Shugyosha

Withdrawn from sale. If I can't give this stuff away I won't. I'm happy for the thread to be added to the archive for reference purposes if that fits in with the forum rules.

Hi Mark, Yes, looks like second generation: TAMEYASU (為康), 1st gen., Kan´ei (寛永, 1624-1644), Ōmi/Kii – “Kishū-jū Tosa Shōgen Tachibana Tameyasu” (紀州住土佐将監橘為康), “Tosa Shōgen Tameyasu” (土佐将監橘為康), real name Tomita Shōgen (富田将監), he came originally from Ishidō (石塔) in Ōmi province, he was the father of Bitchū no Kami Yasuhiro (備中守康広), later he moved to Kii and is considered as one of the ancestors of the Kishū-Ishidō school, flamboyant chōji-midare in the style of the Ichimonji school, wazamono, chūjō-saku TAMEYASU (為康), 2nd gen., Kanbun (寛文, 1661-1673), Kii/Settsu – “Mutsu no Kami Tachibana Tameyasu” (陸奥守橘為康), “Mutsu no Kami Tameyasu” (陸奥守為康), real name Tomita Rokurō´emon (富田六郎右衛門), oldest son of the 1st gen. Tameyasu, older brother of Bitchū no Kami Yasuhiro (備中守康広), he moved later to Ōsaka and worked in the style of his father, flamboyant ōbusa-chōji, gunome, but the bōshi is mostly sugu, wazamono, chūjō-saku From eSwordsmiths of Japan. Best, John P.S. - cracking blade.

This nakago is something I haven't seen before - trying to replicate the tang on archaic blades? https://www.token-net.com/token/201806-11.html

Hi James, Beyond a few areas of o hada which I don't feel are out of keeping with the age of the blade, I can't really see any significant detractors. I remember asking the same question about a Rai school blade that didn't go and the answer that came back was "price". I guess ultimately if the price is appealing, stuff sells and if not it sticks - again it doesn't seem to be excessive to me so maybe it's just an anomaly. Best, John

A small addition to this thread - which I should have read before I tried to ship from the UK to USA via Parcelforce Global Express. I've had the parcel returned to me asking for further details including a VAT number which I couldn't supply as I don't have one, but which was stated as being optional on the form. According to the guy at Parcelforce, FedEx's tracking system requires a VAT number or the package can't be entered into the system, explaining why there was no movement from the receiving depot. This isn't the case with Global Priority - so if the matter can't be sorted out between the two carriers, it can be moved over to a different bag and go via a different route.

Thanks Chris. Actually it's not papered but I'm guaranteeing that it will pass shinsa. Now sold. Thank you!!

On hold.

Bit of choji oil and she'll be apples.

Hi Dave, I think that whoever you get to look at it is going to be hampered by the condition - specifically in terms of how deep the rust is. If you can do a bit of work with oil and paper to maybe reduce that it might help with an opinion. Also, if you want to PM me an address I can send you an uchiko ball - basically a cloth bag on a small stick filled with stone dust used to clean swords. It will take some patience but it might have a positive effect on the less affected areas. Grev Cooke ("Grev" is his handle on here) is in Coventry and he might be able to look at the blade for you. Alternatively, I'm a fairly frequent visitor to south Leicestershire and so I might be able to arrange something but I don't believe I'm an expert and neither should you. I'm happy to trawl my reference material to see if I can come up with some sample signatures by this smith which might give an indicator of whether or not it is genuine but, like you didn't find much via Google. I'm fairly sure that Markus Sesko will have used most of the more respected references in compiling his work so I wouldn't expect too much on my shelves. That will be next week though as I'm heading away for a couple of days. Best, John

Hi Dave, I'd agree with what Steve says - if the signature is good, the most likely candidates are a couple of smiths whose working life was from the early to late 1500s. This is from Markus Sesko's eSwordsmiths of Japan: MASAKIYO (正清), 3rd gen., Tenbun (天文, 1532-1555), Bingo – “Bishū Mihara-jū Masakiyo” (備州三原住正清) MASAKIYO (正清), 4th gen., Tenshō (天正, 1573-1592), Bingo – “Bingo Mihara-jū Kai Masakiyo” (備後三原住貝 正清) The signatures quoted, however, aren't an exact match for the one on yours. That doesn't automatically mean that yours has been faked as Japanese sword smiths varied their signatures but my gut feeling is that the condition of the signature seems too fresh for a blade from this time frame. That's just a feeling though. I'm not an expert on the various flavours of rust but I wonder whether it might be worth trying to do something to limit the damage to the blade. What is often quoted is to wrap the blade in newspaper soaked in oil and leaving it for a week or two. When unwrapped some of the rust should come away and the detail in the blade may be revealed to some extent. Perhaps others can chip in with some advice on this. DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH THE TANG! Sorry to shout but cleaning the tang is a big no-no with Japanese swords as the patina is an indicator of the age and affects the potential value of the sword and should be left in place. Best, John

Hi Steve, I think with Goto artists, it's fairly common for the Goto part to be in grass script and the artists name to be less cursive. Here's a link to a papered Goto Mitsuyoshi kozuka: https://www.aoijapan.net/kozukagoto-mitsuyoshi-kao/ Best, John

In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man is king.

I'm in the shinshinto camp too, maybe late shinto but lots newer than 1500s.

Sorry Guido, you're right in both cases.

Now it is... It's the hiragana "ha" and the number 3. So not a mei but perhaps they are assembly numbers for gunto fittings. Best, John

Hi Chris, There's no picture attached. John

Hi Oliver, Here's my best shot, the brackets indicate the bits I couldn't get: 黒石地[ ]鞘半太刀拵 Kuro (black) Ishiji [ ] saya handachi koshirae 縁頭山銅地 Fuchi kashira yamagane ji (yamagane ground). 目貫 雪片図[ ] Menuki snowflake theme [ ] 鐔 武兵図鉄地 Tsuba warrior theme tetsu ji (iron ground). Best, John

What he said. Fortune favours the brave!!

Thanks Alex. It's complicated this collecting lark isn't it?

Thanks for the comments and for posting that Dwain, yours is a really nice example. Best, John

Thank you gentlemen, shibuichi it is then. Kind regards, John

I currently have a kozuka for sale here, which I believe is ko kinko and done in shakudo. A board member kindly pointed out that, due to the brown colour, he thought that it was probably shibuichi. My understanding is that shakudo comes within a range of colours dependent on the recipe and I thought that dark brown, a little off black was a possible for shakudo. Does anyone have any comments? Here's a link to the listing, please let me have your thoughts. Best, John http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/26873-ko-kinko-kozuka/

It has been mentioned that the "shakudo" may in fact be shibuichi: in normal lighting it has a brown rather than black hue. Please accept my apologies for any misdescription. Edit: Sorry can't edit the original post - it's shubuichi and not shakudo.

Bump!!

Bump!!!