Tiffany's Sword Pictures

[sencho]

Hi Tiffany,

 

I think the sword is probably authentic in the respect that it is an authentic nihonto... whether it was made by Sukesada or not is another "kettle of fish" (sorry... another limey expression!) Anyway who knows what shenanigans occured.

 

Could be that the mei was chiseled by a lesser smith to look like a Sukesada, so he could get more money for it. Could be it was just a lesser named Sukesada around the same time... quite a few signed with similar mei.

 

I agree with Darcy about the shape of the nakagojiri (the very bottom of the nakano/tang). However is it possible that it was shortened in Shinto times and the shape was added during the shortening to reflect the trend of the time? Also Tiffany's sword is dated on the cusp of Koto - Shinto.. when did swords start emerging with a iriyamagata nakagojiri ??

 

Cheers

[roninjje]

I would say a little later for that nakago shape, but again, that is not to say when it was shortened it was shaped to reflect the affectation of the time.