Genuine Or Gimei?

[hxv]

Greetings,

 

I made a gunto-for-wakizashi trade. I think I have 50/50 chance that it's genuine, and that was enough for me to trade.  I would like to get your opinion on this wakizashi.  The mei is Bizen no Suke Munetsugu, dated Koka 2, 12th month.

 

Pluses:

 

1. Munetsugu received his title in Koka 2. The mei is consistent with this time frame. So, no obvious red flag.

 

2. The yasurime is consistent with this early stage of his career.

 

3. The nakagojiri is right.

 

4. The placement of the nakago ana is right.

 

5. The vibrant choji midare hamon seems right.  I have read that some of his works pack plenty of jinie, and this seems consistent with what I see on this wakizashi.

 

Minuses: The first 2 characters seem a bit off from what I have seen of papered examples. This is what has me hedging my bet at the 50/50 mark.

 

Please feel free to comments, as all comments are welcome. 

 

Warmest regards,

Hoanh

[Mark]

the blade ;looks nice. I have not compared the mei but on first look the temper does not look like Munetsugu, it is sort of "wild" his chogi is usually very organized and compact,  Just my thought after 30 sec look

[Stephen]

Nice activity, id buy it on that quality, if gimei remove it 

[Kanenaga]

AFAIK, 95% of Munetsugu's blades have his typical nioi-deki choji-midare hamon with midarekomi boshi, which this is not. He  made a few in suguha, which this is not.  He also made a very few nie-intense osoraku-style wakizashi (to annoy his Yotsuya neighbor, Kiyomaro), which this is also not.  But then, a really good smith could probably make whatever he wished.

 

Les

[tokashikibob]

It's a keeper!

[hxv]

Thank you gentlemen. I won't waste money sending it to Japan for shinsa, but will venture a little money when shinsa comes to San Francisco again.

 

Many thanks,

Hoanh

[Jacques D.]

many red flags...

 

http://www.nihonto.ca/koyama-munetsugu/

[Ken-Hawaii]

Hoanh, do you have a shot of the whole blade? Hard to see sugata in segments. I really like the hataraki.

 

Ken

 

[hxv]

Hi Ken,

 

I will get a picture of the suguta for you this weekend.

 

Hoanh

[Stephen]

 

http://www.aoijapan.com/katana-bizenno-suke-fujiwara-munetsugu

[Jacques D.]

Big red flag, never seen on a shoshin Munetsugu.