Hi:
I am Brian B from Canada and have been interested in Japanese swords and edgged weapons since I was a small child many years ago. About 15 years ago I began keeping my eye open for them and have collected and sold several over the years and still have 8 that I think I will keep. I have a Kanemitsu of Mino tachi, from the 1440's and an unsigned katana possibly from Nanbokucho era, ,maybe Naoe Shizu in Koshirae with tsuba by Kinai of Echizen and soon as I figure how to take clear pictures I will run them by you folks to see what you think!
This sword is in question is in koshirae with a drgaon motif which are signed signed by hiro yasu 18th century. The blade is what I am interested in and I wish I could have gotten better pictures of the hamon which is clear and the hada which is not.
I have come to the conclusion after some research and asking others that it is a non tradionally forged blade by the 23rd generation Kanefusa, probably in the late 1930's as it is signed as he did but it has a showa stamp near the top of the tang. The horimono are beautiful and I know he made both gendaito and other blades so how can I determine which this is even though it has the showa stamp?
Nice to be able to discuss these from afar as there is no one within 1000 miles to show any of this stuff to!