Shugyosha

Hi Bruce, Here's the first one, read from right to left. I'm sure I will have the readings wrong at some point or have made other errors so if anyone feels like checking it for me I'd be grateful. 古代武器 Kodai buki Antique weapons 刀剣賣買 Token ukai Swords sold and bought 鐔小柄等 Tsuba, kozuka nado Tsuba, kozuka etc 目貫縁頭 Menuki, fuchi kashira 研磨, Kenma, Polishing, 拵 Koshirae 書畫骨董 Shogaku kōtō Antique documents 松川屋刀剣店 Matsukawaya token mise Matsukawa store sword shop 松川賢十郎 Matsukawa Kenjūrō (proprietor's name) 信州松代町 伊勢町 Shinshū Matsushiro machi, Iikai machi Shinshū Matsushiro town, Iikai town (addresses)

Edward, That the owner has not responded to some reasonable questions suggests that it may not be a legitimate sale and the reason such questions get asked is so that people like you don't blow their wad on dodgy items. Be grateful. Also, It's probably not overpriced if it's genuine and may even be a bargain at that price, but the owner hasn't addressed that question of authenticity and the price is perhaps set to tempt the unwary or speculative. Mods - as Kirill says I'm not sure if this oversteps the mark about commenting on sales; please amend or delete if necessary.

Hi Micah, The mei reads “ Yasuchika”. It’s a big name in the Nara school, but I don’t know enough to give an opinion.

The date says made in September in the 18th year of Showa. Showa began in 1926 but ignore the first year in calculating the date so I make it 1943. The signature on the other side reads “Sukemitsu”. I’m suspicious that there used to be a stamp above this that would indicate that it was a non-traditionally made blade. This looks to have been filed off - you can see where there is a blank area in the diagonal file marks. I hope you didn’t overpay the gun show guy based on it being a pre-war blade or traditionally made. You might want to post some pictures of the entire package to get an evaluation of what you bought.

Hi Michael, Sorry for jumping the gun, but you’re right some people do silly things with very nice swords. I think this is one of those situations where your guess is as good as anyone’s. With Kai gunto, whilst intended for use, it was perhaps the case that there was an awareness that there was little likelihood of it being used on a ship. The days of boarding other ships at sword point were long gone, so maybe these blades didn’t get the same degree of attention as army swords given the pressure to keep churning swords out during the war. It might have been actual policy or practice at the time or something as simple as the owner was about to miss his boat and didn’t make it to the work shop - some personal circumstance. We’ll probably never know, unfortunately.

Michael, It isn’t going to war or be used for its primary purpose so it doesn’t need to be sharp. You’re only going to look at it, not cut with it, right?

Hi Vlad, Have you bought or are you thinking of buying these? The photo of the top (attributed) tsuba is entitled "ChoushuCastle2" and the style of this tsuba (manufacture and theme) fits with the Choushu school description though the carving is perhaps clunkier than I would expect. I can't make anything out from the paper as it's too small and blurs when magnified. The lower tsuba might also be Choushu school too based on the style of manufacture. I find the theme and arrangement of the oxen, tree and flowers and the use of space the more pleasing of the two. I don't see anything to suggest that they aren't genuine. Here's an example from Aoi Art: https://www.aoijapan.net/tsuba-the-signature-is-engraved-choshu-hagi-jyu-○○-mitsuyoshi/ Edit: On the paper I think I can just make out: 時代 江戸末期 Jidai - Edo sueki - so the paper is giving it to late Edo period. Can't see the school that the paper attributes it to.

Hi Ed, given the size and patina, my first impressions are that it’s modern, but a nice piece and, as you say, well crafted. I’m sure you’ll get some better informed comments than mine.

What size is it?

Hi Charles, Yay go rabbit! Can’t knock him for ambition.

Does the blade have authentication papers?

Hi Chris, Also, if a genuine mei, whether the smith was any good. There’s more than one generation, this one gets a fairly average 15 in Hawley’s: https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/YOS915 Also, you’d need to consider that Hizento often have thin outer steel so a polish might reveal an unsightly amount of core steel. I’d not put money into this.

Hi Adam, When I first started buying tsuba I did the same as you: it’s easy to get carried away by what seem like great bargains compared to swords. However, it’s also easy to end up with lots of low quality items. If you’ve not done so already have a look at this thread which has lots of great quality items to help train your eye.

Hi Matt, Have you seen this? https://yuhindo.com/kano-natsuo-mirror-menuki/

Hi Brian, An on-line glossary at the JSS-US web page: http://www.jssus.org/nkp/nihonto_glossary.html

Hi Stan, It's normal for a newly polished sword to have a storage scabbard called a shirasaya. You will need a habaki (the metal collar that sits in the mouth of the scabbard) too. It's not necessary to fit the sword out with the full set of fittings that would be worn if the sword were to be carried by a samurai (unless you want to). I'm sure there is a guy making habaki in the USA whose name is, I think, Brian Tschernega - I can't be sure I've spelt that right but a bit of a google ought to turn out his details. I'm sure there will be someone over there who can take care of the scabbard too, and the polisher can probably put you in touch with someone if the US members can't help. The names quoted by Chris above are, I believe, Japanese trained and should be able to recommend a level of polish appropriate for the blade and your budget.

Hi Stan, Welcome to NMB. As regards the rust, try wrapping the blade in cloth or newspaper soaked in oil. WD40 or 3 in 1 oil should do the trick (or whatever the US equivalent is). After a week or two this should turn the active rust inactive. Don't oil the tang (if there's no red rust there) and don't clean the tang or do anything else to try to clean up the blade - leave it to the polisher.

Another here attributed to late Nanbokucho period that lacks the classic sugata: https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumei-kashu-kagemitsu/ The link is wrongly titled but it takes you to an Omiya Morishige blade. The kasane is very thin so I wonder if it is much narrower than originally and may have looked closer to how one would imagine for the period?

Hi Uwe, I thought maybe 九 (made at the age of 79). Couldn’t do much with the other side though.

Russ, To some extent you’re buying the signature. However much you like the pictures of the blade, you need to be confident that the signature isn’t forged. Without papers or a lot more knowledge you can’t be. You’re new to this and taking a pace back and seeing what else is out there and just doing some learning won’t kill you. There are lots of swords for sale, often with authentication papers, so chill for a bit and look at what more reputable dealers have for sale. Most of us have been where you are and have bought without sufficient forethought and regretted it.

Yes, those listed under the links section in the info section above, those dealers who are board members listed in the sales section and individual members on here.

Hi Gary, Have a look on Aoi’s online museum there are a number of example signatures to compare it with. You need to bear in mind that his signature is one of the most often faked, so I guess there’s a better than average chance of it being gimei. https://www.aoijapan.net/?s=Sadakazu&x=0&y=0

The yasurimei don’t look right. Ones on the real thing are always impeccably finished and the kao looks “tentative”. Any pictures of the blade itself?

Hi Gary, What John said. Also, I love that you keep your hand cannon on the kitchen counter.

Hi Erwin, I’m sorry but that’s not a Japanese sword. Probably a Chinese fake.