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Shugyosha

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Everything posted by Shugyosha

  1. Shugyosha
    If I was bidding I’d be pricing it as an outsize, mumei shin shinto blade. My guess is that it’s this sort of age with some work done on the tang to try to make it look older. Jean has confirmed the hada which I couldn’t see on my phone, but a long blade with Ayasugi hada is appealing of itself so if the price doesn’t go too high it could be a nice enough buy. It’ll be interesting to see if anyone takes the bait though…
  2. Shugyosha
    Hi Jake, Yes it’s a Ken or Tsurugi. I’m firmly in the “dunno” camp as regards age - it’s hard to tell with this style blade as there are no obvious “tells” from the photos as the shape is invariably straight and a bit like this. There are, however, some red flags - no signature, no papers, red tinge to the rust on the tang, photographed with the habaki on so you can’t see the depth of the machi, sayagaki presented off-centre so it’s hard to read, no detailed shots of the blade. It’s presented as being very desirable in terms of age and school and is of exceptional length. So if it’s that good why not confirm that at shinsa? There’s lots of this stuff all over the internet auctions and if it’s sold as being by a big name, a desirable school or very old but with no papers, it’s probably not what it’s tricked up to be.
  3. Shugyosha
    Hi Aiki, Welcome to NMB, could you please post some more detailed pictures of the blade including close ups of the hardened edge, any activity in the blade above the hamon and tang? At first blush it looks a little older than a wartime blade but I could be wrong and so better pictures might help date it better.
  4. Shugyosha
    Hi Costas, A bit more to fill in the gaps: 一倶利伽羅図鐔 – Item – Kurikara zu tsuba – Rain dragon design 木瓜椀形 – Mokko wan gata – lobed bowl shape 鉄地 – Kurogane ji – iron ground 布目象嵌 – Nunome zogan – nunome technique inlay 丸耳 – Maru mimi – round rim.
  5. Shugyosha
    Hi Michael, The link takes me to lots of Japanese text but no tsuba.
  6. Shugyosha
    Yamashiro kuni Fushimi ju Kaneie
  7. Shugyosha
    Hi Buttles, I’m sure Piers will be along shortly but I think the first one refers to the barrel’s construction method: 二重巻張 Ni shige maki haru - Two ply wrap The next one is place of manufacture: 江州 国 [. ] Goshu kuni (Omi province) but there may be further characters that have worn away and may include the manufacturer’s name. The one in the cartouche on the stock is beyond me but hopefully you’ll get some better help soon.
  8. Shugyosha
    Hi Ben, The NBTHK does sometimes assign a blade to a particular generation of smith but often not, and not on the paper above. As you say, it just confirms the smith's signature and so it's a case of looking at the work and signatures of each generation to try to attribute it to one or the other. There's some information below on the two generations of smith with examples of the signatures of both (in the link of the final post). For me, the overall shape of your blade looks more like that prevalent in the Kanbun (straightish, chu kissaki) era rather than the Keicho era (extended chu kissaki), so 2nd generation, though the citation from Markus Sesko's book suggests that the signatures of both are similarly "spiderish" and different to that on the papered 2nd generation blade pictured by the OP. That said, my opinion isn't worth that much and you may get better ones shortly.
  9. Shugyosha
    Hi Colin, It might be Ishiguro Masatoki: 石黒改時 I'm doubting myself now though as I can't find an example of this signature.
  10. Shugyosha
    I’d tentatively suggest that perhaps friction from a tight saya that has taken whatever has been used to whiten the hamon away. You almost get what you’d expect to see in photo negative. Just apply the usual rules back to front. With suitable lighting you should still be able to track a Nioi guchi.
  11. Shugyosha
    Hi Steve, I'm glad that you're well. I'm in a similar position - as Brian put it pretty well, my interest drifted after I realised I couldn't afford stuff that I thought worth collecting. I do have fun hanging out on here and contributing to the off-topic threads though. Best wishes, John
  12. Shugyosha
    I think older than shinto and the colour of the steel in the last photos says Mino to me. That said, I was with Alex on Sue Bizen until I saw those.
  13. Shugyosha
    Hi Yves, sorry if I’m stating the obvious but it’s better to buy a sword by a Mukansa level smith after they were awarded that rank. Their pre-Mukansa swords may be just as good but not carry the same cachet. You may want to clarify what you’re thinking to get some better answers- maybe give smith names?
  14. Shugyosha
    Thanks gentlemen, I hope you enjoy the books. Hi Jon, The Yari, the Sue Bizen wakizashi, the ko Kinko tsuba with TH papers and the ko Shoami tsuba are sold. I need to update the book list but I'm away at the moment so apologies to you and to anyone who's left hanging. Still two swords and a bunch of tsuba available though...
  15. Shugyosha
    Many thanks to all who bought at or before the show and who came over for a chat. Donation made to NMB - many thanks Brian!
  16. Shugyosha
    Few to zero kitae ware.
  17. Shugyosha
    Shin Katchi Shi Meikan; Haynes Index and Military Accessories of a Daimyo House – Treasures from the Tokugawa Art Museum No. 10 NOW SOLD. Thank you!
  18. Shugyosha
    Hawley’s, Fuller & Gregory and Shin Katchushi Meikan all on HOLD.
  19. Shugyosha
    Hizento Handbook now on HOLD; Seiryken Eiju tsuba available again.
  20. Shugyosha
    Nihonto Zuikan; and Meihin Katanaezu Shusei are now sold. Thank you!
  21. Shugyosha
    The following items are also on HOLD: The yari; Seiryuken Eiju tsuba; Nihonto Zuikan; Meihin Katanaezu Shusei The Watanabe Art Museum Samurai Art Collection
  22. Shugyosha
    Tosogu Classroom now on hold. Thank you!
  23. Shugyosha
    Owari to Mikawa no Tanko now sold, thank you!
  24. Shugyosha
    No, I’ll do it a book at a time. Bushido now ON HOLD. Thank you!
  25. Shugyosha
    Sue Bizen wakizashi now ON HOLD pending examination at the show.
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