Sadayoshi Update

[paulb]

About 4 years ago I posted a paper about a small tanto I had bought which was signed Sadayoshi. At the time I had decided to have it polished and Ted Tenold did a fantastic job on it. Subsequently I decided to have not 1 but 2 sets of koshirae made for it. While I fully accept this probably wasnt the financially most sensible thing I have ever done and now have far more tied up in this tiny blade than I am ever likely to realise in a future sale, I have to say I remain delighted with it. Sometimes there is just something in a blade that makes your heart sing and this 8" of old steel does it for me. I still don't know what it is, opinion continues to be evenly split as it was when I wrote the original paper but again I don't really care. See what you think

[Jean]

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/14089-hosho-sadayoshi/?p=147828

 

The question to ask is :

 

Why Did not you finally submit it to Shinsa, Paul?

 

Mystery is perhaps what draws you to this blade (and the masame) but also the fact that You are probably more and more drawn to tanto

[paulb]

Truth is Jean other things took over and I didnt feel a great need. I continue to ponder and enjoy the process. To send this small blade to Japan which currently is the only option would take time and effort, although Paul Martin offers an excellent service but I guess I just havent found it necessary. In the interim other pieces have appeared which took more attention. The reason this one has come back to the forefront is the koshirae with wisteria has been finished. This is a very long way from my normal choice of koshirae but it just seemed right. I wanted something that differed from my black on black norm and certainly achieved that!!

[Fuuten]

Financial sense.. sometimes very important. But if you can afford it and that is what you desire i think its sweet that you went through with it:)

 

The results speak for themselves. Any chance you could link the article here too?

 

 

Thank you in advance,

[paulb]

http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/articles/Yamato_Sadayoshi.pdf

[Blazeaglory]

Wow there is allot going on in that jihada. I could examine this tanto all day. I think it's one of my favorite designs.

 

And well written opinion. From the reading I've done over the past few months I would agree it's koto. If not, it's a beautiful shinshinto. Either way great item and awesome koshirae. The red really works!

[Mark S.]

...I have to say I remain delighted with it. Sometimes there is just something in a blade that makes your heart sing...

 

 

Good enough for me... sometimes kinda the same way we pick women...

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hello Paul,

 

FWIW, I'd be surprised if it was Koto, but not Shinshinto based on these images. The other thought that jumped out at me is Settsu based on jitetsu (which I've always had a soft spot for).

 

Thanks for sharing this story. 

[paulb]

thank you Franco its another group to add to the pot. I will dig in to it a bit more. If I find anything definitive (which I doubt) I will let you know

thanks for your input

[Jussi Ekholm]

Might be bit far out thought but what if the sword is middle Muromachi work by an unknown sue-Hōshō smith Sadayoshi? I think I would personally lean towards c. 1450 - 1500 for the age just a feel by looking at the pics. And while there is strong possibility of gimei I just feel that there are still plenty of unknown smiths out there.