Onizuka Yoshikuni Blade, Wondering Which Generation It Is

[MutherTucker]

Ive had this sword since I was a child, a great uncle brought it back from World War 2 as a War Trophy.  Ive translated the blade signature but there is no date so was wondering if someone here could help me out.  From what I learned there were four generations of Onizuka Yoshikuni, from early 1600s through the late 1800s. 

The tang is about 6" long and the cutting edge of the blade is 25"

Thank you, Tuck

 

 

 

[ROKUJURO]

David (is that your name?),

did you compare the signature with those of papered blades? There is one on http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/T115819_W7590_PUP_E.htm

[MutherTucker]

Thank you for your input.  But I'm sorry but that link that was posted isn't working.  I tried to navigate thru the site but could not find the papered blades you described.

Thanks again

[ROKUJURO]

David,

I am sorry, try that one: http://www.sanmei.com/contents/en-us/p1531.html. It is the first blade on the site of SANMEI (Wakizashi signed Chiku-shu-ju Onizuka YOSHIKUNI). 

In general, you will probably receive no MEI confirmation here, as it is very difficult to base an opinion just on photos. As you can read here on NMB in so many requests of that type, the features of the blade have to confirm the smith and the time it was made, and the signature is a nice extra if it is correct (which very many are not). In this case YOSHIKUNI was a well respected smith of the early EDO period who was copied many times. So keep that in mind when you search in the internet for genuine YOSHIKUNI blades and OSHIGATA for comparison.
    

Please be so kind to sign all your posts with a real first name plus an initial, as is requested here.   

[george trotter]

Hi David,

From the tang and "freshness" of the mei, I think your sword is more recent than 1800. I think it is WWII gendaito (traditionally made).

The name Onizuka Yoshikuni appears in a couple of Japanese sources...not well known.

 

"Tosho Zenshu" by Shimizu p.656 says he was chosen for exhibition in the Rikugun Gunto smith exhibition (I think)...he was of Fukuoka.

 

Other Japanese sources say the following:

His career his style, hamon, family, teacher are unknown.

What is reported is that he was Noda Isaburo Yoshikuni of Fukuoka. He was making swords in 1942 in his own forge under the business name of "Noda Nihonto Tanrenjo" in Yame, Fukushimacho. Later in his career (after 1942 I think) he starts a "second phase" by the use of an additional  name in his mei ---"Onizuka", so your sword seems to be signed in his second phase which went until the end of his career. As he does not appear in post-war Japanese books of swordsmiths I assume he stopped in 1945...BUT...he is listed in Hawley 1981 p.956 as "Yoshikuni...Fukuoka...1949...8(points)....YOS 282"

 

I used Uchiyama "Nihon Gendaito Shoshi" Chap. VI p.8. (in Token Bijutsu Mag. #152 1969).

and also the reprinted "Dai Nihon Token Shoko Meikan" 1942 p.304-28.

 

Hope this helps,

looks like a good sword,

Regards,

[Alan Morton]

Well done George, just goes to show everyone how clever you are.

 

Regards Alan.

[george trotter]

Haha, if only...

 

I wonder if the OP ever looked back here for an answer? He has 3 posts...maybe that is the last we'll see of him...

 

Hope you and Sue are well and still having fun. I think I owe you both a nice Japanese dinner next time I'm in Sydney don't I?

Regards,

[MutherTucker]

George,

    Thank you very much for that data.  Are there any examples of signed blades during the time period your referring to so I may compare ?

Thank you, David

 

野田 吉國 (Noda Yoshikuni) ?

[george trotter]

Hi David,

Yes, those kanji characters are correct for his name.

 

Don't forget, I am only going on the pics you posted which look like a "fresh" mei to me. I could be wrong about him being modern.

Probably best if you can show it to an experienced collector near you?

 

The mei you posted looks very similar (but different) to another I have seen on a Edo period  wakizashi on this site  www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/2454-wakizashi/

 

I had another look at my books and on-line but can see no oshigatas or pics of a modern  mei...sorry.

Just keep looking on-line now and then by typing in his name/s...you never know what will turn up.

I don't have Markus Sesko's book on smiths but maybe a member will look him up for you and post any info here.

 

Hope I haven't led you astray....

regards,

[MutherTucker]

Thanks again for the info, Its much appreciated.  I'm in Rhode Island, do you know of anyone close by who could look at the blade and maybe give some insight on the mei ? Also, I would not mind shipping it to a well respected member of this forum as that may be the better option due to my location.

Again thanks for the help,

Tuck

[MutherTucker]

Any experienced collectors in the Rhode Island / Southern New England Area willing to look at this for me ?

Thanks

[MutherTucker]

I found this signed blade on the following website..

http://japaneseswords.gotdns.com/100Gendai48.htm

 

[SteveM]

Hello David,

The mei on your sword is from a different Onitsuka Yoshikuni to the one who made the sword above. I think George is right in that your sword is WWII vintage. It looks like it has had the rough life of a military sword, having lost the yokote (if it ever had one), and with no signs of a boshi or hamon. Mind you I am making a lazy judgment from an armchair on the other side of the internet. Your sword could be hiding some details that haven't shown up in the photograph. However, unless there is some compelling activity in the sword that suggests it is from a few centuries ago, best to assume it is a vintage-WWII blade.

[MutherTucker]

Still looking for someone that can look at this for me.

Thank you, David

[ggil]

Has hamon, and boshi. The foundation polish is better than wartime, with a really nice looking habaki. Don't go assuming to much based on what we see from a photo. I bet it's 200 years old. Kassaki looks like some bad work was done to it (maybe they did what they had to?).

 

Also, if it's gimei doesn't mean it's bad at all, some smiths gimei qualifiers are excellent, especially after the the mei is removed. At that point collectors interested in good blades rather than names get a deal because it's mumei (and the signature premium). the nakago is almost always hidden anyway, think about it...

[MutherTucker]

Thank you for that information on my blade. Much appreciated.