Ray Singer

This is an exceptional 67cm Bizen tachi by Bizen Morishige. It is ubu, though a bit machi-okuri, signed Bishu Osafune Morishige. The NBTHK Kicho token kanteisho (very early papers dated Showa 32) does not specify a generation, however I would lean towards this being late Nambokucho into early Muromachi. The generation which worked during Oei continued to sign tachi-mei during that time period. The mei is very clear, the nakago well preserved and the sword itself is very healthy. The hamon is a very beautiful and active choji-ba with kinsuji and sunagashi running though. It is full of naturalistic variation which one can enjoy for hours without tiring, and continue to provide new features to enjoy. The jihada is itame with utsuri. There is a lovely two piece habaki of light gold color, which has been made to fit the bohi. The shirasaya is likewise fitted to the bo-hi in the tsuka. This sword shows why koto Bizen blades are such a popular target for collectors and will be a joy to own for the person who adds this to their collection. $6,500 (plus shipping and PayPal). Any questions, please just let me know. Kind regards, Ray

It is difficult to evaluate the quality from those photos, however I do suggest that you factor nakago condition in the future as one of the evaluation points. For Shinto, you should target a nakago where the mei is fully intact and the nakago does not have severe pitting. With older blades, some degradation to the nakago is more acceptable. With Shinto though, the nakago should be relatively clear.

Gimei.

FWIW, I would not have much confidence in the authenticity of this mei.

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/9230-kanenobu/

Depending on how much of the sword is left above the nakago, there may be a possibility for a satsu-age repair. Another possibility is o-suriage with one or both sides transferred as long gakumei. Lastly, o-suriage wakizashi with the relevant information transferred to the sword in a new inscription (and the sword would be kept with the original nakago). ALL of those options would require a licensed swordsmith in Japan.

I do not see a record for 加賀守清重,however it may be by a Meikanmore (an unlisted smith)

Back up for sale today. http://www.ricecracker.com/inventory/988_tanto_muramasa/2068_tanto_muramasa.html

Appears to be a blade by Yasuhiro (signed at the end 'Yasuhiro Kinsaku'). Dated a lucky day in the 8th month of Showa 17.

The burl oak box with plastic aoi-mon sticker was a classy touch. I emailed the newspaper with some supporting links, in case they would like to correct or remove the article.

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/1040-a-real-muramasafor-a-change/?fromsearch=1

This sword seems to acquire something with each owner. Perhaps in the next round it will pick up a Hon'ami origami, written in ballpoint pen.

Later here with a gendai koshirae. https://web.archive.org/web/20141022220156/http://www.ricecracker.com/inventory/988_tanto_muramasa/988_tanto_muramasa.html Now in addition to the koshirae, it has acquired a box and a pile of manufactured provenance.

It is real, and has been on two dealer sites. First here. http://www.nihonto.us/MURAMASA%20TANTO%20-%20NIDAI.htm

It is likely I think that this is a naginatanaoshi (as I wrote to you earlier).

I suggested earlier that they are assembly numbers.

As I wrote to you directly some time back, it is not a mei. They are numbers. 2 7

The bonji above the gomabashi-hi looks fairly crude as well.

Not cleaned. It appears to my eyes that the blade has been more recently fit to the gunto koshirae. Post war.

You may want to start with a few good books, get a foundation and be better positioned to know what you want to buy. I would recommend reaching out to Grey Doffin to locate some primers. http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/ Most of these auction swords are not such good deals when you factor in flaws, fake signatures, condition issues, etc.

More complete photo here. http://www.nihonto.us/MINO%20KANEMITSU%20DON%20SAYERS.htm

Robert, I was referring to the naga-mei. Yasutsuna signed niji-mei. Regardless, this mei is closer to those from Changtian-swords that we have discussed here than anything from the purported time period.

Yasutsuna did not sign this way, and the mei looks like nothing you would see in a Ko-Hoki blade. Yura, generally speaking eBay is one of the worst places for a beginning collector to buy swords.

Not a smith I can find in my references, or that I have seen before.

出羽大掾藤原國路 - Dewa Daijo Fujiwara Kunimichi