Marius

Anybody?

Gentlemen, Here is strange mei (at least for me). I read it like Fujiwara Migi Saku Kore, but, of course the kanji 右 can also mean U like in Uemon. Also, "Fujwara" seems to have been chiseled by another person than the one who has done the rest of the mei. I might be dead wrong here, of course. I am puzzled, could you please help? Thanks for your time

Sorry for the delayed reply. It was high rather than flat.

Dirk, I see curvature. And regardless of the tip, it is a hoko blade, meant to be mounted on a pole. Consequently, it is a pole arm, and since it is hardly a yari, it must be a naginata. Just MHO, of course Nice find, BTW

That Enju must be a masterwork. I have seen the kuichigaiba and thought how much it reminds me of a certain Tegai...

Paul, is that a Tegai?

And a papered and published Naotane: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/sword2.html

Kevin, Mine would have excellent pictures, dimensions and a relatively narrow focus.

Thanks for the additional info... Well, from your pics it is hard to see anything, but the "polish" has been done by an amateur, that much is sure. I stick to my shinto call.

Well, this is very good iron and that makes this tsuba very good. I suppose it feels leasant in hand. I like the fact that it s not overdone, the layers are visible only close to the rim. I am sure it has a very good colour, too. You have bought yourself a fine tsuba. Unadorned, the pure essence of tsuba - a very well forged plate. You need no more to be happy if you are a tsuba lover. And I guess something made you pick just this tsuba. You must have found it appealing. Try to recall why. BTW, I admire your choice I guess you might want to read dr Torigoye's musings on tsuba, which you can find in "Tsuba. An Aesthetic Study" written by dr Torigoye and Mr Haynes. The book costs pennies but contains loads of useful information.

Peter, can you provide the measurements? Also, a picture of the boshi would be very helpful. Thanks My first thought would be shinto.

Oh, what sad news... I have never met Craig, but we have exchanged a few emails and my first old soft metal tsuba came from his collection...

I used to have a late Kamakura Enju tachi, 74 cm nagasa, suriage, 2.6 cm sori (torii zori). It had a maru mune.

Thanks for the kanji, Guido

I have seen this wakizashi at Samuaraishokai.jp This type of kshirae is called Kawazusumi Koshirae.

I recommend the purchase of two Oyamazumi Jinja collection catalogues. Small booklets but packed with old koshirae. And with naginata, and odachi... With an incredible (~2cm thick) yamagane (?) tsuba for an odachi koshirae... Tosogu no Kigen by Sasano has some valuable information, too. I am sure Grey Doffin can get you all these :-)

How long is the sword? Looks like 62-65 cm or so. Can you provide all measurements - nagasa, motohaba, sakihaba, kasane, sori? My guess would be an early Muromachi (or earlier) Hokkoku-mono or Oshu-mono. It looks like a Yamato offshoot work, and I guess it is safe to assume, that Uda would be a reasonable, if usual grab bag Your sword is definitely worth to be submitted for papers (provided it has no fatal flaws), although it seems a utilitarian sword rather than a masterpiece. The hada is coarse, as Hamish has rightly observed, and the hamon lacks actiities to speak of, other than those coming from the construction of the steel. Still, there are numerous ji-nie so we can assume that the quality of the steel is good. It must have been a trusted weapon in its time. I think, for a first sword, you have done very well

BTW, not my tsuba, nor am I associated with nhontocraft.com in any way. I was just a happy customer of Danny's...

David, John, Thank you, gentlemen

Vincent,

A member whom I consider a friend has just told me in a very diplomatic way that my statement about the blade not being Yamato was perhaps a bit too categoric. He was right, of course, as only shinsa can give an educated attribution. Mine was only an uneducated opinion - one that does not carry much weight Please do not listen to me

One thing I wanted to add - this looks like and old sword ("old" like "older than late Muromachi"). And the hada is something you can certainly enjoy. If you had good pictures of the hamon, I guess some of us here could take a stab at an attribution. Gee, such a pity that they have carved that horimono...

Horimono is low quality, sorry, at least that is what I see in your very small pics. The seller (koushuya) sells... well, lower level items. This is not a Yamato blade, looks more like a Hokkoku-mono/Oshu-mono to me (swords form the Northern Provinces). The hada is large and not uniform. Usual suspect - Uda. I'd check the hamon, it may be shimi (tired, indistinct) or absent in places (nioigire - this is just a hunch, based on what Japanese dealers often sell on eBay). If you are lucky, it is OK. However, that horimono, which as I understand was the trigger for your purchase should be treated as a flaw. Sorry to be rather blunt...

Klaus, many thanks Yes, I have identified the first one and wanted just confirmation that I was correct. But the second one - that one kanji... And perhaps I got the "naga" wrong, too...

Dear members, I have two signatures here, probably easy, but I would like to kindly ask you for assistance. I have identified the first mei mei (dark background picture) as Kakimoto Yamato no Suke Masahisa. In the second picture (looks like a gendaito) I see only Bishu ju (?) Naga saku. I have no idea what kanji is before "naga". I haven't yet looked at the sloppy signature on the left side of the nakago. Thank you for your time and help