Stefan

The Blade is not fine Koshirae. Simple Fittings and Hana Nuri...

Im klassischem Verständnis ist der Hoso-Suguha ein sehr schmaler Suguha, aber der Ito-Suguha ist gespannt wie eine Seite, er hat Stärke. Technisch geshen ist es das Gleiche, aber künstlerisch ein riesen Unterschied.

Forgotten : The signature is gimei, later engraved, after suriage.

Sorry. this O- suriage, bad shape and polished down.

At a first glance I would say modern repro ? Stefan

Shitahara, Sengo, Shimada.....juged by Nakago. I don´t know which one.

O Hada in many places, JIfu Utsuri mixed in Midare , all this points to Ko-Aoe of the relativ early Kamakura. Real Dan Utsuri would point to al later date as well as an true Chrimen would do. The hamon looks like Kamakura Yamashrio style. Later Aoe are more influenced by Bizen, Even the pretty large sumi points to an erlier blade. The shape of the blade seems to be a little bit later, but we knew all that smith like Masatsune made this shape in the early Kamakura. Ichimonji with Kyo-Ashi and Sujikai yasurime ? Therefore I would think Ko-Aoe, early Kamakura. Only my two cents.

Regarding the Kozuka : The two NIO wrestling, a classic sujet. Regarding the blade : Old sashikomi ..No. It is not a Meiji Sashikomi.

KANEi 4 year , 8 month, a day Echizen no kami Fujiwara Yoshikado

Checked it out : it is gimei.

At late as this point , I can only say "No" that is not true. Far as I do remember, many of the Heian Blades are Maru... Kobuse only on WWII blades....

I agrree with Sword Guy Joe. Ikkansai Yoshihiro

Oh, the beauty is back again.

Thanks for the better picture Uwe. O.K. I do think it is an Edo shinto blade of the Kanbun / Enpo time.( Sugata = Enpo , Moku / Itame in the Masame in the Shinogi-Ji points to Edo ) The Hamon and boshi let me think of Kotetsu or Kazusa no kami Kaneshige. The style of yakidashi reminds my of Kotetsu. The only thing i do miss for Kotetsu is the usual snowman in the machi erea. Nevertheless I vote Kotetsu. Probably I am wrong.

The shape of the hamon is unclear, neither nie or nioi are visible, not to speak of the boshi. I am sorry, but with this little information it is Topfschlagen as we say in German and not kantei.

Oh fine...May not ship to germany..... Much thanks.

I can only say that i did have the honour to handle an Enju Kunisuke Tachi last year. Fantastic Jigane, vivid Nie-Utsuri as I have seen years before on a Rai Kunitoshi. The Hamon full with activity, not the simple boaring suguha with some niju. Really a sword to die for. By the way, my jugdement in Kantei was Rai for this blade ..Ups....

Im Falle eines Falles , ich glaub Alles..... Stefan

These are very good books about this topic, of urushi. http://www.nihonart.de/en_produkte_seturushi.php Stefan

One Side : Chounsai Koretoshi Ansei ni ? san gatsu kichi jitsu Other side : ? Oite Kofu ?? ju Tsunatoshi. It seems to be a collaboration of these two. Tsunatoshi was the father of Koretoshi who became later Tsunatoshi nidai. Hope that helps. Stefan

Nakago. In the normal Kantei you don´t see it. I´am trying to play it as a real Kantei with tsuka on.

The Grandmaster of the Whirlpool-Hada, Naotane. I hope so.... By the way, I can also see small uzumaki in this blade, which is only natural as it is Soden-Bizen style ala O-Kanemitsu. The uzumalki remins me of the yokome no kitae by kanemitsu.

Very good engraving. def. worth to be restored. Stefan

There is slight chance that it is real. 35 Years ago i owned a similar Tanto, inscribed "Masamune". At That time the chance of a chinese , by example forgery, was not so big, but nowadays ? I have seen to many fake blades in ths style during the last years. This tanto I did send for polishing to Japan , as it returned, wow, how the hada has changed. the Hamon was gone..........Well, a beginners luck, Therefore I am pretty sure that something is wrong with this blade.. Stefan

A wonderful fake blade. The hada is perfect enhanced by acid. Without joking, this result is not the result of the work with stones. Turn the blade in the light, and most probably you will see a brownisch shimmer on it. A sign of acidwash. Use Your Nose. Smell the blade ! ( After cleaning ) Acid blades does often have a "special" smell.This works also well on the nakago. By the way, this is not an ayasugi hada. Greetings Stefan