Ray Singer

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23357-yoroidoshi-tanto-or-something-else/

As far as mei which begin with Izumi... https://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/meisearch?type=All&mei_op=starts&mei=%E5%92%8C%E6%B3%89

Funny George, the first thing that went through my mind when I saw this was "Another Hidari Mutsu". I am curious if the photo was accidentally flipped or if the smith really did sign the mei backwards.

Shannon, please share a photo of the worksheet and kanteisho.

Kiyomitsu. 清光. The mei is flipped (mirrored) for some reason.

Some additional expenses have come up. I will offer this one again for a much reduced price of $4,500 and keep this listing up for a couple of days. Anyone who would like to discuss, please email raymondsinger@gmail.com. Best regards, Ray

The Taima is still available. Now $5,250.

Thank you Thomas for that update above. Best regards, Ray

泉州住清房 Senshū ju Kiyofusa

https://www.nihonto.com/30th-tokenkai/

At a starting point, reach out to Robert Benson via his website. http://togishi.com

Everything you have described and done, including 'hand sharpening', 'edging' and unnecessarily cleaning the nakago to remove patina on an already readable mei is a 'don't'. You cannot make the decision whether a sword is 'past its prime' on your own. Judgements about restorability need to come from a professionally trained togishi. http://www.nbthk-ab.org/swordcare.pdf

Kunitsugu.

Matt, did you clean the nakago? I hope not, as that is extremely destructive to the natural aging of the nakago (just as you would not buff an antique coin).

Hi David, I was aware of this blade earlier. There is a lot of variation among shodai Tadayoshi, but personally I thought this was a good candidate for shinsa. My understanding though was that there was a large kitae-ware or fukure in the sword which, along with Paul's comment above regarding the thin kawagane, made me concerned about it's restorability. Please let us know if you do move forward with shinsa. Best regards, Ray

Limited to viewing on my phone for a few hours, but the mei may end with Yoshisada + KAO.

To start, the date is the 4th month of 1944.

An example of a later Kagemitsu. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/30531-ubu-signed-72cm-fujishima-kagemitsu-tachi/?fromsearch=1

Gustaf, the mei is extremely fresh. The mei and the nakago have no appearance of age as you would expect from the Kamakura period. The sword is also katana-mei. The sugata, hamon, etc all have the feel of a much later work. There were a number of smiths who signed Kagemitsu, as indicated in my link above. Gimei is also possible.

It is fairly certain that this is not an authentic signed example of a Kamakura period Kagemitsu.

Thanks very much everyone. Greatly appreciate the replies above.

A friend just wrote in with the attached bag asking for assistance with a translation. A bit beyond me, if anyone could assist it would be greatly appreciated. Best regards, Ray

I am presently processing a new collection of swords I received on consignment. These include a number of excellent gendaito (most with gunto koshirae), a Gassan Sadakazu tanto, and others. A few highlights below. Any inquiries, please email raymondsinger@gmail.com. Kind regards, Ray - Gassan Sadakazu (with aikuchi koshirae and Sadatoshi sayagaki) - $6,750* - Kawashima Tadayoshi - $5,900* - Sendai ju Yodogawa Minamoto Shigetoshi [KAO] - $3,300* - Masauji - $3,100* - Unshu ju Yoshitsugu (Kawashima Tadayoshi student) - $3,600* - Kokura Rikugun Zoheisho - $3,100* * plus shipping & PayPal/wire

These pieces are still available. Any inquiries, please email raymondsinger@gmail.com. Best regards, Ray

I don't have a photo of the reverse side of the tsuka on-hand, but this koshirae in my collection has two mekugi-ana in the tsuka.