Jens Olesen Posted January 21, 2012 Report Posted January 21, 2012 This wakizashi was bought in Copenhagen in 1973. Previous owner did not treat it very well, but I cherish it and want to keep it. I post a message in the hope that some experienced member of this community can give me ANY cues to the age and origin of it. I believe it was made in the 17th century but have absolutely no data on it. Nagasa is 44 cm, Nakago 16.7 cm, Sori 1 cm. The scabbard and fittings are quite loose and I wonder how much it has been tampered with. I shall gladly spend time trying to look up the Kanji in the mei, but as the picture shows, they are hard to trace because of rust. Maybe they speak to some knowledgeable person among you? Sincerely yours, Jens Olesen, Copenhagen. Quote
Veli Posted January 21, 2012 Report Posted January 21, 2012 Hello Jens! Welcome to NMB! It would help a lot to get your photos in a higher resolution! Please do some cropping, and less picture compression, and please leave out the tracings on the mei, they do not usually help much. If I should make an unreliable guess based on what I see, this could be Fujishima Tomoshige 藤島友重. A number of smiths by this name worked in Kaga and Echizen provinces from 14th to 19th century. Your blade might be sue-koto (14th-16th century). BR, Veli Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted January 21, 2012 Report Posted January 21, 2012 A number of smiths by this name worked in Kaga and Echizen provinces The nakago-jiri suggests Kaga is a possiblity. Would like to view better images of sword and koshirae if possible? Quote
Jens Olesen Posted January 21, 2012 Author Report Posted January 21, 2012 Thank you very much, Veli! Your information is a gift to me. I enclose two images of perhaps better quality. They have the max size allowed by this website. yours, Jens Quote
Jens Olesen Posted January 21, 2012 Author Report Posted January 21, 2012 I appreciate your reply, Franco and attach pictures of the blade and koshirae. The largest possible. sincerely, Jens Quote
cabowen Posted January 21, 2012 Report Posted January 21, 2012 I agree with the Fujishima Tomoshige call....I think that is a safe bet.... Quote
Veli Posted January 21, 2012 Report Posted January 21, 2012 Hi Jens! Here's the mei of your blade compared to the reference picture (Fujishiro) of Oei period Fujishima Tomoshige of Kaga. Not saying that it is a perfect match, but just wanted to give you a clue what to look for when trying to figure out the strokes. The third kanji "tomo" is the most difficult to resolve... you probably see better with the blade in hand... BR, Veli Quote
Jens Olesen Posted January 21, 2012 Author Report Posted January 21, 2012 This is great help. And so quickly! Thank you, Jens Quote
nagamaki - Franco Posted January 21, 2012 Report Posted January 21, 2012 Thanks for additional images. If without serious issues this sword may very well deserve further attention, good fortunes. Quote
runagmc Posted January 22, 2012 Report Posted January 22, 2012 Too bad the koshirae wasn't taken care of... it looks like the kairagi-same saya was once pretty nice. Quote
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