Help In Identifying Maker And Time Period Of This Sword

[Jacbnimble]

Hi all:

 

I was hoping to have some help identifying this sword. I was told it is a Yosozaemon Sukesada from 1532 but would like to get the forum's opinion. Many thanks!

[Shugyosha]

Hi Jack,

 

You have a blade with NBTHK papers which is pretty much the highest level of authentication you can get and which outranks our opinions by some distance.

 

The paper authenticates the signature to “Bizen no Kuni-jū Osafune Yosōzaemon no Jō Sukesada saku” (備前国住長船与三左衛門尉祐定作) and the date on the side of the tang in the second photograph says "a lucky day in February in the third year of Tenbun".

 

Tenbun (天文) began in 1532, so the third year would be 1534 (the first year of the period is counted as year one).

 

That the smith signed with a long signature like this usually suggests that it is his best work as opposed to a mass-produced item, so you probably have a very nice katana there! If you want to post some other pictures, we always like to look at swords. 

 

I'm sorry to be overly formal but we do like to use proper names on the forum, so if you wouldn't mind adding a real name to your posts we can address you politely.

 

Kind regards,

John

[Geraint]

Not to mention the koshirae!

 

All the best.