[Ebay] Gimei Gendaitō (Matsuda Tsuguyasu)?

[Gabriel L]

Redditor is asking about this eBay auction.

 

Before I had access to all the photos (only had nakago photos), my alarm bells were tripped. It looked mostly like nihontō, but sub-par – wobbly shinogi in the nakago, inconsistent yasurime, somewhat clumsy mei, weird small second mekugi-ana, irregular shape primary mekugi-ana, awkward nakagojiri etc.

 

The mei content is also odd – date is ok (平成二十二年二月日 = Feb. 2010), but the name is a bit mysterious (次奉<漠/里/?>作 = Tsuguyasu <?> saku).

Once I saw the rest of the photos, my thoughts were that the mounts were pretty bad even for iai, and the blade does look like nihontō but not exceptional. So I am left somewhat puzzled.

 

Matsuda Tsuguyasu is a mukansa smith. Some resources:

 

* Video with mei: https://youtu.be/LTR0BY8IOxA?t=84

* Example sword: http://www.samuraisword.com/nihontodisplay/no_papers/Tsuguyasu/index.htm

* Article: https://www.renesas.com/en-hq/about/web-magazine/edge/takumi/09-master-swordsmith.html

So… what's your verdict? Lower-end iai sword made by an otherwise skilled smith? "Gimei gendaitō?" Or am I just paranoid? Not sure what to think here.

[PNSSHOGUN]

I think low end Iai sword with gimei signature as well. Either low quality Japanese or higher end chinese, gets hard to tell these days.

 

Either way, Gimei.

[Stephen]

Well if he thinks hes buying Tsuguyasu,hes delusional. but for the price hed be sit up with a cutter 

[Brian]

I think the Komonjo source is leaking...

[Gabriel L]

I think the Komonjo source is leaking...

 

…Or the current owner originally got it from Komonjo? Who knows.