Lindus

I vaguely remember reading of a chap in Japan who for some years selected blades with the attributes of famous swordsmiths and applied fake mei that fooled pretty much everyone ?, cannot remember his name but arent his fakes now collectable in their own right?. Roy

Although we are all aware that fake signatures appear all the time & I remember the old proverb that if 100 Kotetsu mei were in one room,100 percent are likely to be Gimei, could someone explain how a smith from any period can inscribe his name virtually the same way with the same strokes of the chisel on each of the potentially hundreds of blades made in a lifetime?. When you consider your own signature over say twenty years I would suggest each vary and although the style of script may suggest it is you, it would always be open to congesture. I remeber a conversation with a now famous polisher way back, he stated that although the signature was a good indication, the blade in polish would be the only real confirmation. I won a Ko Katana in a London compitition when Amada Akitsugu was visiting, he had made and signed the blade and for many years it was one of my prized possessions. When finall I decided to sell it via early ebay days, several potential buyers,some well respected in the sword world,questioned its authenticity as the mei appeared to differ in the most slight fashion,eg,the number of chisel strokes on one or two characters. Interested if any have any thoughts on this. Roy

How did ya know that it has a fine embellished "Ring" on the pole................Damn thats spooky!!! Roy

Hi Mark Yes it seems that smiths useing that name go back into the early to mid koto period. The blade is not in polish so these scans only show a little of the workmanship, and as it seems there are no "Trained" polishers in the UK it will never get a polish. For such lowly rated smiths ,perhaps they only made Yari?,the work that can be seen seems pretty good, sadly this old guy is fully mounted,stands with saya eight feet in length, so now with our house changes and loss of my Armoury in the course of the yari is coming to the end of its stay. Considered Keeping the small blade and selling off the mounts,would be a shame I think. I have always been a fan of pole arms and both Yari & NaginataI have and and have had show some striking quality work,could never understand just why they are the poor cousins in Nihonto. Roy

Aparently there are three smiths signing in this way working 1624-73 {Thanks Tony}. This may be the reason for slight variations in the mei. At least the translation seems ok. Roy

Hi Yimu Not quite sure what you are saying old chap?. The Yari is of a different form and may not be by the same man but the mei is genuine and taken from a yari in my collection that has been with me for fo over two decades. Perhaps you mean that it may be by a student signed in his master signature or the other was this?. Roy

It would not as it is another Yari that has been with me since 1989, and complete with pole and saya from a collection in Scotland. Thanks for your input though. Regards Roy

I think it translates as "Hein Jo Ju Ishido Suketoshi". Would if correct this be circa 1600??? Thanks Roy

I have just posted several pages of items from my collection,check them out and mail me from the website with any questions or comments, Include Ivory,Bronze,Lacquer,Prints & wood carvings . Also when scanned,around 180 reference books on Japanese/Chinese art/Nihonto/ceramics,these will include Ron Gregory's signed books & 1st editions of Hawley as well as Fujishiro....copy of Yamanaka news letters. If any interest please let me know. At this time have no idea of current values so bare with me. Regards Roy http://www.collectorsloot.homestead.com/sold.html http://www.collectorsloot.homestead.com/consigned.html Ignore the "sold" & "Consigned" am useing old web pages,so just click on or ignore and browse the site useing just... http://www.collectorsloot.homestead.com Apolgies to membership, this should be on the sale page. Roy

Last two gentlemen,used to be able to do this without a thought of being wrong..... Thanks Roy

Thanks gents....the others?????? Roy

These would elude me, help would be appreciated. Thanks Roy

Thanks Chris. Roy

Although am pretty sure of the translation would appreciate confirmation and comments on how authentic. Roy

Will get JP to join the NMB and publish some pic's of the blade. While here if anyone from the French connection has any background on the Dr, it would be interesting, at least to me. Roy

I hope you will agree that this is another snapshot into individual bravery that if possible should have more documentation and research. The award seems small{a silver oak leaf cluster} for such bravery. Roy

A friend in Paris has aquired this most interesting historical item and Japanese Kempi Tei officers sword, I thought that the Militaria section of the membership like myself , would find this interesting. Just how often do you find a sword presented to a member of the resistance & awarded recognician by another country,particular interest to the French members.

:D :lol: Never in this world or any other, but made me smile. Thanks Roy

How about baby oil...............should not halm should it Stephen Roy

Glad to see this post as I asked this question befor but had no replies. I have a very large Yari signed "Sukihiro" Shimada school and dated 1531,it has Hagiri,what are the thoughts on that as opposed the cutting weapons. Roy

Have just added this to the sale section but would appreciate thoughts on the mei. Roy

Hi, I hate to say this, but you might be quite successful using eBay. Especially musha-e are fetching high prices, and so do prints by Yoshitoshi (100 aspects etc. in particular). Hi again Ceased useing ebay around four years ago, chap in Spain has both my Shunga prints & and my money,thanks paypal.... :x Roy

After many years of watching auction rings at work and Auctions in general, they rate close to politicians & Bankers... Roy

No longer have the sword but still interested,more info if you have it, would be interesting. Roy

Down size and age,created another bedroom in place of my collection room, that why the swords have been going for a year or so as well. Roy