Identification And Advice Please - Bungo Smith Munekage?

[messedupmojo]

Hi

 

I have the following blade - i wondered what you thought about identification, authenticity and what to do next - is it worth polishing?

 

It looks like its signed by 豊後住藤原統景 bungo ju fujiwara munekage

 

but its missing the province of Bungo - in fact theres only a signature and no date either (should i be worried by this?)

 

The hamon is suguha (hope i have that right) but its quite dull - the blade is incredibly sharp all the way down to the hamachi, the blade and the nagako is the same profile shape as the blade, rather than being flat like those found on gunto's - it certainly feels like it should be traditionally made rather than anything else

 

The blade itself if 28 inches (71cm) and overall is 35 inches (89cm)

 

The blade itself looks quite scratched up and i can see no obvious hada - in some parts it does look like small bits of mokume-hada, which would be the closest pattern i could think of - but this may just be staining on the blade or some other agent

 

I'd certainly like you opinion on its authenticity and what to do next with it - it originally came in late gunto mounts

 

thanks in advance

 

David

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<---Mune side ------    hamon side---->

 

 

<---Mune side ------    hamon side---->

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SteveM]

The signature is fine. 高田住藤原統景 (Takada-jū Fujiwara Munekage). 

 

The sword looks OK to me. Nothing fabulous. In need of a polish, but unfortunately the polishing may cost more than the finished product is worth on the open market. 

 

How do you take such awesome pictures, by the way? 

 

Edit: Here is one in a better state of polish

http://sinogi.dee.cc/katarogu/1801/munekage-k269078/k269078.htm

[messedupmojo]

Hi Steve

 

Thanks for the reply - I wasn't expecting the earth, i since realised bungo swords aren't the most desired -  but relieved it looks OK at least!

 

The pics were taken on a Canon 5Ds using a 24-70 and 100-400 lens, a tripod and a continuous lighting softbox - the 5DS gives unbelievable resolution but any modern camera would do - i think the trick is probably more diffused lighting through the softbox and a tripod to remove any wobbles/blur - both cheap and probably add much more quality to the shot than any camera/lens

 

Regards

Dave

[Grey Doffin]

Hi David,

I think you would be smart to put off having this polished.  Spend money, time, and effort on educating yourself about Nihonto.  Someday you may decide to have this sword polished and if so that's fine.  But maybe by then you will have chosen a different time/school to focus your collection on and you'll be glad you don't have so much money tied up in this sword.  At the moment you don't know enough to know what you want; go slow grasshopper.

Grey

[messedupmojo]

Thanks Grey

 

Understood - it was mostly purchased due to its connection to the WW2 Burma campaign - the fact it is older is a bonus. Understand what you are saying about polish -  i think i'll just keep it oiled and in its current state. Certainly learning more about other schools seems a good idea before going any further

 

Regards

David