Matsunoki

Francis Are you really sure the hamon does not continue into the nakago? To me it looks like the ha and mune machi (the notches that separate tang from blade) have been moved up the blade (called machi okuri) to create a slightly shorter blade/longer tang. Thus imagine the blade width continued …..in the image it does look like the hamon continues…..although it has not been polished and would not show up as well. The fuchi kashira have a great subject….tigers….but they are not a true pair (they should be) ….the fuchi has the bi-metal body which would have been replicated in the kashira. I guess they just used whatever tiger fittings were available. The menuki are showy but average quality. Mismatched fittings is by no means unusual……samurai were mostly rather poor!

Can we see them please? Looks an old blade to me…..interesting.

Kissaki looks heavily reshaped?

It is common for this school to use a long yakidashi as the hamon approaches the nakago ie the complex pattern of choji reduces to a long more narrow and straight hamon. Maybe not on all of their output…who knows…..but from the images it appears that this feature is not present on your sword. That isn’t in it’s favour. Re your feeling that envy etc may cloud people…..I recently had a bit of luck and shared it on this Forum with images etc. I received only a multitude of congratulations and “well done” together with advice re how to do some of the restoration needed. I didn’t get one single negative comment. This forum is superb (maybe one or two idiots) and will generally provide unbelievable assistance freely and willingly. Our aspirations and hopes sometimes mean we might not always like the answers, we might not even agree sometimes…….but there is nowhere else that brings this degree of easily accessible expertise and intelligent debate. Just my opinions.

Just re-entered the world to see there’s been a bit of a “ding dong” about authenticity. I’ll add a few words. A sword that is gimei isn’t a fake sword. It can be a wonderful authentic Japanese sword. It just means that the signature is deemed not to be what it purports to be. Authenticating Mei is a simple matter of opinion and observation comparing it to other mei that were also a matter of opinion….albeit “expert opinion”. The experts often disagree even at the highest levels of knowledge. Your nice looking Wak carries the name Sukekane. The very famous smith from this school was Sukenaga…..your smith purports to be a lesser smith from that famous school. So…..that at least increases the possibility it is authentic as none of the Sukekane were that highly rated compared to Sukenaga. Also the blade exhibits the hamon used by this school but please can we see a good image of both sides where the hamon approaches and enters the nakago? This school had a distinctive yakidashi which “copyists” might not have used. Again it doesn’t make it authentic but it’s another signpost in the right direction! Best to keep an open mind Just my opinions……it’s all a matter of opinions.

Sukekane??….I’m tired and a bit blurred!!!,

Yep,looks like Bizen Osafune ju Yokoyama suke…..but not sure re last character of smiths name. Red wine has now intervened in our interesting debate. I’ll have another look tomorrow but I know for sure the guys in the translation section will nail this ina few minutes. If it is a real Yokoyama school blade….well done.

Bizen Osafune ???? Sukesada saku You might have a lot more luck in the translation section…..some real experts there.

Difficult to see on the actual images. The lighting is not good. Try playing around with a torch or desk lamp shining it across the nakago at different angles. Sometimes the kanji suddenly show up well due to shadows from sideways lighting. My eyes hurt.

You should be ok….gently does it. Look closely at the mekugi…..it should have a taper so push on the narrow end so it pops out at the wider side. Use something with a flat face the same diameter as the end of the mekugi to avoid wedging splitting or wedging it

Looks a rather flamboyant blade! Can we please see the nakago (tang)?…both sides without the habaki (collar) on.

Surely the elephant above and the one immediately below it are Chinese fakes?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inaba_clan

It’s only cast spelter and bronzed but if you just want a display piece that looks the part ……. https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/reeman-dansie/catalogue-id-srree10187/lot-9c97eab4-d4ba-4290-93cf-af9c0108582f?queryId=d1ae010e9a313d0de7f13f8d1786495d

Ian, there is an alloy called Hakudo or “white bronze”. I’m not sure of the actual metallic composition but it is a possibility for your menuki. Objects are often “Matt” finish or dull. It was used a lot in the Taisho era for okimono but of course probably existed prior to that. here are a couple of examples…….do the menuki look to be a similar metal? https://www.kagedo.com/hachii-koji-1960-hakudo-bronze-polar-bear https://www.ewbankauctions.co.uk/20150416A-lot-548-Pair-of-Japanese-Hakudo-bronze-models-of-birds-each-bird-with-silvered-bodies-and-long-tails?arr=0&auction_id=11&box_filter=0&category=&department_id=&exclude_keyword=&export_issue=0&high_estimate=0&image_filter=0&keyword=&list_type=&lots_per_page=10&low_estimate=0&month=&page_no=48&paper_filter=0&search_type=&sort_by=&view=lot_detail&year=

Bit better! I think we can see enough to say Okan has got it.

Sadly doesn’t help much. What I meant (but didn’t explain it very well) was use a torch to shine a beam across the tsuba from the side or all around at various angles to see if it picks up the remnants of the kanji which can appear in the shadows created by the beam of light. It’s a technique I’ve used on corroded nakago with surprising results. It’s difficult to explain…..grab a torch and play around!

Hi Grev For once I think the image is too “close up”. Can you try shining a light source across the area rather than straight down onto it? You can sometimes see a “ghost” of the kanji via shadows. Try it from all sides at various angles.

Curious design. To me it resembles some sort of “party popper” going pop. Don’t know if Japanese have these things….I guess they do. Looks like inlay work?

Cat netsuke are also very uncommon…..not really sure why. Also can’t recall seeing many cat inro. There must be a reason? I’ll have a dig around.

Kanenao saku??.

Wow Ian, that’s some kojiri! how about the f\k , menuki and tsuba? Habaki suggests quality. Still trying to work out position of ana vs Mei vs date. Nakago doesn’t look suriage? Well done I’d say. Colin

Hi Gabe, yes, in due course I would like to add nicer tsuka fittings and re wrap in black. Trouble is can’t find really nice daisho tsuba, f/k etc. I must be patient! Thanks for looking. All the best. Colin

Hello Howard As Steve rightly says this is a Chinese reign mark that basically says “made during the Guangxu period of the Great Qing dynasty”. It is trying to convince us that this is a piece of Imperial porcelain, which sadly it isn’t. It is modern and mass produced but loosely in the style of what is usually called “Canton enamel” or “Rose medallion”. One common giveaway is that the mark looks like it has been applied with a rubber stamp rather than actual calligraphy. Also the colours are “off” compared to period pieces. This type of porcelain was never made for Imperial Court or domestic Chinese consumption…..it was exclusively for export to the West. I hope this news is not too disappointing. With any Chinese porcelain nowadays it is safer to assume “fake” unless proven otherwise! All the best. Colin

Hello Grev Many thanks . The images are after I’ve gently cleaned them in soapy water!! The whole daisho was dirty and neglected…..but the blades were still in good original polish miraculously! I think the Samurai put all his money into the blades and the saya. I’m still pondering what to do……I would put better fittings on but good daisho stuff seems very scarce. All the best Colin