Unknown Mei On Auction Wakizashi

[Daso]

Hello All,  Out of curiosity, this is at auction and I really tried to decipher the mei on the tang and couldn't. My other question, was whether the mei (if that is what it really is) on the Kozuka or umabari denoted the smith as well even though It could be from any other sword.  Does the Tsuba give away anything and finally I've never seen a habaki like this one (although my experience is highly limited).  Thanks for looking.  Darius

 

PS  I just noticed that it looks like the first two characters on the Kozuka look like the two characters on the tang.

[ggil]

Sorry having electronics issues, can't delete the post

[Geraint]

Hi Darius.

 

Can't help with the mei I fear.  No doubt others will.  There is no connection between the mei on kogatana and the mei on the sword in most cases. The habaki is a Kaga style but I don't think the sword is necessarily from Kaga.  Have a look at this.  http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/habaki.html

 

I don't think the tsuba is saying anything apart from maybe, "I'm tired!"

 

All the best

[Daso]

Hi Darius.

 

Can't help with the mei I fear.  No doubt others will.  There is no connection between the mei on kogatana and the mei on the sword in most cases. The habaki is a Kaga style but I don't think the sword is necessarily from Kaga.  Have a look at this.  http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/habaki.html

 

I don't think the tsuba is saying anything apart from maybe, "I'm tired!"

 

All the best

Geraint,  Thanks, the link on the Habaki was very interesting and one more of the learning steps for me.  Never knew the differences in style and province.  Darius

[SteveM]

Don't know about the sword, but the mei on the kogatana is
 

一条信濃守藤原國廣
Ichijō Shinano no kami Fujiwara Kunihiro

 

 

The mei on the sword could start out the same, but it could also be something completely different. Not enough of the sword mei for me to take even a wild guess. 

[Daso]

Don't know about the sword, but the mei on the kogatana is

 

 

一条信濃守藤原國廣

Ichijō Shinano no kami Fujiwara Kunihiro

 

 

The mei on the sword could start out the same, but it could also be something completely different. Not enough of the sword mei for me to take even a wild guess.

Thanks, yes the mei on the tang almost looks like it was filed off. It's not a very old sword so I wonder why it's so faint.

[Daso]

Don't know about the sword, but the mei on the kogatana is

 

 

一条信濃守藤原國廣

Ichijō Shinano no kami Fujiwara Kunihiro

 

 

The mei on the sword could start out the same, but it could also be something completely different. Not enough of the sword mei for me to take even a wild guess.

Thanks, yes the mei on the tang almost looks like it was filed off. It's not a very old sword so I wonder why it's so faint.

[ROKUJURO]

Darius,

your sword may not be 'very old' (how old is 'very old'?), but to me it looks like an EDO JIDAI blade, which comes down to a few hundred years at least. On the other hand, age has nothing to do with quality or desirability, so your blade might be a very nice one to look at and worth to care for.  

NAKAGO are usually filed so I don't think that the MEI was intentionally filed off. The problem with reading has more to do with your photos being not well focused. I think they might profit from a different angle of light. Try with artificial white light from the side or rub a small amount of talcum powder into the grooves of the MEI. Then wipe the NAKAGO clean with a soft tissu which may result in better readable KANJI.

Hope that helps!    

[Daso]

Darius,

 

your sword may not be 'very old' (how old is 'very old'?), but to me it looks like an EDO JIDAI blade, which comes down to a few hundred years at least. On the other hand, age has nothing to do with quality or desirability, so your blade might be a very nice one to look at and worth to care for.  

 

NAKAGO are usually filed so I don't think that the MEI was intentionally filed off. The problem with reading has more to do with your photos being not well focused. I think they might profit from a different angle of light. Try with artificial white light from the side or rub a small amount of talcum powder into the grooves of the MEI. Then wipe the NAKAGO clean with a soft tissu which may result in better readable KANJI.

 

Hope that helps!    

Rokujuro,

 

Thanks, this was an auction piece which I didn't acquire and was rather more curious about, but your thoughts are appreciated.  As people on the board have tought me, I would like an older sword, but I'll be very happy with quality over age at this point while I start my collection.  Also, I never thought about the talcum powder for the Mei.  Darius