Shoshin Oya Kunisada Or Gimei?

[peter k]

i was hoping for some expert opinions on a wakizashi with this mei izumi kami fujiwara kunisada. i believe

it could be a jishin mei done late in his career just before his son started signing daimei for him. of course

it could be a clever gimei. i've checked and compared the article by massey and wada and i'm not sure

of anything. what do you experts and amateurs say?

 

[tokashikibob]

Pete,   Danny Massy's article is a good easy way to look at the mei.    If I remember right Kunisada's boshi and hada have distinctive characteristics.   Maybe you can take a good close up of those areas.  .  The  wakazashi shape, length and hamon look like a Oya blade,  Post some up close pictures and maybe a pro can give you more info.   I'd bring it to Chicago and submit it.    Here are couple pics of a possible good mei and reference book pics I have on the puter.

 

Best regards,

  Bob

[peter k]

thank you for the input bob. i will try to organize myself and put out some additional pics this weekend.

[peter k]

i tried shooting some additional closeup pics; sorry for the poor quality.

 

 

[peter k]

i've put several examples of shoshin jishin oya kunisada mei in the massey/wada article next to this mei, on the far right.

i'm leaning towards shoshin but would to hear what others think.

 

 

[Jacques D.]

Humm

[peter k]

it does seem out of character compared to his earlier mei... the third stroke, of the sada character which you point out,

looks to be pointed left to right. here's a very clean and clear shoshin oya kunisada jishin mei earlier in his career to compare.

 

 

[CSM101]

I just want to add another signature for comparison. Waki, Tokubetso Hozon.

 

Uwe G.

[peter k]

thanks for the comparison, signature aside, the nakago does bare some resemblances.

both are o-sujikai yasurime and display ha-agari kurijiri.

[Surfson]

Looks good enough to submit for shinsa to me.  

[peter k]

thanks for the encouragement.

[Surfson]

I would still consider it a bit of a long shot, but considering he is viewed as the founder of the Osaka Shinto school and trained Inoue Shinkai, it is a big name and a hundred bucks is not that much to find out if it is good or not (that of course is the cost if it isn't good - if it is good, no worries about paying off the rest of the shinsa cost!).  Good luck with it!  Cheers, Bob

[peter k]

thanks for everyone's input. i will consider shinsa application once i determine if a polish is needed. thanks again.

[Surfson]

Shinsa first, polish second, depending on being shoshin.  That is my advice. 

[peter k]

thank  you. that sounds proper.