Matsunoki

Hello from the UK, hope you are all well all around the planet. The help and advice that you kindly gave Howard has prompted me to get the camera out and likewise seek your assistance. I know virtually nothing about Kabuto so please excuse my use of incorrect terminology. I bought this a while ago (together with a menpo) mostly for display because I liked its visual impact. The bowl is iron and it is in fairly rough shape. I have gently wiped and waxed it - hoping I’ve not committed any serious sin! I’d love to get your opinions on age…..and anything else you can tell me. Is the neck guard original to it? I assume it is nothing special as it was relatively inexpensive. Grateful thanks in advance. Best. Colin

An image of it would help….size, location etc

Franco….see the very first post. The images are clearly stated to show just flaws. So we should not be surprised that all images show flaws🙂 I’m sure it would be possible to take images that make the blade look flawless but the OP was focussing on flaws. Also looking at the nakago under magnification I think I can see where the chisel has depressed metal into the edge of the bohi slightly causing very slight bulges. That would suggest the Hi came first then the Mei??? Also that nakago looks classic Shinshinto to me??

Franco, be interested to hear what you see as problems and where it has been monkeyed with. Thanks. Colin

No, it isn’t definite that it was to hide anything…..but it is possible. No way of knowing. Could be original and simply that polishing has revealed core steel. Doesn’t look serious, bohi often have assorted “features”.

Bohi and other horimono were carved for a variety of reasons one of which was definitely to hide something nasty. Other reasons did include blade lightening, artistic expression, request of customer etc etc.

Flaws in deep bohi are often core steel showing through in patches. Looks a bit like that but images can mislead. Black spots look like old stabilised rust not fully removed by polisher. Bit worried about the flaw in the hamon……hagire?

Dave, that is starting to get scary. Ok, it looks new and the design going over seppadai does sound an alert but it has to be hand made doesn’t it? Looks dark shibuichi so the material could be “genuine”. Where did you find them?

From these images we cannot tell what the hamon is. All we see is the Hadori polish.

the above translated……… I find it incredible to fool the world by putting an estimate between $2,000 to $4,000 where does this estimate come from so high for something that is worth practically nothing and some will be willing to spend a large amount on this thing Long live you all.......and may the samurai be in you.

Be interesting to see. The fact that they are already in the UK and immediately available with no shipping, import taxes etc etc might help them along a bit.

Not my subject at all but I guess you are in USA? Maybe not so many of these in the UK hence higher value? Dunno. Swords look very sensible and likely to make much more….imo.

All of them?

To my eyes the damage looks nothing like rifle round impacts. It looks like extremely violent jagged shrapnel damage especially to the tsuba. Together with the considerable corrosion etc it looks entirely plausible as a genuine battlefield pickup. ….imo….but I agree…..we will never know for sure

Hi Ray….yes, interesting isn’t it? From the perspective of collecting Japanese swords I agree…..it’s a write-off and thus effectively worth nothing! However I guess not everyone will see it that way?. Some will see it as a remarkable survivor from a(nother) tragic period in human history. It vividly illustrates the violent impact of conflict and it makes me wonder about the poor soldier that carried it. That will resonate with a different species of collector ….but whether they see it at that £level….we must wait and see. Really it should be in a military museum.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/candt-auctioneers/catalogue-id-srct10288/search-filter?SaleSection=Japanese Militaria#lot-8c5da82a-7964-465f-961a-b19d01672132

https://www.the-sale...cf47a97234735e07c7a0

As John said, it’s a typical low quality item (probably the top portion of an older damaged blade) re-worked and put in a random selection of fittings to sell to the the eager but uninformed Gaijin in Meiji/Taisho. Common to find these very poor horimono that were added quickly to enhance the “appeal”. Best to be honest.

Hi Les I’d agree all original but still a bit unusual! Gyokko and Miyao are two studious who produced the very best figural okimono during Meiji. Their output included plain bronze and also partially gilded items. The tsuba maker I illustrated is by Miyao but this particular one isn’t mine. I knew where it was so could use the image quickly. I’ve had quite a few over the years. In concept, you can see clear comparisons to yours. However during Meiji it was common for some studios to produce work almost on a sub-contract basis (anything to make money!) and if we ignore the unusual round base, your smith could easily be such a piece perhaps cast by Gyokko and sold to/finished by a smaller studio. There are almost no extant records for what went on during the hectic Meiji period, so sometimes we have to go with best guess. Either way yours is a nice okimono, not the very best but a great subject well depicted. A nicer stand will help it a lot.

I’ve had some luck with this seller on eBay….if you fancy changing the stand. Check the sizes…don’t go too big. or…..just put “kadai” into eBay.com search. https://www.ebay.com...ic&_oac=1&_nkw=kadai

The more I look the more I wonder if that round bronze base is original? The way his anvil overhangs the edge is somewhat awkward. It would look really much better (imo) on a wooden stand as used by Gyokko/Miyao Does it look as,if the rivets would come out? I’m guessing the anvil and the figure are separate castings? Is the signature on the figure or stand? This is what it reminds me of …..I think it’s aesthetics could be hugely enhanced…. but just my opinion. The wood stands do sometimes crop up even on eBay!

Difficult to date this. The integral (?) and heavy looking flat bronze base is not at all the style usually seen in Meiji. As bronzes like this were not made before Meiji it is fair to assume it is later and by an (as yet) unknown artist taking his inspiration from earlier Miyao/Gyokko etc. Unlikely to be Taisho as the style and subject matter of metalwork changed significantly so I’d go early Showa. One thing to look for when judging quality is the detail in the feet/toes and the fingers. Is the flat base integral to the bronze and does it feel heavy/solid rather than hollow cast?

The current polish could have been done well over 100 years ago. Maybe longer - so you’d expect the finish to be “worn” plus older polishes were often “softer” and not done to the same level of finish and contrast as modern day work. That looks one heck of an interesting sword.

The only entry in Haynes for Kiyoteru……not likely to be him. Love to see the bronze….might be able to say more.

Right way up…..