John A Stuart

I thought this might be interesting for those in the area. John

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I am afraid I see nothing convincing about this sword. Very strange looking all around. Can't see anything as regards the blade. Too rusty. I really haven't seen anything like this before. John

I see what looks like 小川重良 Ozawa Shigeyoshi so far. John

Hi Yuzo san, I never originally commented on the signature of this sword, other than mentioning to Elite Militaria Pty. that it is different in how it was made and that it was why there was the conversation about it. That is a very interesting fact about the smith being a poor calligrapher. I must say swords made in this era frequently are hard to read and a lot are nakarishimei. Thank you and welcome. John

A definite possibility. John

I am guilty of using wak Franco, but, only to save time for a typist using the two forefingers method and that blasted 'z' is way over there. Maybe I'll use shoto. :lol: John

That's true with a lot of books, Jacques. You have to trudge through them and try to find other sources that either prove or disprove what is written. Like Darcy was saying the available information of the mainline Kanesada line has a gap. The smiths that have a fairly good reputation are documented, but, when there is a period where the craftmanship has regressed there tends to be little attention payed them. The Kanesada line going to the 23rd who had a cutlery shop must be the Kanesada Ha as it went into the shinshinto period via the Oshu smiths. As it appears to me anyway. I have always found tracking groups in the Seki tradition difficult, not only because of the prodigious amount of smiths and their work available and their itinerantcy, but, also because of the name changes. Some smiths had multiple names, further, when the son or other smith next in line came to head the line the previous head if still working would relinquish his name and take another while the son took the previous heads name. John

Now I understand your ire. I think this was a case of buyers remorse. It happens when comments can disaffect a persons confidence, especially when new to a subject. I hope anyone reading this realises that these are opinions only and a judgement must come from someone who is accredited as being able to give a professional judgement, something that is rarely obtained on an online forum no matter the good intentions. As you say a good lesson in thinking 90% and commenting the other 10. John

Hello Elite Militaria Pty. Ltd., I looked back over the posts on this sword and I do not see where anyone has called it a FAKE. There is just normal conversation about a signature that does not follow an usual formulae of work. I think you may have been a bit hasty in thinking so, but, if you think so, be assured no one is infallible and mistakes are corrected if found to be so. In general this forum is a learning place and no harm is intended to anyone or their business. In fact, until you mentioned it I was unaware of who the seller was. John

Often wakizashi are signed differently than katana. That's what I think is happening here. For example Noshu Ju Tajima no Kami Fujiwara Kanesada may sign waks only Noshu Ju Fujiwara Kanesada. BTW there were Kanesada smiths in the Aizu Kanesada Ha of Iwashiro and in the Echizen Seki Ha in shinto times, but, their signatures used other place names. John

Hi Darcy, I quickly jotted down some Shinto Kanesada smiths. There are others as well. Different Kanji for 'sada' for some.

Source M. Cox, Swords and Swordsmiths of Mino Province. John

Kanesada Ha of Mino

This group has a close relationship with the Seki Ha. These smiths use the E-shape “sada” 定

KANESADA (NOSHU), Keicho 1596) to Kanei era (1624). E-shape “sada”, lived in Shimizu, also called Izumi no Kami. [H]

Noshu Shimizu Ju Kanesada

Noshu Shimizu Ju Izumi no Kami Kanesada

KANESADA (NOSHU), Keicho era (1596). E-shape “sada” personal name is Matashichiro

KANESADA (SHlNANO NO KAMI), Tenwa era (1681). E-shape “sada”

KANESADA (TAJIMA NO KAMI), Jokyo era (1684). E-shape “sada” in Shinto Seki style.

Noshu Ju Tajima no Kami Fujiwara Kanesada

KANESADA (OMI NO KAMI) , Jokyo era (1684). E-shape “sada”.

KANESADA (SHINANO NO KAMI), Genroku era (1688). E-shape “sada”.

KANESADA (SEKI), Kyoho era (1716). E-shape “sada, lived in Seki, personal name is Denkuro.

KANESADA (SEKI), Kyoho era (1716). E•shape “sada” . lived in Seki, personal name is, Matazo.

KANESADA (SEKI), Kyoho 9 (1724). E-shape “sada”, lived in Seki, 2 character mei.

Kanesada

Shinto Seki Ha

This group uses the Box “sada” 貞

KANESADA (SHINANO NO KAMI), Genwa era (l615) to Tenwa era (1681). Box “sada”, lived in Seki and Sakakura, personal name is ?Shosho.

Sa Shosho Kanesada

Shinano no Kami Kanesada

Mino Sakakura Shinano no Kami Shosho Kanesada

KANESADA (SEKI), Kanei era (1624). Box “sada”, lived in Seki. Hada of itame and hamon of suguha-midare.

Noshu Seki Ju Kanesada

KANESADA (SUNSHU), Kanei era (1624). Box “sada”, worked in both Mino and Suruga province (Sunshu).

Sunshu Ju Kanesada

KANESADA (SHlNANO NO KAMI), Tenwa era (1681). Box “sada”, lived in Seki.

Shinano no Kami Kanesada

KANESADA (SEKI), Genroku era (1688). Box “sada”, lived in Seki.

Noshu Seki Ju Kanesada

KANESADA, Kyoho era (1716). Box “sada”, personal name is Heizo.

Kanesada Heizo

KANESADA, Kyoho era (1716). Box “sada”, personal name is Heisuke.

Kanesada Heisuke

Your google is pretty darn close if not absolutely correct. I would say Kawai Yoshifumi, by your kanji. John

BTW Your 岡田　武 Okada Take ? seems to be missing a kanji, something like 武史 Takeshi, 武松 Takematsu or 武夫 Takeo

Copper lends itself to such warm colour, it really is the king of soft metals. I like it. John

Well, if it is the Daijo smith it would be; KUNITSUGU YAMASHIRO NO DAIJÔ [KAN'EI 1624 ECHIZEN] SHINTÔ CHÛJÔSAKU

He is the eldest son of Yamato no Daijô Masanori, and is called Yamada Shichirôbei. He is said to have died at the age of 65 in Kan'ei Rokunen (1629). (Wazamono)

Signature: YAMASHIRO NO DAIJÔ FUJIWARA KUNITSUGU

I went by the signature as read. John

Well, half way through, I thought the same. My photography is even more poor. It is good for me anyway. :lol: John

It is hard to track down the particular Kanesada this may be. I would be inclined to think, due to the particular 'sada' kanji 定 and the use of Fujiwara with the place name of Noshu, that a safe bet would be the Shinto Seki Ha or possibly Mino Kanesada Ha. The signature of Noshu Seki Ju Fujiwara Kanesada crops up frequently in those groups and due to it being a wakizashi may have been truncated to Noshu Ju Fujiwara Kanesada, although that is seen as well. The shinto examples I have do not include all the possibilities. Many, many. John

Thanks Ford. maybe I only notice the wear on the saya because they are in use, as the others are coddled. John

Hi Mario, That is an interesting sword. Very nice. i shall do a little research too. John

I have all my art in a room, 4 locks on the door, stainless steel expanded metal covering the window, swords in a katanadansu when home and in a safe when away. I still worry. I forgot to mention the alarm system. The only time my swords are available for friends to see is when invited. The general aquaintences that come to my home are not aware of what is in my study. Loose lips and all that, may get to thieves. John

Mario, can we see more pics of this wak? John

I have a couple of saya that have cashew. One I use almost daily. The surface shows wear. Although it has a wonderful finish it couldn't take this day to day use. Ford, you find it as hard as urushi? Maybe mine needed a better quality of cashew. If I had a choice I would always use urushi. Guido's examples are truly great and fine for display saya. John

Sorry guys, As Moriyama san pointed out I made an error in the description. I do not know how I did it, but, I have the correct one now. #34 in the catalog. The text does mention it being made for a woman and used in two battles. Anyhow it took a couple of hours to transcribe so I hope it helps. A poor shakey pic included showing #34. John

三四、重要文化財紺糸裾素懸威胴丸

一領 室町時代

小札長七 糎 幅O・九種胴高(胸板より胴)

尻まで) 三四糎腕廼七一・五糎 草摺長

二九・五糎

黒漆塗成上げ本小札を鉄札と革札の一枚交ぜに

紺糸で毛引 威しにして、胴の立挙は前二段、後三

段とし、衝胴は五段、 草摺は十一 間五段に仕立て、

金具廻は黒漆塗の敏章(しわかわ)で包み、境粧板

を付けずに八重菊笠鋲二個宛の八双鋲を打つ。緒

所はすべて白の丸打紐を付る。この胴丸は兜・

大袖を欠いているか、胴の構造極めて細散で、蜘

廻りが著しく広く、嗣尻が細く引綿って引合せと

脇板に二間と三聞の冠板を付け、草摺は十一間に

分けるなど、普通の胴丸にはみられないめずらし

い構造である。 社伝に天文十年(一五回二の大

三島合戦に、 大祝安剖 (やすもち) の息女鶴姫が着

用した胴 丸と伝えている。

Cashew is soft and easily damaged. I wouldn't put it over an urushi nuri. If you want something done right send it to a good sayashi. eg., John Tirado, there are others see links. http://www.sayashi.com John

Piers and Ian,

This is from the catalog from Oyamizunijinja that has this piece of armour. The kanji are correct. I can’t say as much about my translation. It does not mention to whom it belonged.

重要文化財

Important National Treasure

萌黄糸素懸威鉄腹巻

An iron ‘do’ with yellow thread showing an elementary dignity when hung and tied.

John

There used to be shinsa quite often in the Netherlands, but, with the death of an important figure recently in your country's sword collecting community it seems to have had an effect. Hopefully someone on this board will know. Maybe http://www.society-for-Japanese-arts.org/ or NETHERLANDS TOKEN SOCIETY - Regular meetings at various locations. The February meeting will be on the 8th at Hotel 'De Ossewa', Duinweg 7, 2202 RA, Noordwijk, Holland. Contact Bob de Vroedt at secretaris@to-ken.nl for details.