swordsmith help

[micko]

Hi All,can i get some advice ,help on which KANENAGA this may be ,i'm afraid it's beyond my limited knowledge

regards

Micko

[Brian]

No idea..there were many, and I don't think you will match up the right one purely with the mei alone. But...

There was a possible that signed nijimei:

 

Kanenaga

Koto, Mino no kuni (Tenbun)

KAN1685 (15pts) TTp106

large two character signature

 

Has the nakago been badly cleaned and/or filed?

 

 

Brian

[micko]

Hi Brian the nakago seems fine teh flas lights it up a little the signiture has been rubbed a little but the back is old black no fileing..this is my problem the sheer number of KANENAGA signed smiths and everyone has an opinion which is what i grasp.koto?maybe but i feel more shinto the nakago comes right down to just under half an inch ,maybe be a something that this particular smith did that someone is aware of or may have seen before..

 

best regards

Micko

[John A Stuart]

Micko, I would love to see more of this entire blade. Hard to photograph, I know, but it would help. John

[Stephen]

yes the sugata will tell us alot more.

[micko]

OK here's some more shots ,the polish is old ,the nagasa is 27 1/2 inches

best regards

micko

[micko]

..

[John A Stuart]

Hi Micko, Well it is hard to photograph swords isn't it? Sugata and darkish jigane point to late Muromachi/Momoyama. There is a smith from the Tenbunjidai that signed nijimei with that kanji for 'naga'. He is found within the general Sue-Seki Kaji. Suguba based hamon was produced by Sue-Seki smiths. To really nail down an attribution the boshi should have a long kaeri with a sharp turnback or jizu form and mokume hada with masame hada above the shinogi. I can't tell from the pics but this is my take on it. John

[micko]

Too right John it's a bit different if the polish is grand a little easier to photograph,thanks for your opinion....i read an article about a Japanese officer boasting of his sword a kanenaga taking over one hundred heads without a chip too his blade during the the china offensivea bit morbid but history none the less......thanks agaian

regards

micko