cabowen

Debate, discussion, and the sharing of opinions- that is what a forum is for, isn't it? I'm not looking for favours, frankly, I am more interested in truth. I have stated my opinion, Darcy has stated his. I don't see the problem but I thank you for your concern.

Putting the possibility of Go actually signing 義広 aside, let's indeed let the blade do the talking. How similar is the workmanship of Hiromitsu compared to Go? To Masamune? Personally I don't believe faking is ever anything less than lame, regardless of the circumstances, time, or culture. A fake is a fake. I'm fully aware of the hows and whys in Japanese culture for faking. It was an acceptable part of their culture. Cultural attitudes aside, I personally think using a Hiromitsu as a start for your fake Go is less than ideal and shows either a lack of knowledge or ambition or perhaps both. It's an opinion.

Unless you consider that by defacing a precious signature and then using the wrong kanji for their fake they appear to not have known much about what they were doing. Who's to say they knew they were removing a precious signature? If they couldn't get the kanji correct for Yoshihiro, I would have to wonder...Mom: Timmy, why would you stick your tongue to a frozen lamp post? Timmy: It seemed like a good idea at the time....

Mark has it....

Send me the photos and I will translate the signature for you. swords@ejapaneseswords.com

I am simply saying that it would have been a very lame fake...like a fake Rembrandt with the signature Remrandt...of course I am assuming that the hiro kanji used currently was the same historically since I haven't seen any other used or referred to...Of course I could be wrong...The Kuwana Go with Honami Kotoku attribution uses the kanji 義弘 so at least at the end of Muromachi, 弘 was used....By the way, 江 is a shorthanded way to write 郷...

I believe there are no known signed examples, however his name has been known for a bit and the kanji always used for his name are as I mentioned above. All the literature I can recall has him listed as 義弘...

Stay sane? Buuuwaaahaaaahaaaa! Wishful thinking....

No, it doesn't....since the tsuka has yet to be drilled, I wouldn't expect it to I suppose....

Since the hiro kanji from Hiromitsu is 廣 while the hiro from Go Yoshihiro is 弘. it seems it would be most difficult to pass a sword signed 義廣 off as a Go Yoshihiro....

Maybe Ryuunsai?

Thanks Keith for posting a very neat example. The tsuka is simply on through friction. It all comes apart very easily. It must have been taken from an arsenal or workshop at the end of the war. Amazing it made it out alive...

Malcolm has it! This sword was never completed! The koshirae as well is not finished- note the tsuka has no mekugi-ana either. There is the number 44 on the habaki in lacquer and a matching 44 on the tsuka. The tsuka has the kanji "kai gun" written on it and the saya is covered in same but other than the fuchi and koiguchi, none of the other parts have been placed. The blade is finished with habaki, signed Yoshiharu, and in excellent condition but has not had the mekugi-ana drilled. As noted, this is seen sometimes in blades made for shrines. It is also seen in blades that weren't mounted apparently! As mentioned, very rare!

I can make out Mihara ju Masachika....

I dealt with this at the shinsa in Tampa. There were several swords that the judges said were indeed made by the smith indicated by the signature but that the signature was not genuine, something added later. These fail as gimei and when the fake signature is removed, they would be papered to the same smith. This would seem to be not uncommon. They are still considered gimei.

There is nothing specifically addressing this feature in the description of the first blade. The second mentions yo at the peaks of the hamon.

Bought this recently more out of curiosity than anything else...I have only seen one other one like it! Another catch and release. Look for it in the sale forum soon...

Maybe hit the submit button a bit too quick there, Chris? :D Sorry about that!

Signatures naturally show variation over time but what stays relatively constant for most is the quality and type of workmanship. As has been said so many times, the blade confirms the signature, not the other way around.

Takeo Seki is the only properly trained, professional polisher in Canada. The rest are amateurs/self trained. If you value your property, do the right thing and have it done by a professional. Edit to correct....

Few people realize the time that importing/exporting and submitting for shinsa entails. There is paperwork, the process takes time as there are always other people in line as well, and the venues are distant. Sometimes crazy things can happen- like customs holding a tsuba because someone thinks it is governed by the same laws as swords and needs a license (happened to me twice). If you know the ins and outs of the process, it usually goes smoothly, but even then, it takes time and patience to jump through all the hoops.

It's probably the best Nagamitsu I have seen and I would be tempted to keep it but my focus is on Tokyo smiths so it won't be here long... Sorry, not interested in any more Nagamitsus...

hahaha! Not likely....

The hamon is quite similar to that of the smiths from the Kato group, which I collect.

I tried heat, I tried cold. I tried penetrating oil...In the end, the drill won. See the other thread for the result...