Soten Soheishi?

[lazyasian]

I recently inherited a sword and on the handle it reads soten soheishi according to some members of the forum. I have done some research into the Soten style and it sounds like most of the works are from students of the school. Is there a way to tell if the work is soten? Also, the writing is on the handle and not the tsuba and the tsuba itself doesn't look as ornate as most I have seen. Please lend me your expertise.

 

Cory

[Grey Doffin]

Hi name please,

The signature is on the fuchi and has nothing to do with the tsuba. Signature on the fuchi goes for the kashira also, as long as they match.

Grey

[lazyasian]

Thank you for the clarification I just heard the Soten school was known for thier Tsuba and thought they might have been related. I have posted pictures of the Kashira and fuchi.

 

Cory

[Soshin]

Hi Cory,

 

The fuchi and kashira was made by the Soten school. I can read some of the mei at it reads on the left side after turning the image counter clockwise as the orientation of the photo is completely wrong to read Japanese. Here is what I have transliterated into Roman letters: Sōheishi Sōten Sei. There is some additional information on the right side I will need to take some time to transliterate. If you post the fuchi in the translation forum I am sure there are people that can do a much quicker transliteration and translation. The tsuba was not done in a Soten school. The tsuba looks to be a product of the Late Edo Period done in a much earlier tachi style. The texture of the tsuba is interesting. If you want to know more please take a look at a tsuba I am currently selling that I think is of similar origin: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9730.

I hope you find the information helpful.

 

 

 

Yours truly,

David S.