Hm, interesting ...

[Guest Nanshoku-Samurai]

Maybe some of you had noticed this sword on eBay. I think it was pretty interesting case my translation of the worn Mei wasn't too far off. I would be interested in hearing what others thought about it and what they think it translates to.

 

Regards,

 

Max

 

PS: I will of course reveal my translation if others are unisono with me

[Nobody]

Maybe;

Bitchu no kuni ju Yoshitsugu (備中國住吉次)

[Guest Nanshoku-Samurai]

Oh! I guess I will have to come out of my locker then ... yes, I believe that it is signed manjusho ju Yoshitsgu, too. Unfortunately it is very worn and I do not have any Oshigatas for this smith. However if it is good then the buyer has gotten a real bargain!

[dkirkpatrick]

Nanshoku,

 

I am in agreement as well to Bitchu Yoshitsugu and agree it was kind of an exciting looking piece. I was scared off it because looking in the Zuikan and in Fujishiro's I was concerned about signature differences(although that is a tough call to make being a novice and not having more examples to compare it to) as well the appearance of the other side of the nakago. The signature side doesn't look to bad and maybe even age appropriate showing a nice transition from what looks like a fairly recent suriage. But the other side seems to have the same recent red rust all the way down although this could just be bad flash photography.

Your right though and for his sake I certainly hope it turns out well (and for mine I hope it doesn't :D ). Thanks for sharing it, it's always fun practicing mei translation and authentication (amateur level of course!)

 

Doug

[Darcy]

I would be leaning towards it being legit. Not checking any books, but the Aoe signatures tend to be over several generations, and if someone is trying to fake an Aoe signature they at least knew to do it on the opposite side from normal tachi mei.

 

I think it needs to be sent in. If you picked up a signed Aoe blade it will go Juyo Token. Even if the mei is no good, sometimes on these the blade is still from the same school. I'll hope for you it is Aoe, in western circles these tend to be a bit overlooked and they are really top notch items.

[Guest Nanshoku-Samurai]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I think that the recent suriage (probably made within the last 250 years) may have made it look somewhat odd.

 

What adds to its authenticy in my personal oppinion is its Sugata. I had not recognized it as a Kamakura blade at first but comparing it to some other Suriage Bitchu blades from this periode of time, added a bit to its authenticy in my oppinon - at least it is possibly it being Bitchu school.

 

Darcy, would you mind letting us know what pust apart Bitchi blades in terms of qualiyt from others in your oppinion?

 

Regards,

 

Max