Ray Singer

Jonathan, almost no detail can be seen in your screenshot. Hopefully this helps.

Unfortunately tachi-mei of Munechika are, like the many mei we see of Masamune, often gimei of 'the big guy'. It may not be possible to place this with another swordsmith who legitimately used the name, and the fact that it is tachi-mei also points towards the idea that it was intended to be passed off as Sanjo Munechika.

Agreed. Munechika.

Hello all, I am in the process of listing a number of newly received swords to my website, including several juyo katana in koshirae, and wanted to share a few recent highlights from my current consignment offerings, now live across both of my platforms: Swords of Japan and Nihon Art. A few standouts now available: Ashū Yokoyama Sukeyoshi kinnōtō An impressive example of later Yokoyama work in kinnōtō form with long nagasa, wide mibaba and shallow sori with kanteisho and sayagaki. 🔗 https://nihonart.com/portfolio/ashu-sukeyoshi-kinnoto/ Bizen Osafune Yukikage Wakizashi – Tokubetsu Hozon Beautiful ubu signed and dated early Muromachi wakizashi, with Tokubetsu Hozon, published in Fujishiro. 🔗 https://swordsofjapan.com/product/tokubetsu-hozon-bizen-osafune-yukikage-wakizashi/ Zaimei Kodai Kaneuji Wakizashi - Tokubetsu Hozon Ubu signed ko-wakizashi by a later generation from the Mino Kaneuji lineage. 🔗 https://swordsofjapan.com/product/kodai-kaneuji-wakizashi/ Gakumei Oei Nobukuni Wakizashi – NBTHK Kanteisho & Tanobe Sayagaki A masterful Yamashiro-den wakizashi with gakumei (inlaid signature) by Joshu (Oei) Nobukuni, featuring both NBTHK papers and Tanobe-sensei’s sayagaki. 🔗 https://swordsofjapan.com/product/joshu-nobukuni-wakizashi/ Additional pieces, including a Hosho Sadaoki, several Kasama Ikkansai + Horii school blades, and others are being added in the coming days. I’m always available to provide detailed photos, remote viewings, or further discussion on request. Feel free to reach out directly if you'd like to discuss any of these blades. Warm regards, Ray Singer swordsofjapan.com | nihonart.com

I believe it is Noshu Seki ju Toshimasa saku Research the WWII era smith who studied under Watanabe Kanenaga.

The mei is indeed Bizen (no) kuni Kanemitsu and does appear to be gimei. A missing boshi is not indicative of suriage, it points towards a kissaki that has been damaged and reshaped over time.

The mei is Bishu Osafune Morimitsu.

Emura saku https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/emura.htm

The nakago purports to be from a blade made in 1399. It looks generally legitimate for Oei Bizen. A reference for tsugi-nakago can be see in the list of flaws below. https://www.sakuramatsuriantiquariato.com/en/valutare-una-spada-giapponese/difetti-nella-katana-giapponese/ An example of why someone would do this: someone in the past might have had a blade with a legitimate and important mei/nengo, on a blade that had a hagire or other significant issue. The nakago is welded to a healthier blade that may be close to the expected workmanship from the mei. So, as a form of deception the two are married together for resale.

Unfortunately, a welded nakago (a form of deception). A nakago from an unrelated sword is merged to a blade in order to pass off as a legitimate example of the artist who signed the nakago.

Mei: Bishu Osafune Morihisa Date: Oei roku nen hachi gatsu hi (a day in the 8th month of 1399)

Contact Josiah Boomershine. Boomershinejosiah@gmail.com

A shortened sword signed Bishu __ ( made in Bizen Provence).

Unfortunately this is not authentic. Please see below. https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html

A kitae-ware running parallel to the edge is not a fatal flaw, even if it is within the hamon.