Alex A

Hi Jon, not had any issues with Aoi in the past with importing to UK, just make sure they state the customs tariff for antiques which is 9706.00.00.00 on the description and add ANTIQUE OVER 100 YEARS OLD.....RELIEF REQUESTED That should do it..

Interesting exercise, main reason for me is thought id have a go as you should do without reaching for books and the internet. Wont bore folk with images of swords from my original choice but there are similarities, all went to pot in the end though, main reason being you doubt you would find any sword made by that smith with those dimensions I suppose unless you look at these swords in hand on a regular basis then it makes it rather difficult. Which most of us dont. Thanks though, lovely sword in great condition.

Mine had a rough life too Life aint easy for a sword named Sue.

Welcome Jon. Great place to learn about Japanese swords and have a laugh.

Good strong name Chris!

What you do Chris is pick a smith who you think it might be then MAKE it fit

Ive got a Sukezane i call Susanne

See if this warms it up Go Yoshiro or Kanemitsu maybe

If folk like yourself spend 10, 20, 30 + years looking at swords everyday, whether in hand or online then i consider your opinion valid, even if not considered "expert"

Is it though ?. Its in great condition, great polish and with great pics, but sure i see small Shintetsu. The Nakago holes look punched, is this something we see on a lot of Naotone and the like? Also looks to be too much character in the steel for that line and weak activity in the hamon like you see in older blades. Funnily enough though, copied Morimitsu, i do hope not Anyways, all good fun

Dunno why folk are saying ShinShinto Likely wrong, but first few pics screamed Bizen to me.

Straight off the bat (excuse clause)............Bizen Osafune Morimitsu, Ouei

Nice swords Bryce, on the wish list but never got around to it. Just reading over the Wak from Aoi again, it says. "It is not Echizen Hori that is regularly seen so it could be engraved later". Sometimes you see terms on Aoi and other places that maybe you knew about but forgot. They mention "Echizen Sori", not looked into it and cant remember but just wondering if deep sori was a trait that ran for a while. I remember Echizen blades where known for their cutting ability. Stumbled across this article that was quite interesting regarding the use of Cavalry in Japan. Did Cavalry Existed in Japan? (gunbai-militaryhistory.blogspot.com)

You sound the right man for the Job Steve, especially being in Tokyo!

According to the index of Japanese swords he made a sword dated to the early1700,s with his son, must have enjoyed teaming up

Yes, heres another fof the same Era Wakizashi: Kaga no Kami Fujiwara Sadahiro - Japanese Sword Online Museum (aoijapan.net)

Dunno John, have you ever seen the last Samurai?

That was my guess, John, just personal preference for someone fighting on horseback Unusual though, agree Paul.

Didnt expect this to be Edo, at first glance assumed a lot later. An interesting blade. Katana: Takayanagi Kaga no Kami Fujiwara Sadahiro | Japanese Sword Shop Aoi-Art (aoijapan.com)

Same here, one day hopefully.

Hi Neil, thats an "Edo" Bizen trait. I cant make out enough, may be late Muromachi, possibly early Edo. A case of looking at what is available and trying to work out what it probably is. Good write up by Markus, so cheers for that Christian. This topic always gets some attention and good to see stuff i cant remember reading before.

Good evening Neil. The mei that your sword has covers a broad spectrum. You will find mediocre and also decent swords with that particular mei, as mentioned above its best to judge the sword. Compare a sword made during busy turbulent times to a peaceful time where there was more time and better materials. Seen it written few times that the best of this bunch were made at Eisho and then declined. From what limited number i have seen i would agree, often dated and more effort put into the sword, horimono also present. Also, Just one example of an Edo sword using the same mei, notice the hamon pattern near to the hamachi https://www.aoijapan.com/wakizashi-bishu-osafune-sukesadanot-guarantee/

Hi Neil. Good to see im not the only one that does bad images, not a lot to go off. Would have been good to see a clear image of the nakago showing its shape. I see you hoping to date it to the end of the Muromachi period, theres a good chance it is. Personally, i would not be bothered about which Sukesada made it, let alone signed it, just too much variation. Its not like we are talking about a few smiths at the end of the Edo period. Mass production churning out weapons, not art swords. Can you see any detail at all with the grain in the steel?, i see some hamon, reminded of something like this. Japanese sword Touken Komachi, Wakizashi, Shirasaya Bishu Osafune Sukesada Wish i could be more help. Cheers

Hi Neil, Be good to see a pic of the blade showing its full length with measurements, nagasa, nakago length as Bizen works can have traits that make them easier to date. The file marks look correct.

Hi John, thats a good point, as only ever watched vids of swords made with drilled ana. Makes sense to put a punched hole in before any hardening. From what i can gather, heating the steel, punching and letting it cool naturally should not make it brittle. Gets into all this blacksmith stuff again with terms like "normalising" etc . Ps, i always thought the "spidery mei" was an indicator of slap dash kazu-uchimono