supersonik808 Posted July 20, 2009 Report Posted July 20, 2009 Hello, I am new to this forum and was hoping to glean any information regarding the identification of a sword that I have recently acquired. I see that I'm not alone in this by the many posts on this forum! I won't go into the story that was told to me regarding this blade and instead will just post some pictures. The tang is very rusted and the writing on one side is practically illegible, however the other side is a bit easier to discern. Any and all comments will be gladly appreciated. Thank you for your time and aloha. I have had to make 2 posts in order to upload all pictures. This is post ! Quote
supersonik808 Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Posted July 20, 2009 Hello, I am new to this forum and was hoping to glean any information regarding the identification of a sword that I have recently acquired. I see that I'm not alone in this by the many posts on this forum! I won't go into the story that was told to me regarding this blade and instead will just post some pictures. The tang is very rusted and the writing on one side is practically illegible, however the other side is a bit easier to discern. Any and all comments will be gladly appreciated. Thank you for your time and aloha. Quote
Mark Green Posted July 20, 2009 Report Posted July 20, 2009 Hi Super808, Funny name! Anyway, it looks like you mei reads ' Inouye Sada ? ' A full pic of the Nakago (tang) would help. It looks as though there was laquer painted on the Tang?? A full sword pic would help too. You should be able to downsize your pics with your computer, before posting them to the board. Quote
reinhard Posted July 20, 2009 Report Posted July 20, 2009 This mei reads : Inoue SHIN(KAI), but it doesn't really matter, for it is subsonic (gimei). BTW a real name besides your avatar would be nice/is expected. reinhard Quote
supersonik808 Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Posted July 21, 2009 Sorry about the name, I also ride motorcycles and belong to several forums and for the purpose of keeping it simple I use the same U/N. I'm wondering how to verify if this is indeed a gimai as reinhard has stated? Even if it is, it appears to be quite old. Roland Quote
supersonik808 Posted July 21, 2009 Author Report Posted July 21, 2009 Here are some better (hopefully) pictures of the sword. I have close up shots of the broken kissaki, also what appears to be a ware on the top of the blade toward the habaki. Also more close ups of the nakago and mekugi-ana. When I removed the shirayasa it was not pegged to the blade; the holes where there but do not go all the way through the wood. Instead I found that the two halves were fastened to the nakago with a type of resin or something organically similar in nature. It could be ancient Elmer's for all I know. It is interesting to me that for all the people which I have asked for advice on this matter (all online and through email), all of them have confirmed that the mei says Inoue Shinkai, yet they also say that they can't be certain of the authenticity, which is exactly what I would expect looking at pixels on a screen. None of them have had a definitive answer. I completely understand that I am out of my depth of knowledge on the subject of Japanese swords, which is why I am here in the first place, but I think that it would be more constructive to educate me on the matter instead of leaving captious remarks. Motorcycle forums are ruthless and I'm not known to have thin skin, but I'm not here to have a pissing contest with anyone either. So unless you have something to teach me, I'd appreciate you keeping your comments to yourself. Cheers, Roland P. Quote
Jacques Posted July 21, 2009 Report Posted July 21, 2009 Hi, It seems the mei reads Inoue Shinkai 井上真改. As Reinherd already said this blade is certainly gimei. Below a picture of a true Inoue Shinkai. Quote
Guido Posted July 21, 2009 Report Posted July 21, 2009 Roland, please don't open a new thread for each post - I merged the three existing ones. Please use the reply button. Quote
Mark Green Posted July 21, 2009 Report Posted July 21, 2009 HI Roland, Shinki was one of the best sword smiths Of the Shinto times. He worked in the late 1600's Because of this fame, in later years, and likely in his own times, there were many swords not made by him, that had his signiture carved into them, to bring a better price. There seems to be very few smiths that are gimeied, as much as Inouye Shinki. He was that good! And his mei is not that complex. Good pics of your sword. Mark G Quote
reinhard Posted July 22, 2009 Report Posted July 22, 2009 I think that it would be more constructive to educate me on the matter Compare this kanji "Shin" with any true and verified version of SHINKAI's mei. Jacques showed you the way. reinhard Quote
Guido Posted July 22, 2009 Report Posted July 22, 2009 ..., but I think that it would be more constructive to educate me on the matter instead of leaving captious remarks.... I'm not known to have thin skin, but I'm not here to have a pissing contest with anyone either. So unless you have something to teach me, I'd appreciate you keeping your comments to yourself. What on earth are you talking about? So far I don't see any reply that would warrant your agressive tone ... :? Quote
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