Magoroku Kanemoto

[Leatherdog]

Thanks John. That's a great collection of oshigata. Can anyone point out noteworthy differences in the strokes between the oshigata supplied and my photos? I'm pretty new to evaluating mei, so would appreciate others' perspectives.

[John A Stuart]

As we saw with the Kotetsu copy by Kajihei there are certainties only those who have seen many sword's mei for true evaluation can tell you, that, and there were so many Kanemoto smiths. What is noteworthy about Magoroku Kanemoto is his signature has so many variations. Short abbreviated, long, pinched, slanted and straight etc., etc. So, what about the sword? The steel is whitish and hard looking, later Kanemoto II had this quality as did subsequent generations. I think the source steel had changed, maybe war caused certain steel to be unavailable. Kanesada II shows this trait as well, where earlier swords were a bluish black steel with a softer definition, both smiths having utsuri in cases, quite distinctly visible. This was absent in later swords. Earlier it was mentioned, the Kanemoto boshi, but, it was one among several you will see in his swords and not definitive. The hamon accords with other sanbonsugi that are attributed to him, so, still a possible candidate. I have a gut feeling it is not Kanemoto II, but, an earlier descendant such as Kanemoto III. Just an amateur students thoughts and it must be seen by appraisers. John

[nagamaki - Franco]

hi, pardon, one question that needs to be asked and answered here is, is this a koto period or shinto period sword? Until that question is answered determing whether or not it was made by the 2nd generation Kanemoto is irrelevant.

In my experience this is one of the dangers of starting kantei based on the mei instead of the sword.

[John A Stuart]

That is what I was getting at Franco. I believe it is a sue-koto blade, because of the above. John

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

IMHO the nakago seems a little bit too tapered to be a nidai Kanemoto. How are the yasurime? How is the nakago mune?

[John A Stuart]

The yasuri seem to be takanoha when I blow up the pics. The kengyo leaning towards iriyama nakagojiri are not out of line for later smiths. The taper is a little more than usual for nidai, agreeing with Jacques. I am still leaning towards Magoroku II Kanemoto III. What do the other Mino fans think, so far? John

[Jacques D.]

Hi,

 

Some thing in this hamon bothers me. Usually the sanbon-sugi of nidai Kanemoto even it's more clearer than the shodai's, is even irregular and has always some togari. Features i don' t see on this blade.

[Leatherdog]

Shinsa says...

Magoroku Kanemoto, Mino, Eisho period (1504-1520)

[John A Stuart]

A good result I would say. Congratualations. John