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How To Read Swordmaker Signature On Old/oxidized Blade


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I recently acquired this sword from an interesting, old estate. I have been trying to make out the signature on the blade, without luck. Any suggestions for getting a good rubbing of it, even though the part of the blade with the signature is heavily oxidized?post-4419-0-16624300-1519441991_thumb.jpgpost-4419-0-00539100-1519442031_thumb.jpgpost-4419-0-85106800-1519442098_thumb.jpg Thanks for your help!

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Owned a wakizashi by this smith some time ago and I can confirm that the sugata is spot on. The nakago jiri and hamon (that I see) is also correct. I imagine the kasane is rather thick and the sword heavy for its size. Well made sword by a respected smith. Probably shoshin. Good find, IMHO :)

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Dear Glaytham.

 

And whatever you do don't be tempted to clean it!  The oxidation on the tang is important to preserve as it is, any cleaning will devalue the blade by a considerable degree.

 

Enjoy finding out about this sword and, who knows, maybe becoming a nihontophile.

 

All the best.

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Wow!! Thanks everyone for your help. Your deciphering skills are incredible, and your generosity is helping me is duly noted. Here is a better picture of the signature, as well as some photographs of the tsuba and other parts. Is there any chance that any of those are original to the piece, or do they all looks like later additions? Cheers!

post-4419-0-11903800-1519500107_thumb.jpg

post-4419-0-48290600-1519500131_thumb.jpg

post-4419-0-52825200-1519500154_thumb.jpg

post-4419-0-02558000-1519500177_thumb.jpg

post-4419-0-72205000-1519500199_thumb.jpg

post-4419-0-17516200-1519500222_thumb.jpg

post-4419-0-43363400-1519500264_thumb.jpg

post-4419-0-88126900-1519500287_thumb.jpg

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Dear Glaytham.

 

(Please add your name to your posts as per board rules).  The fittings are run of the mill at best and the fact that the sword has three mekugi ana in the tang suggest that the fittings are not original to the blade.  No dramas as remounting blades has gone on for a long time.  However one of the three holes looks very new and it is possible therefor that the mounts have been added quite recently to this blade.

 

Most of the interest here is in the blade itself.  Time to do some research.

 

Enjoy.

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