Yasukuni Sword on eBay

I have just noticed another Yasukuni blade on eBay at #160151036876

My gut feeling was that it is Gimei but I am undecided and would like to know what others are thinking about it.

Regards,

Max

Edit Brian - You can post links here

http://cgi1.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?V ... 0151036876

I think your gut may be right.

No koshirae, habaki is not like those made for Yasukunito.

Yasurime, file marks are not done well.

The signature does not match published examples.

On the other hand.

I think that those that appear with slightly diff. sig. were propably

dai mai. An example is the one described in Kishidas book from

notes taken from Yasuoki where he describes how he deliberately

changed a couple of things to designate made by the sakite, or assistant.

It is noted elsewhere that 30% of all made were made by the assistants.

After all the goal was to make swords for the war effort. These were

not made with collectors in mind at the time. In addition why make a

gimei and have it worth less than $5000. or even $8000.?

This one has what might be 60 years of accumulated patina or wear

on it and explaining the buffing that was done to it by the uninitiated.

This will need a $2,500. investment in polish and good shirasaya.

Whether it would paper is anyones guess as well. The seller has considered all of this and has opted out for good reasons too.

bdgrange