whole answer as I received it. The reason for this is that I appreciate his honesty in doing business and I want to publicly express my compliments.

 

"I have been selling many uncountable swords to the sword collectors and dealers.I can say confidently that the most important business must be trustworthy between you and us.The signature is very similar with genuine signature but slightly questionable.I can say that feeling insist by 6 sense.I think many judges accept the signature as genuine like NBTHK or NTHK judges.If you submit the blade to NBTHK and get the Hozon paper. It will be very nice and say congratulation.But I might not accept as genuine signature.Of course we checked the signature very carefully by using many conference books and finallyI reached to my conclusion that the blade looks Gimei.I'm not sure that my answer is right or not but we have to keep good relationship between you and us.This is our philosophy."

 

I wish every dealer were as honest as Kazushige Tsuruta from AOI....

[Stephen]

John

 

How ever it turns out your doing great honor to the blade, very nice work. Congrats

[Curgan]

I am honoured by the kind compliment...

[drbvac]

Regardless it is a beautiful sword and gimei or not the smith was no slouch ! The daisho will be magnificent

[Curgan]

Regardless it is a beautiful sword and gimei or not the smith was no slouch ! The daisho will be magnificent

 

The mounter is one of the best and cooperation with him is excellent. That makes me believe the outcome will be satisfactory. I will definately post pictures of the finished project.

 

The only thing that we are missing yet is the dai tsuba...

[drbvac]

John:Are you looking for a tsuba similar to the sho one or a pair that are already matched >? MAy be easier to do the latter -

[Curgan]

I 'd like to find one that goes with the sho, even though it is unpractical.

 

I am not expecting to find an identical tsuba. Even though this tsuba has been identified as of the Ishguro school, the artist had a style of his own. This design with panels on an undecorated surface is rare enough on the market. For me any shakudo nanako tsuba with botan and/or bird theme will do. In fact I am looking forward to some differences.