Fukuoka ju Moritsugu Norisada

[Brian]

Hi all,

This one is not as old as it appears...

I think the nakago suffered water damage, but the blade is stunning. Pics of that later. I am guessing a nakago this worn is a huge downside on a blade not that old.

It came with a translation of the name, but I am trying to confirm it here if possible, hence no hints just yet. Can anyone make it out?

The other side inscription...I have no idea. I assume a date. Maybe Zodiac dating system? But not sure if there is enough there to make it out.

So here's a challenge to those of you who sometimes seem to have x-ray vision

 

Brian

[Brian]

Btw, the nakago is not dry or crusty at all..it's a lovely wet black that would be great if it was a Koto :lol:

 

Brian

[Stephen]

going thur ToshoW for Norisada, ways to go yet

[cabowen]

Fukuoka ju Moritsugu Norisada saku kore

 

Special order blade.

 

Norisada is a good Showa smith from Fukuoka. Too bad the nakago is trashed....

 

[Brian]

Nice one Stephen and Chris!

Chris..I knew you would get the maker

How do you know it is a special order blade though? I debated if the inscription was a date or a "made for" but cannot come up with an answer to either of those.

I am blown away by the blade though, so can live with the nakago. Thick, strong and about 68.5cm nagasa, in quality shirasaya. The hamon is stunning, with choji and hitatsura and lots of activity. Dances in the light, but proving to be hard to capture a photo. He must have been quite a talented smith.

 

Brian

[Davis]

Hi Brian

I'm not sure if this is of interest. It's an old photo of a sword that I have in storage. This one I believe reads "made by Moritsugu Norisada living at Fukuoka in Chikuzen Province". I'm busy with some building work at the moment but if you are interested I will give further details as and when.

Regards

Mick

[Brian]

Thanks Mick, yes...I would love to hear and see more.

Still hoping someone can translate the other side. What is the hamon like on yours? I would like to know if he did more hitatsura.

Quang has one on his site here: http://www.jp-sword.com/files/blade/nor ... risada.htm and says:

Moritsugu Norisada's real name was Moritsugu Kiyoyoshi and learned swordmaking from Sakurai Masatsugu. He was the offspring of the famous Moritsugu lineage. Also, he was the first man who used the electric hammer to forge the sword during the WWII and directed the swordmaking is Kokura Arsenal. This blade is fresh polished and is showing off beautiful juka-choji midare as well as ashi and yo. He was listed as the Special Honor Noted Seat in 1941 Shinsaku Nihonto Denran Kai (Refer to pp.212-213 of John Slough's book).

 

Brian

[Brian]

Chris,

Have now seen 5 pics of his nakago, and all have been signed tachi mei. Any significance as to why this one is signed katana mei? Maybe not originally intended for Gunto mounts and therefore not worn as a tachi?

 

Brian

[Davis]

Evening Brian

Digging through an old file I found some transalation notes I made when I acquired my sword. I might be a little wrong on the date though, looking at it again. I'.m still searching for other details.

Mick

[cabowen]

Brian-

 

The last picture above has a name followed by "shi" (Mr.) and the last kanji which indicates "made to order". I can't make out with any certainty any thing more than that....That is how I know it was a special order. This smith worked in choji as he was from the late Ishido ha.

[Davis]

Brian

From memory, it has a very flamboyant choji-midare mix. I have onley seen one other sword by this smith. He seemed to have concentrated on very high quality work and could not have made very many of this standard during the time that he was active. Look forward to seeing some more pictures.

Mick

[Brian]

Thanks both. Title changed and moved to relevant section for future reference.

Chris, would you be able to post the kanji you identified for the special order?

 

Thanks,

Brian

[cabowen]

From Markus's site:

 

"For example (応山田太郎需造之). Here the two characters (応) and (需) intereact, where the former means „to respond to“ (kotae[ru]) and the latter „demand, request“ (motome[ru]). Fully translated the inscription reads „Yamada Tarô no motome ni kotae kore o tsukuru“, „made by request of Yamada Tarô“ or „made according to an order of Yamada Tarô“. "

 

I see what looks like Shinya Shi (Mr.) Motome (request), thus I have no doubt this was a blade made to order for Mr. Shinya (? -not sure of the name).

 

[Brian]

Chris,

That is perfect! Thank you very much.

And of course to Markus for the great write-ups.

 

Brian

[cabowen]

Chris,

Have now seen 5 pics of his nakago, and all have been signed tachi mei. Any significance as to why this one is signed katana mei? Maybe not originally intended for Gunto mounts and therefore not worn as a tachi?

 

Brian

 

That is possible-maybe it was ordered for iai.... Or perhaps that is simply what the person who ordered it wanted. Did it come in military mounts? Either way, nothing to important.

 

I have seen several of his blades. They are usually quite nice. I wouldn't put him in the top rank, but not far behind.

[Brian]

It came in a nicely done shirasaya. No idea if it was ever in Gunto mounts.

This is one of those that really resists good photos (maybe because I am lousy at taking them) but here are 3 that give some idea.

 

Brian

[cabowen]

All of his swords that I have seen have been in a medium width choji. Most likely these hardened areas above the choji were not intended. Looks nice regardless.

[Brian]

Chris,

I considered that at first, but if you see the sword, you can see it isn't accidental tobiyaki. This is a deliberate hitatsura effect, it is fairly regular and across the whole blade, both sides but not on the mune. Accidental (clay falling off) tobiyaki would be unevenly sized and randomly distributed, with large areas of no tobiyaki. This looks like Soshu type work, and whilst he didn't work this way usually, the choji is his..so possibly the tobiyaki/hitatsura was part of the request.

 

Brian

[Davis]

Brian

I managed to get a quick shot of my blade before returning it to storage. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to do better.Mine too has some corrosion, like yours a deep rich black not the normal red/brown colour that you would expect on a sword of this age. I'll get some more pictures/details when time allows.

Mick

[cabowen]

Chris,

I considered that at first, but if you see the sword, you can see it isn't accidental tobiyaki. This is a deliberate hitatsura effect, it is fairly regular and across the whole blade, both sides but not on the mune. Accidental (clay falling off) tobiyaki would be unevenly sized and randomly distributed, with large areas of no tobiyaki. This looks like Soshu type work, and whilst he didn't work this way usually, the choji is his..so possibly the tobiyaki/hitatsura was part of the request.

 

Brian

 

These effects aren't only made by clay that falls off but also from overheating/underheating. He may have been aiming for a larger patterned choji but didn't get the cooling rate he needed to fully harden and instead ended up with a hitatsura effect. Or, he may have overheated and got more than he intended. It would be very unusual for a smith working in Bizen choji to "add" hitatsura to his normal choji. Can you name a soshu smith who worked in choji with hitatsura?

[Davis]

Brian

I won't be able to obtain further pictures for a while - not that they would add much anyway.

 

My sword too, exhibits the activity you refer to, although nowhere near as pronounced.

 

During the last 25 years I have only handled one other sword by him and seen about eight references to others. Of these, most were special order blades. So, I have concluded that although not prolific his work was highly favoured.. All seemed to share the same flamboyant hamon and detailed activity. I should also imagine that whatever showed on his finished blades, was what he intended, otherwise he would not have put his name to them.

 

I have owned a good number of gendaito, all now gone bar this Moritsugu Norisada. I believe the former Japanese owner of mine saw action in the field as the sword came with a battered n.c.o's leather knot and a bullet/shrapnel graze to it's saya.

 

To me it is a privilege to be it's present custodian, a piece of military history yet a fine work of art too. Therefore I can share the enthusiasm that you obviously have for yours.

Mick

[Brian]

Thanks Mick, can only agree with what you said. I don't own a huge number of swords, but have to say this is one of my favorites in spite of the nakago.

It has a powerful feeling about it, and lots to look at. I consider blades like this to be superb value for money for those looking to start out collecting, and will only increase in appreciation over time.

 

Brian