Interesting sword from ebay

[bobtail44]

This sword sold a while back on ebay. It might have been discussed here already but I couldn't find it. Is the signature gimei? If anyone has any thoughts on it id be interested to hear them. The sword was obviously owned by someone important and its original owner might even still be around.

 

thanks,

 

T Spencer

[cabowen]

This sword sold a while back on ebay. It might have been discussed here already but I couldn't find it. Is the signature gimei? If anyone has any thoughts on it id be interested to hear them. The sword was obviously owned by someone important and its original owner might even still be around.

 

thanks,

 

T Spencer

 

We can't really say it is gimei because inlaid signatures done on blades subsequently shortened are never by the smith who made the blade originally and are attributions, not attempts at copying the original smith's signature.

 

That being said, this is a very poor example in every way possible: the calligraphy is bad, the inlay crude, and the blade has none of the characteristics seen in works by Sa.

 

I wonder what has led you to believe that the sword was owned by someone important (other than in the way we are all important to someone)?

[george trotter]

 

I wonder what has led you to believe that the sword was owned by someone important (other than in the way we are all important to someone)?

 

Chris, I think Mr Spencer must be referring to the field grade tassel...presumably surrendered by a General (or added on by someone?).

I agree, the work does not remind one of Sa.

Regards,

[cabowen]

Oh, thanks George....now I follow....

 

Doesn't even remind me of koto, never mind Sa!

[bobtail44]

Yes I was referring to the tassel, I don't think it was added to increase the value of the sword. All of the part numbers match up as well so that would suggest they were customized for that sword. I know next to nothing about SA I just thought the swords that he had were curious.

 

 

T. Spencer

[Jim P]

Hi T Spencer, Yes this sword has been discussed here before it was listed first by bassy58 http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171243262611 ... 1423.l2649

http://s854.photobucket.com/user/Bassy5 ... 1.jpg.html

If I remember David Stiles posted a comment on it check his posts to find it. I had this to say in a conversation on a other board about it. IMHO,(It looks Gimei, (as in this case not SA and bad kinzogan mei) to me it does not have the attributes one would expect from that school from the little we can see and its osuriage and reminds me of a Momoyama blade with a bad kinzogan mei or later Shinto .)

and I dont think Barry (Baza) would mind if I quote Him on the same sword (Gentlemen, a kinpunmei I think not. It looks more to me as if someone has put this SA kanji on with gold leaf. If not gold leaf then hira zogan/nunome, whereas I would expect a SA kinzoganmei to be truly inlaid (not "onlaid") in an elegant style. In fact, IMHO the whole shebang is dreadful. Anyone can get a General's tassel from anywhere and put it on any-old-sword and beat it up to be more than it is. To misquote one of our sayings "Buy the sword not the tassel" - or the kinpunmei.) Hope that helps

 

PS, What do we call a sword like this ? Gimei is not quite right, or is it still called Gimei even though no mei ?

[Soshin]

Hi Jim P.,

 

Here is my experience with the whole issue. A friend of mine and member of our semi-local Japanese sword club had a katana fail NBTHK shinsa becuase it had a kin-zogan gimei. Once it was professionally removed in Japan the sword more then just passed NBTHK shinsa it received higher level papers above Hozon as a mumei. From the photos I would say this sword should as well get its kin-zogan gimei removed.

[Jim P]

Hi David, I agree it’s got a better chance without the distraction