Matsunoki

Hi Richard….thanks for looking. By “binned”…do you mean thrown away ie poor workmanship? I have to admit, I don’t like it! Any idea of age? Thanks. Colin

Please could you help me with this tsuba? I have not encountered it’s like before and my knowledge on iron tsuba is very weak. It is mounted on a katana. The colour is darker than in the images and there is evidence of a fair bit of gold nunome zogan…..all now heavily worn. The design would seem to be stylised dragons on one side but the other side?? However the thing that confuses me the most is that the whole plate is quite heavily dished. What is it? Namban? Thank you for looking. Thank you in advance for all opinions! All the best. Colin

As usual I do not have the necessary knowledge to form a convincing opinion on this katana so I come to the amazing expertise on this forum for help. I thank you for looking. All opinions very welcome…good or bad! I should at least “have a go” so with no confidence I would say gimei (I’m always suspicious of 2 kanji signatures) but maybe Mino muromachi with a few added confusions! ln hand it is graceful and light with excellent balance. It has Futasuji hi. One or two “small black spots” but doesn’t seem “tired”. the nakago colour is much blacker than shown in images Dimensions- nagasa 69.3cm (86.5 overall) Ubu motohaba 3.17 cm (noticeable fumbari in area above the habaki) sakihaba 2.00 cm nakago kasane 7.96 mm mune kasane 4.55mm motokasane 7.18 mm (ie high shinogi) sakikasane 4.81mm sori 2.8cm slightly koshisori Hada is indistinct in old polish but masame visible in some areas just above hamon. Maybe a ghost of itame elsewhere. Hamon is wild gunome midare with tobiyaki, a few yo and what I would call “crab claws” with much konie. Boshi is a simpler gunome continuation . The kissaki tip was chipped by the ********** carriers when they unpacked it to have a look and then mishandled it….before taking no care to repack it properly. Bless them. Thank you in anticipation.

Hello all I owned this sword years ago but sold it. Wish like hell I hadn’t. it cropped up in Sothebys years later. Does anyone know where it is? I’d love to reacquire it! I’m happy to pay a finders fee if I acquire it. I haven’t listed it under “wanted to buy” because I thought I might stand more chance in this forum Many thanks. Colin https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2019/fine-Japanese-art/a-wakizashi-signed-kanefusa-edo-period-17th-18th

Thanks again. Now that I have an idea what I might be looking for I’ve found this old link of the forum. any opinions?

In the uk we have a product called Zoff. It is used to remove the residue of first aid plasters from skin and will not affect lacquer. You probably have an “over the counter” equivalent from your local pharmacy/drug store? It is available over here in the form of individual wipes and liquid. The wipes are good. Hope it goes well.

Once again I thank you all for your time, comments and opinions. I don’t feel quite so inadequate about my confusion now! Jussi thankfully pointed out to me that the Mei did not in fact contain the smiths name, nor was it Bizen Osafune but instead it read Biyo Osafune (used by Bizen Yokoyama) so it seems we rely upon just the “Kiku Ichi” together with the place of manufacture. This leaves open the question of which (if any) of the Yokoyama Bizen smiths made it. Also why didn’t they add their name or could it have been made for a ceremony or Shrine…..or similar. I guess l/we will never know but I’d love to hear your theories. “In hand” the sword is (imo) beautifully forged and quenched but of course as usual for UK the condition makes it difficult to get good images. I bet it was a real looker when it was all crisp and fresh. Thanks again. Colin

Nothing on the other side.

Apologies for long post and many images This is the longest sword I’ve ever handled so it came home with me purely on that basis….rightly or wrongly. I’m (as usual) confused and need help PLEASE with Smith/Mei, authenticity (gimei?) and even how it was worn. For a UK discovered sword it’s not in such bad condition! Hamon looks to be in nioi choji gunome (hint of sanbonsugi ?) with a very long yakidashi. No discernible hada in this polish but very densely forged. Possible Muji or Nashiji? My attempt at the Tachi Mei is “Kiku Ichi Bizen Osafune ju”…not sure re last character and even Bizen looks a bit strange to me. The Tachi mounts have a mon (oxalis?) and the tsuba is a monster in iron with associated waterwheel menuki. Nice piece of same. Saya has had extensive repairs and the aogai lacquer, once nice, is now pretty ruined. It has just one ashi that doesn’t match the rest of the mounts. Double gilt habaki. I am seeking your kind help and opinions - (my library is very limited as is my knowledge) Who is the smith? (Bizen Sukenaga …Hawley SUK756??) Gimei? Worn as a Tachi or slung across the back? (Just one ashi) Dimensions- Nagasa 84.7cm motohaba 3.3cm sakihaba 2.64 cm motokasane 7.7mm sakikasane 5.54mm sori 2.4cm kokissaki

Hi John, I think the sword depicted in the menuki/saya Kanemono is a Tachi sword and thus worn edge down ….and thus I still think put on the saya upside down. Have a look at how the menuki in Bruno’s link is imaged by the Japanese dealer……sword is edge down ie a Tachi. The birds on the fuchi kashira are Kingfisher I think. The theme of the tsuba…..tiger sheltering in bamboo is a popular theme. Often includes a dragon in confrontation with the tiger who is sheltering from the celestial beast in the bamboo. Often the dragon is not shown…..just the tiger and bamboo. I think it shows that even the most powerful earthly beast (tiger) is no match for the Dragon. Others may correct me. I can’t quite make out the actual menuki on your tsuka. I wasn’t suggesting you were concerned with the monetary value….just pointing out that you most likely had a nice bonus….which never hurts does it? The best reason to buy anything is because you like it…..I applaud you. Best. Colin

If yours are the same quality as the one in the latest link it will certainly help with the monetary value of your sword!! However I don’t think it will help date the koshirae…..they have almost certainly been added later. If you look at how the sword would be worn ie cutting edge up, the saya Kanemono have been fitted upside down. I don’t think the Japanese would make that mistake! Also usually, saya Kanemono were only fitted to the side of the saya that faced outward when the sword is worn. One on both sides could be another suggestion of later additions.

This type of adornment to the saya is (I believe) called a saya kanemono (basically saya decoration). They are very common on the luxurious top end Tanto from the Meiji period…..often of breathtaking quality…..dragons, zodiacal animals…anything that would fit in with the overall theme of the koshirae. Probably appealed more to the wealthy merchants of the Bakumatsu period onwards rather than to the (impoverished) Samurai of the times. However I have seen them added to older swords, possibly to “jazz them up a bit” for sale and also to hide damage to the saya. These ones are often menuki or pouch clasp fittings and can be very nice quality. Many are added outside of Japan…..look for clumsy glue overspill!!! If fitted in Japan the “fit” would be far better. At first glance these ones look like Tachi menuki being reused? Of course…..only imo! Best. Colin .

Thanks Michael, trouble is I’m too worried to send swords anywhere at the moment……let alone abroad. Maybe I am being too cautious but there seems to be a hell of a lot of problems both with carriers (uk and international) and our own border force. I’ve had a katana that was superbly packed and sent from the uk arrive opened, played with and the kissaki chipped. A friend has recently had swords that he bought abroad returned to the country of origin by our wonderful Border Force public servants. If a UK carrier knows it’s a sword they will refuse it…..and/or not pay out under their insurance if damaged. People on this forum have had swords confiscated…..it goes on and on and it’s getting worse. I think I’ll settle for the pleasure of ownership “as is” and avoid the worry. Plus of course there is no EMS from Japan thanks to Putin. Hey Ho…..it won’t stop me buying though! all the best Colin

Those were the days……….it was very similar in Norfolk UK. French bayonets used as pokers, swords to cut/slash hedges….all very rural.

Hi John, I agree totally. If only we had a few more togishi etc in the UK. I am on the waiting list for (the only) one that has an excellent reputation. Just hope I’m still alive when I reach the top of his list. Very frustrating!! I could keep a polisher going for a few years on my own. Thanks for looking and commenting. Good to hear from you. All the best. Colin

Many thanks to you all for your time and very helpful information. Greatly appreciated. Colin.

Agree….that kikumon looks very well cut and agree it looks like fumbari is present. However I think the section of the blade where the light is reflecting off it looks like the Ha has been heavily reworked (maybe to remove chips) and thus it looks like fumbari??? Of course it could be trick of photography/light.

Added mine again for posterity!!!

I have been very fortunate (imo) to become the current custodian of this sword. It was briefly posted on this forum quite a few years ago but I am pleased to show it again with a few more images. I would greatly appreciate any and all comments/opinions as I’m sure knowledge has increase dramatically in more recent years. I also hope some of you enjoy looking at it despite my poor images. The habaki and the press stud are silver. The saya is metal. When first posted “Nobody” on this forum translated the 2 Mei and I attach an image of that. I think it is a very elegant blade that has obviously seen action and survived. I have a couple of specific questions- -can anyone say what the Kanji on the leather saya cover tell us? -do we know anything new about the smith or the horimono cutter? Many thank in advance Nagasa 71.1cm Motohaba 2.92cm Sakihaba 1.79cm Motokasane 7.76mm Sakikasane 4.42mm

Hi Ian, thanks for your reply. Your katana sounds impressive. My images and the current polish don’t show my Tanto that well…..in your hands it’s alive with activity…as you say loaded with sunagashi etc Also the hamon looks “on fire”. Between us we could put together a great “Daimyo daisho” 🙂. Obviously a talented smith but only modestly rated……I wonder why? ……as usual it’s a matter of opinion and personal taste I guess. I really like this small blade. All the best. Colin