Seeking Help And Information

[Jmbarger]

Hi everyone I have finally had time to take some photos and am seeking your help. I have been collecting for years on a "OH that looks neat" basis but now I would like to know more about what I have. I am posting every piece separately. I really appreciate any info anyone has on anything. I would particularly appreciate it if anyone has any idea what the signature on the tang might Say. Thank you in advance for any information you can provide.

 

-Jesse Barger

[Ray Singer]

Sagami (no) kami Fujiwara Munekuni.

 

Shin jugo mai kobuse nite tsukuru.

(made using the 15 fold method)

[Ken-Hawaii]

Jesse, next time, please post photos with the kissaki (tip) pointing up so the Kanji can be read more easily.

 

Check out https://books.google.com/books?id=46IYtI0nkiEC&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=Sagami+no+kami+Fujiwara+Munekuni&source=bl&ots=BRFfY3UVMp&sig=2YeQGAtQEy33F-H-GdcG-PJiMU4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjAz-r6tcjfAhV0ITQIHUU-DmUQ6AEwB3oECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=Sagami%20no%20kami%20Fujiwara%20Munekuni&f=falsefor a bit of information on the smith. Welcome to the forum.

[Ken-Hawaii]

Jesse, next time, please post photos with the kissaki (tip) pointing up so the Kanji can be read more easily.

 

Check out https://books.google.com/books?id=46IYtI0nkiEC&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=Sagami+no+kami+Fujiwara+Munekuni&source=bl&ots=BRFfY3UVMp&sig=2YeQGAtQEy33F-H-GdcG-PJiMU4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjAz-r6tcjfAhV0ITQIHUU-DmUQ6AEwB3oECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=Sagami%20no%20kami%20Fujiwara%20Munekuni&f=falsefor a bit of information on the smith. Welcome to the forum.

[Peter Bleed]

Jesse,

One of the things you have to learn about Japanese swords is that there is ALWAYS an except to anthing people will tell you. We ALL(!) know, for example, that swords mounted in fittings made up of carved cylindrical sections of "bone" are not very good, and invariably "late" stuff made for export.

Your sword may be pretty good, but it is certainly exceptional to that general principle

The blade looks like a nice 17th century sword that deserves certification and restoration.

Beyond that, the carving of the mounts seems to my eye to be pretty darn good. I still bet that they are probably bone, but the carving looks is well done. You should show these to folks who know about ivory carving.

Peter

[TETSUGENDO]

Jesse,

 

Your swords mountings appear to be IVORY to me, better closeup photos would be needed to absolutely confirm this..... they are not of the best quality but are quite descent.  Both blade and mountings deserve to be preserved.

 

Cheers,

    -S-

p.s.-If the mountings are bone they are among the best I've seen.

[seattle1]

Hello:

 I agree with the above two posts as to worthwhileness and I do believe it is probably ivory of some sort, possibly marine. Were the koshirae bone one would expect to see some blood vessels running with the axis of the mounting which I do not see, and the carving is nicely deep which would tend to reveal blood vessels.

 Arnold F.