An unexpected find... please help me identify!

[slavia631]

Well, I was sent this sword today to do some custom-mounting work on it. The owner described it to me as a run of the mill Gunto blade, and wanted a new tsuka/fittings to be made for it.

 

When the sword arrived, and I removed the saya/mountings, I realized that this is not Gunto blade. It is an antique nihonto blade:

 

 

So, the first thing I did was snap these shots to post on here and show you guys:

 

(the mei. these are the only two characters. any ideas? can anybody identify this smith for me?)

 

(suguha hamon. very tight hdada. no flaws...)

 

(...except for this one. pretty big flaw there. repairable, do you think?)

 

Does anybody have any opinions or general information tha they could share about this blade? I am mainly wondering how old it is, who is the smith, and whether it could be repaired.

 

thanks,

 

Andrew

[Jacques]

Hi,

 

It is signed Masahiro.

[Brian]

If the boshi is where I think i am seeing it, then yes..it is completely repairable. However this would need a very good and professional togishi.

 

Brian

[Mark Green]

Great looking sword.

I think it may be a close call on the boshi though. It looks to me, like the kissaki would not be able to keep it's original shape. Hard to tell from that pic though.

Could you get a few more pics of the Kissaki area?

With that Bo-hi so far towards the point, the reshaped Kissaki would be very restricted.

JMHO Mark G

[Brian]

If I am seeing the boshi correctly, then this is what I think it might look like after the repair, more or less. As you can see, the ko-shinogi would have to be adjusted quite a bit, but looks like there is room with the hi there. Of course none of this is sure, as a togishi would have to look at it in hand. This is just a guess and things change radically in hand. A lot of variables to take into account.

 

Brian

 

Edit to add: of course a togi would probably take the yokote back a bit and preserve the look of the kissaki instead of making it a ko-kissaki. This was just a quick photoshop job

[Mark Green]

Great job Brian,

I was seeing the boshi as that other shadow, outside your line by quite a bit. KInda where the edge in your ps pic is. I sure hope Im wrong.

More pics in other light may help.

MG

[slavia631]

I can add more photos when I get the chance, but I am certain that Brian has identified the boshi.

 

Thanks for the input guys, I am sure the owner will be pleased to know these things.

Any ideas on the age?

[Mark Green]

Great news on that Boshi. It can likely be fixed.

LOTS of Masahiro!!!!

The sword looks Shinto to me.

MG

[stekemest]

I'd rather say koto. Sugata, nakago, niji-mei....