Help Finding More On A Swordmaker

[elquesogrande]

Just two days ago I drove up to see an old aunt who passed along a katana my uncle had inherited from someone a generation ahead of him. Yesterday I started looking for more info on the katana...which led down a lot of fun rabbit holes.

 

Here are some posted pix of the katana. It's a bit beat up, but that's what it is at this stage: 

 

https://imgur.com/gallery/GnVZY

https://imgur.com/gallery/tuptc

 

I looked for help through the Nihonto Facebook Page and via twitter this evening and found a lot of help with translations and ideas around the sword's origins. Looks like it was made in 1864. I would love to find out more about the swordsmith, if possible.

 

The Japanese twitter crowed was able to uncover a (much, much better) sword made by the same swordsmith here. It's the green one at the bottom and has the exact same signature in the same location as mine.

 

http://www.osaka-ryujindo.jp/consign/Table/Page/201111/06100912/index.html

 

QUESTION

 

Where might I be able to find out more about this swordsmith? He was 62 years old in 1864.

 

幸雲斎古川 – Name

花押 – Signature

 

I don't know a lick of Japanese - mostly working with Google Translate and the like.

 

I attached photos of his signature with the linked sword and my own for reference. Tried the Ninhonto Club database and came up short. Then again, I might be doing something wrong in my search. https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths

 

 

 

[Grey Doffin]

Hi (name please),

The only signature I see on your sword is on a piece called fuchi, at the end of the handle next to the tsuba.  This belongs to the fuchi and has nothing to say about who made the blade.  If the blade is unsigned it will take in hand examination by someone knowledgeable before you'll learn much about the sword.  The mounts look nice.

Pretty much all the comments posted with your linked pictures are boloney (a nice word for something you don't want to step in).  A lack of signature says nothing about whether the sword is or isn't tourist trap; unsigned swords can be great and signed swords can be made yesterday in hurry.

Here is a link to a care & etiquette brochure: http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm

Please read this twice; it's important.

I see you are in Minnesota.  Me too (Duluth); I'd be glad to take a look if you wanted to drop by.

Looks like you have something nice; congrats.  Grey  218-726-0395

[Geraint]

Dear Steve,

 

 

Grey is quick and spot on as usual.  Just to add the ornament on the scabbard is quite alright where it is, called a saya kanemono. As Grey said pretty much everything else you were told on the posts with your photographs is off beam to say the least.  

Worth getting to see Grey if you can.

 

All the best.

 

(Oh and please add your name to your posts)

[elquesogrande]

Thanks, Grey and Geriant - appreciated.

 

I worked with several groups to help translate the fuchi and was (early on) led to believe it named the swordmaker. Learned from more steady hands this morning exactly what Grey said - this is the signature of the fuchi metalmaker. https://twitter.com/vellum6e/status/943319931248041985

 

Hi, finally we reached a professional!  He explains that this is name of the metalsmith who made this part of the sword. Both 幸雲斎 and 古川 is his professional name as maker and his real name is 忠左衛門 (not written here). He worked for Tosa Domain but he lived in Edo city. He was someone in late Edo era (1603–1868).

 

Dating on the signature has the fuchi as 1864, as Grey pointed out.

 

GREY: I grew up in Fredenberg, MN - just north of Duluth. Currently living in Saint Peter but about to start a new job in Jupiter, FL right after New Years. Would have definitely made the trip up otherwise!

 

Looks like the care and etiquette link you shared is broken. Would love to see a working version and will be sure to read it thoroughly.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Best,

Steve

[Grey Doffin]

http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm

The link again.  Grey

[SteveM]

If I'm not mistaken, the year is 1865, and it says the maker was 62 years old when the fuchi was made. 慶應元丑　Keiō gannen ushi (i.e. year of the cow, Keiō 1) Keiō is the era name. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kei%C5%8D

 

The bit under that says 行年六十二才(Gyōnen rokujū-ni sai), which indicates the artist was 62 years old. Normally Gyōnen would mean the year he died, but I think in this context it must not have that meaning