Katana For Auction - Fuyuhiro Saku W/ Shaomi Tsuba

[Stephen]

Auction houses are notorious for whispering sweet nothings...lol

[J Reid]

It's more likely that a Japanese family brought it with them during the first recorded Japanese immigration to Canada in 1877. I have never found any ww2 mounted swords in Canada. There is the odd time that I've found a traditionally mounted blade though. Coincidence?!

[Surfson]

Josh, assuming that you have been hunting swords in Canada for some decades, this is a pretty good sample of data to draw from.  

[J Reid]

A decade anyways ..

[Surfson]

Sword just arrived in good condition.  I think Ray was correct on both accounts.  First, the signature is definitely Fuyuhiro saku.  Second, I think the tang is likely ubu.  The kasane tapers greatly so that at the end it is very narrow, yet the depth of the horimono is fairly uniform as it tapers.  If it were osuriage, I would expect the tang to be a uniform thickness to the end or for the horimono to disappear as it narrows.  I can’t tell exactly, but probably the hamon does end near the machi.  As to the mei, there are over 60 Fuyuhiro listed in Hawley’s, so I’m not sure we can tell if it is good or not.  In other words, an ubu, late koto or early shinto Fuyuhiro sword is a viable option.  I cleaned up the tsuba and it looks fabulous - really a nice piece.  The rest of the mounts are nice too and I have no buyer’s remorse.  The guy said the sword was 28.5”, but it’s disappointing that it is more like 27.3”.  I will submit at the Chicago show and let you know how it goes.   Cheers, bob

[lonely panet]

not to be childish, but I said ubu first      

[Lewis B]

Old thread revival but I thought the sword in question was worthy of an update @Surfson.  Did you get the Mei authenticated?  Having just purchased Alex's yoroi doshi I'm gathering as much evidence as possible to support an attribution to a particular generation Fuyuhiro and the period.

What was curious to me, as this is something I've not come across before, is the carving of Mei across and into the Hi? Is that a thing?

[Surfson]

Hi Lewis B (I had a flashback when I typed your name, since there is a Lewis b blood group antigen that I studied eons ago!).

I bought a collection of swords slightly after that and sold it at the Chicago show shortly after I bought it.

I remember to tsuba to be quite good and believe that the buyer (who is a restorer) bought it for the guard.