Mark

looks like Yoshitada March 1945

the sword is Yamato Daijo Fujiwara Masanori, a smith from Echizen late 1600's, there are 2 generations

if the saya has a pocket for a kozuka it is obvious, so that must not be the case. If the tsuba has a "A" side (more detail) then you may want that facing out (toward the handle). Otherwise the opening for the kozuka goes next to the body when worn edge up

date = May 1944

Showa era (circa 1940) sword, maker Kunishige, in civilain mounts

i think it is something like a Paul Chen type, at least t has that kind of look to me

ed thanks, that would be a help, i do not have that book. Mark

when i tried to read the meikan it listed the 2 generations but i thought it said the second gen was 59th gen Tomonari..... if i read that right this must fit in between???

I have a wakizashi signed BiShu Osafune Yokoyama Sukenaga saku - Tomonari 58th generation. I have attached a couple of pictures. The work looks classic for ShinShinto Bizen Yokoyama school, before seeing the mei i would have said Sukekane. I am having some trouble trying to figure out who this maker is and where he fits. The "big" Sukenaga was 56th gen, the Meikan mentions a 59th generation. There are other makers from the group who use the 56th, 57th, 58th generation. I guess it could be gimei but i do not think so. Does anyone have any info on this 58th gen Sukenaga? any chance this was a mei used by someone who changed their name later? If i have made any mistakes with translation let me know. Thanks!

I think xxx (seller) is a member here so maybe he will comment

maybe takamasa

can not see the quality of the blade, but based on condition of mounts and blade i would think you could get $2-2500.

Chris Interesting thread. I have always prefered well made blades by minor, or unknown, smiths to so-so blades by big names. You may remember the 32" tachi i displayed at your last show, it is by Yukikuni, dated 1859 made when he was 70 years old. there is a reference that he was a student of Masahide but not much else. He must have been making swords for the Chikuzen Nobukuni group then made this masterpeice that he signed himself. When i submitted it the the NTHK a long time ago (maybe long Island NY), it was given 78 points by the SR Mr Yoshikawa, then a month or so later i was suprised to see it written up in the NTHK Journal (#625), and Mr. Yoshikawa commented on the quality. It was sent to Japan and received YuShu Saku. One of my favorite swords.

I use Sheath oil, it removes easy with a mirco cloth, no need to use uchuko. http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/downloads ... T_8200.pdf

Stephen The show is 90% WWII Greman, prices are way high. Once in a while you can find something but less than some years back (guess that is same everywhere). I did buy the "junk" sword with cutting test at an auction there, it was covered on another thread.

I attended, had a table

No shu Seki Ju 23rd Gen Kanefusa

Blade passed last year, still in Japan, hope it gets back soon. you can check last november NBTHK Journal, it was attributed to Yamato Shizu and the inscription of the test is included. If needed i can post a photo of the text or i have an oshigata in my file somewhere

I am not an expert on tests, so i can not judge for sure if it is good or bad, it will be enjoyable to do some research. I do have 2 swords with tests that are not filled with gold, both are carved into the nakago, one bladeis Tokubetsu Hozon, the other Juyo, so i know there are good tests done this way.

YimuYin by the way, i was in Pittsburg Thur - Sat Were you at the show? Maybe we meet and did not know it

Yes, i looked it over in hand. it is 27" quite wide, intersting activity in boshi and monouchi. The rust is an issue, hard to say how it will turn out, but the blade is quite wide and the temper is wide so maybe it can take a polish. The cutting test seems reasonably well cut, the grass script on the other side does not look that good (as was noted in this thread), but it can always be removed. Overall i was happy to get it, especially at that price, a few other people who examined it but did not attend the auction were suprised it went so cheap, one advanced collector said he did not attend as he expected it would go over 2k at auction and he was onlt willing to go $1000-1200.

I am probably crazy but i thought i would take a chance. I bought it, now maybe i can figure out what it is

nakago looks poorly finished, yasuri sloppy, mei not that well done. maybe a "factory" blade signed by someone who is not known

tsuba should be worth $100-200 even if the blade has no value

where are you located? maybe one of us are nearby and can look at it and give you an idea of the quality and that may help decide