What do you guys make of this- Any takers?

[J Reid]

Hey guys.

 

So I just picked up this wakizashi. I was told it was mumei and in the dealer photos it looks mumei to me. Upon receiving it I noticed it actually had what looked like a signature. Its practically illegible in my opinion and obviously his too. But just out of curiosity, can anyone make sense of this. Even if you can tell me what kanji you see, I really want something more to go on..

 

 

Blade details:

-59.9cm cutting edge

-muromachi period

-mino den

-masame/itame hada

-notare with nie

-higaki yasurime

-kaeri-fukashi boshi

-fukura-tsuku kissaki

-deep torii

 

Any thoughts?

 

[J Reid]

sorry the html link didnt work...

 

 

heres a direct link

 

http://i1113.photobucket.com/albums/k51 ... 013081.jpg

 

 

Best,

 

J Reid

[Jean]

One could imagine Nagamitsu...

[bubba-san]

Yes there are some chisel marks ! heaven knows what it says . James

[J Reid]

Nagamitsu is a fair bet. Just by comparison... My eyes can't stop playing tricks now!! Bahh...

 

 

Josh

[J Reid]

Any more guesses guys??

[cabowen]

I agree with Nagamitsu.

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Nagamitsu in Mino ?

[J Reid]

Just a guess, friend. It could also be bizen.. I have a feeling this may be a 2nd gen attribution. I will post pictures of the blade later this evening!

 

 

Josh

[J Reid]

"Bizen Nagamitsu was the son of Bizen Mitsutada who was the founder of the Bizen Osafune School. Bizen Nagamitsu is thought to have begun production around the Bunei and Koan eras (1264-1287). There are some later works signed Sakon Shogen Nagamitsu from the Einin and Shoan eras (1293-1301). There is a school of thought that attributes swords with this signature to a second-generation smith Nagamitsu. I think that the predominate school of thought, however, is that there was only one generation."

 

 

Josh

[Jean]

Josh,

 

anybody interested in Nihonto knows Nagamitsu, we could say he is to Nihonto what Goya is to painting.

 

This to say, fat chance to be the real Bizen Nagamitsu (100 of fakes), need pictures of the blade to say more.

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Based on what i see (i think it's a shinogi zukuri sword) it can't be this Nagamitsu.

[Jean]

Which Nagamitsu are you talking about Jacques, when you say

"this Nagamitsu"

?

 

Here is a shinogi zukuri Nagamitsu:

 

http://www.emuseum.jp/detail/100191/001 ... l&century=

[takakage]

Hi,

 

If it is hagaki yasuri mei, it seems very hard to see a bizen smith........

[Grey Doffin]

Highly unlikely that "this Nagamitsu" would have signed a katana mei.

Grey

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

Jean this Nagamitsu (ie son of Mitsutada) didn't sign katana mei.

[Jean]

I totally agree, I had already noticed it, since he is a Kamakura smith and famed for his tachi and not kodachi. So, it has nothing to do with you mentioning it is shinogi zukuri.

 

Almost everything is given in the description given by Josh. The hada: itame/masame; hamon with nie, yasurime.

 

Josh,

 

When giving description of a blade and above all of nakago, you should precise:

 

- suriage or not

- number of mekugi ana.

 

A glance at the Whole nakago would have told us if Bizen or not.

 

This sword is most than probably an uchigatana

[Jacques]

Hi

 

Yes Nagamitsu made mostly tachi but kodachi, tanto and naginata too. You were the first saying Nagamitsu, i should have to ask you which one

[J Reid]

Hey guys.

 

 

So this topic has been busy since yesterday.. Okay so I know who Nagamitsu is and his profile in our world. I don't doubt that this is most likely gimei. I just figured it was exciting to find a relevant signature on a purchased "mumei" blade.. As for my original specs- I unfortunately didn't take time to thoroughly evaluate the aesthetics before I posted. I was just anxious for opinions on the mei alone and figured some specs were in order. But since it was 3 AM, I wouldn't say they're my best guess yet. At the time I wasn't up for some photography.. haha. I used john yumatos book for reference and that book is a good start, but lacking details, I find. After reading a couple more books my evaluation on the specs has of course changed. I did take some more pictures today though. Forgive my expert photography skills ( I used my Iphone ).

 

URL: http://photobucket.com/nagamitsu

 

Lets continue.

 

Josh

[J Reid]

Jean,

 

nakago is Ubu. 1 mekugi ana.

 

My apologies..

 

 

Josh

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

I don't doubt that this is most likely gimei.

 

As the mei is unreadable, Nagamitsu is just a guess (and not a good one).

[J Reid]

Sorry, let me re word that.. " IF the Mei says "Nagamitsu" -it's most likely gimei." .. It almost definitely says NAGA (something) though..

[Jean]

and not a good one

Be my guest Jacques :D