acoyauh Posted April 21, 2019 Report Posted April 21, 2019 Hello, forumers. I have this blade in my shop. I have never seen this kind of etching on a Japanese blade. Maybe if I can identify the author / blade info I can look a bit deeper. So please, can anyone help me with this mei? Any opinions on the blade also will be very appreciated, Thank you! Quote
SteveM Posted April 21, 2019 Report Posted April 21, 2019 Hello Jean 播磨岡本安儔造 Harima Okamoto Yasutomo tsukuru 寛政九年八月日 1797 August 5 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted April 21, 2019 Report Posted April 21, 2019 Jean Paul,the MEI (signature) is written in SOSHO script, which is indeed difficult to read, but our experts won't have a problem with it. The signature is not etched into the NAKAGO, but chiselled.The blade looks damaged by heavy (incompetent) grinding. I am not sure if the damage is final or if the blade can be saved by a good TOGISHI (Japanese polisher). 2 Quote
Bazza Posted April 21, 2019 Report Posted April 21, 2019 A beautiful mei, just divinely elegant. This doesn't quite look like sousho - is it gyousho??? Ahhh, when in doubt go to google/wikipedia... seal script (篆書 tensho) (pinyin: zhuànshū) clerical script (隷書 reisho) (pinyin: lìshū) regular script (楷書 kaisho) (pinyin: kǎishū) semi-cursive (行書 gyōsho) (pinyin: xíngshū) cursive (草書 sōsho) (pinyin: cǎoshū). So, I'm no wiser as to the Yasutomo katana writing style. Help a drowning man Steve... BaZZa. 2 Quote
Bazza Posted April 21, 2019 Report Posted April 21, 2019 Ahhhh, while I was ruminating on writing styles Jean went right to it... BaZZa. Quote
Brian Posted April 21, 2019 Report Posted April 21, 2019 Bravo Steve, as always :clap: Your talent is amazing and invaluable. Quote
uwe Posted April 21, 2019 Report Posted April 21, 2019 The only thing I had right was the date.... Good work Steve! Quote
Grey Doffin Posted April 21, 2019 Report Posted April 21, 2019 It looks like someone has taken a Dremmel Tool to the blade to grind in a phony baloney Bonji, most likely to hide a serious flaw. It looks also like the kissaki has been chipped and reshaped; the boshi is barely hanging on. Unfortunate but the blade is likely toast (beyond redemption). Grey 1 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted April 21, 2019 Report Posted April 21, 2019 Grev,my impression is that there was a (KEN to TSUME?) HORIMONO which had been ground away, leaving some poor remains. Probably not made with a Dremel tool, I think. Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted April 22, 2019 Report Posted April 22, 2019 Forgive my ignorance of the old styles, but is that ito style normal? Quote
SteveM Posted April 22, 2019 Report Posted April 22, 2019 In general: if its hard to read, its probably sōsho. Gyōsho is more legible. With sōsho, the form of the kanji has been completely reduced to a cursive shorthand, making it impossible to read unless you have already memorized the shorthand. This is a beautifully carved signature. I am a sucker for sōsho on swords. The contrast of the physical labor of carving/chiseling a name in a style that replicates what is normally accomplished with brush and ink is yet another layer of skill and craftsmanship for us to appreciate. Sōsho on swords would make a good thread for another day. I would love to see this sword get repaired to the extent possible, but that is a cost that might not be recovered in resell value. The wrapping looks to me like baleen. Maybe Jean can send some more pictures of the handle (and other parts of the sword). Quote
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