Need Help With A Possible Koto Era Blade

[Kinezumi]

I found this sword that is possibly from the Koto period. I have a hard time deciphering the name of the swordsmith from the Kanji. It's just a two-character mei in this case.

 

This is what the description says:

 

It is a koto period piece with beautiful irregular midare type hamon, rayskin is painted gold under tsuka ito.

I was told the 2 character signature is of a prominent family name in making of swords.

39-1/2 inches overall length.

22-3/4 inch blade length.

 

It also has the original saya.

 

Here are the pictures of the sword

 

 

The person also had it restored as it was deemed to be something of value.

 

I hope you guys can help me out with this one.

 

Thanks!

[Ray Singer]

The sword is signed Akihiro (秋廣). This is very likely to be a gimei (false signature) intended to be passed off the Nambokucho period Soshu smith. http://www.sho-shin.com/akihiro2.html

 

I am sorry to be blunt but it appears that the polish and koshirae (mountings) were put together by an amateur. The fit of the fittings on the tsuka (handle) do not align correctly and this does not appear to be a professional Japanese tsukamaki (wrap).

[Katsujinken]

I doubt that this blade is very old or Japanese, to be honest.

[Stephen]

I doubt your doubt....what is your opinion based on Michael?

[Katsujinken]

I doubt your doubt....what is your opinion based on Michael?

Happy to be wrong, and there are certainly folks here who would know better. Could be the polish is just throwing me. Just looks off to me. Shape, nakago patina, hamon, etc.

[Ray Singer]

My feeling is that this sword is an authentic Shinto blade, maybe Kanbun, which had a gimei added. The hazy amateur polish gives a very skewed impression. Nothing of the jitetsu can be seen. Something has been added to the nakago (powder?) to make the mei easier to read.

[Grey Doffin]

I agree with Ray and, for sure: what a terrible attempt at a polish.

Grey

[PNSSHOGUN]

Polish has been done with sandpaper & acid.

 

Avoid.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Kinezumi, please post with your first name, per Brian's rules. Welcome to the forum, but I hope you're prepared for some real-world news.

 

It's real, & probably Kanbun, as Ray stated, but other than that, it's a real hodge-podge of a mess! The polish is far, far from being professional, & I can't decide if I'm seeing an acid-washed hamon, with fingerprints, no less. The drilled mekugiana alone says it can't be Koto. The tsukamaki is nearly worst I've seen - all of the diamonds should be exactly the same size, & aligned perfectly, & yours is not, by a long-shot. There's no coomonality to the rest of the koshirae, either.

 

If you haven't bought this blade, DON'T! If you have, then I hope you didn't pay very much.

[Ryubiken]

Nakago looks to be in odd condition to my eyes. Otherwise I don't see any big issues on the blade itself. That polishing is most likely old and/or hastily done uchigumori-hato or hazuya. Most likely fast cleanup to see if there's hagire or other flaws. If you have the blade, I would check for hagire. I don't see any acid effects (at least from current photos).

 

Rest of the package is quite crude. Judging from the pictures the first mekugi-ana could be punched. Second (higher) is quite surely drilled.

[Kinezumi]

Thanks for the responses and information guys. I am new to the whole Nihonto thing so I really appreciate you guys helping me out.

I think i might return the sword anyways and find another one that's less risky.

[SAS]

I do not see an acid polish, as "legit" use of acid is to whiten a weak hamon. This hamon is strong on its own, but the polish has no tbeen taken to a high state, no burnishing, etc. Maybe not an award winner, but a legit sword, that depending on the price, could have made the buyer happy......he doesn't sound happy now, though.