Bishu Ju Suketada Gendaito

[PNSSHOGUN]

A very active and flamboyant Gendaito in the Bizen style, with impressive Choji Hamon and pleasing Sugata. The wartime Sashikomi polish makes it a devil to take pictures of but in the hand, with good light, there is a veritable wealth of activity, if this were in new polish it would be most impressive. Pricing matches the fact there is no Habaki and comes in a strictly functional Shirasaya. I have not been able to find much about this smith but the marvelous George Trotter was able to unearth the following:

 

A smith of this name is listed in  Hawley 1981 p.777  as: Suketada, Okayama 1940 SUK 961 (no other info).

Also listed in 'TOSHO ZENSHU' by Shimizu p.628 gendaito section as: Suketada, Okayama. Family name Kawakami.

The 'Gendai Toko Meikan 1971 by ONO p.188 says he is Kawakami Kotokuro of Okayama who restarted in swords in Sho 29 8 6. (1954/Aug/6).

The 'Gendai Toko Kinko Shotsukata Soran' by Ono 1977 p.111 says he is Kawakami Kotokuro of Okayama, started 1954/8/6 and studied under 1st Gen Kawashima Tadayoshi (there are 2 gens of this name 1st /2nd gens of Shimane pref. Both VERY good)

 

Nagasa: 66cm

Hamachi: 3.3cm

Sori: 2cm

Kasane: 0.7cm

 

Sold

 

Please PM me if interested. Open to reasonable offers.

[Marius]

This is a great opportunity IMHO. Whoever buys this sword, I would advise to keep and cherish the old polish.

[Ganko]

Good looking sword.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Thank you for the kind words, I would like to update that in one of the photos it looks like a fukure is extant, thankfully this was just a bit of gunk stuck to the blade, here are photos of the same area:

 

Gunk removed:

 

 

[Oshy]

Love that hamon!

[16k]

What a beauty! 

[Marius]

Gents. I know that many of you are used to hadori and utterly unfamiliar with sashikomi.

 

This sword is in sashikomi so it will look lacklustre in (amateur) photos. Don’t be fooled by this.

 

I own a few good swords which are in sashikomi and I assure you, that this kind of polish shows the real colour of steel and emphasises steel particles. In a nut shell - sashikomi shows you the real look of the sword. I have a Takada blade in sashikomi and the steel is a wonderful blue which would be hidden in a typical hadori.

 

I would say that if you buy this sword you will pay less than the price of the polish. And a good old polish it is.

 

Here is some info on hadori and sashikomi:

 

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/togistyles.html

 

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/togi.html

 

I am sorry if I am being a bore. But seeing a real gendaito (and a katana) in old excellent polish for this price, I cannot keep silent.

[PNSSHOGUN]

Sword is now on HOLD, pending payment.

 

The interest in this was very high, perhaps I listed it for a crazy price! In any case it's going to a good home.

[Oshy]

Indeed a bargain, someone will be very happy to give this a new home. I love seeing pieces trade hands and be appreciated by many vs sitting in one closet for decades

[Marius]

Congratulations to the buyer! If you are inclined to do so, please report on the sword and its polish.

[16k]

Congrats to the buyer....

 

as for me...

[PNSSHOGUN]

Sword is SOLD, thank you all for the kind words and interest.

[vajo]

Found him in "A Guide to Showa Swordsmiths" by Gregory & Fuller. Page 12.

 

 

Bishu Ju Suketada

備州住助忠

 

The sword will be a honorable addition to the gendaito collection.

 

I have a Tamijo Hisakuni  who was a teacher too in the national technical school at the wartime.

 

So these swords will come together    after a long time.

[Stephen]

Hawley small blue book.

 

[PNSSHOGUN]

Please place in sold archives for future reference.

[vajo]

I paint this from your pictures John.

 

[16k]

Chris, I hate you! 

 

you were too fast!

[vajo]

Thanks JP