Curious Cosmos Posted April 15 Report Share Posted April 15 I recently came across a beautiful wakizashi and wanted to check its authenticity. I am fairly new to all this but I've tried to do my own research online. Everything about it looks correct, though I had some concerns about the signature on the tang Yamashiro Daijyo Minamoto Kunishige (山城大掾源国重). While not the cleanest photo, the signature mark looks rough. Any thoughts or opinions? I came across this forum and noticed a discussion on this maker from a few years ago identifying 2 particular individuals who used the same signature. Ichizō Yamashiro-Daijō Kunishige the 1st Denshichirō Yamashiro-Daijō Kunishige the 2nd I have included a photo of the tsuba, the kozuka, and the tsuka. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2devnul Posted April 16 Report Share Posted April 16 Hi, Without investigating blacksmiths/Mei, based on the pictures, Sugata reminds me my Echizen Seki (early Edo ~1650), I like it. However, condition of the blade is below my acceptable level. I'm not sure if it is just old polish or rust/pitting is unremovable. I love Koshirae, black & gold works very well. Mokko Gata Tsuba type is my favorite, so again, big + for that. Please share more pictures if you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curious Cosmos Posted April 16 Author Report Share Posted April 16 Thank you for the insight. The kozuka is fairly worn down and the signature on it is barely visible. The blade itself I had a hard time taking a photo of due to reflections. I have added a photo of the kissaki. Are there any specific items you want to see more photos of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 The fittings have a kind of Mino feel to them. Nice package so far. The kozuka with kumade and mi design looks good from here. When you say a worn 'signature' do you refer to the kozuka blade, or to the handle metalwork? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matsunoki Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 Tsuba looks like a Nagoya mono piece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2devnul Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 6 hours ago, Curious Cosmos said: Are there any specific items you want to see more photos of? Hi, If you could try taking some pictures of Hada and whole Nakago where Yasurime appears. Maybe better pictures of Kissaki, as I can't see Boshi on the one you posted. I know it is difficult to capture some of that, especially with the blade in poor polish condition like that. NBTHK papered blade from Yamashiro Daijyo Minamoto Kunishige 山城大掾源国重 looks way different. https://www.aoijapan...-minamoto-kunishige/ But that is just one example. Still, I like Sugata and Koshirae very much, so I wouldn't mind if it is a Gimei. Nice sword, just requires new polish and some love from future owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curious Cosmos Posted April 17 Author Report Share Posted April 17 6 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said: The fittings have a kind of Mino feel to them. Nice package so far. The kozuka with kumade and mi design looks good from here. When you say a worn 'signature' do you refer to the kozuka blade, or to the handle metalwork? Ah yes, I am referring to the mei on the kozuka. 1 hour ago, 2devnul said: Hi, If you could try taking some pictures of Hada and whole Nakago where Yasurime appears. Maybe better pictures of Kissaki, as I can't see Boshi on the one you posted. I know it is difficult to capture some of that, especially with the blade in poor polish condition like that. NBTHK papered blade from Yamashiro Daijyo Minamoto Kunishige 山城大掾源国重 looks way different. https://www.aoijapan...-minamoto-kunishige/ But that is just one example. Still, I like Sugata and Koshirae very much, so I wouldn't mind if it is a Gimei. Nice sword, just requires new polish and some love from future owner. From an earlier post I found, (https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/39469-yamashiro-daij%C5%8D-minamoto-kunishige/) There were two Yamashiro-Daijō Kunishige, the father and the son. The 国 was what concerned me the most on the mei though I was able to find some results associated with the son. I found a piece that seems to have similar koshirae. https://www.e-sword....1110_2002syousai.htm I have added a photo of the nakago and a couple photos of the kissaki. I will see what I can do about the hada. Now that I've gotten some closer images, I can see the roughness. Is there a post I can be pointed to for proper cleaning and care or should professional assistance be looked at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 CC, the word Kozuka means ‘small handle’. A useful blade is inserted into this handle, so the two together are also referred to as ‘Kozuka’. In your case I am asking where the Mei is, on the steel blade or on the main work of art, the Kozuka handle, sometimes referred to as the fukuro or ‘bag’. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2devnul Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 @Curious Cosmos https://www.e-sword....1110_2002syousai.htm Indeed, this one looks similar. So it could be Nidai work. Don't look at Koshirae, it was probably changed. There are many topics on this forum related to sword maintenance. You can prevent blade from going further bad but I don't think you will be able to remove stains/scratches/rust with simple Uchiko/Oil maintenance. Also, please don't try to restore the blade on your own. Best is to consult it with Togishi, he should be able to advise on next steps of restoration. 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curious Cosmos Posted April 17 Author Report Share Posted April 17 7 hours ago, Bugyotsuji said: CC, the word Kozuka means ‘small handle’. A useful blade is inserted into this handle, so the two together are also referred to as ‘Kozuka’. In your case I am asking where the Mei is, on the steel blade or on the main work of art, the Kozuka handle, sometimes referred to as the fukuro or ‘bag’. Thank you for the clarification! The mei is on the blade. I have attached a clearer photo. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugyotsuji Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 Ah, thanks for that. I see what you mean! These Kozuka blade Mei were mostly (but not always) a dedication in admiration to a famous swordsmith, so they would be unlikely to tell you anything about whoever made the little blade itself. (Signatures you find on the Kozuka ‘fukuro’ however usually do indicate the artisan, though you need to watch out for fakes!) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curious Cosmos Posted April 18 Author Report Share Posted April 18 There were a lot of compliments on the koshirae and as an update, a worn down mei was found on the fuchi. Can anyone please make it out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveM Posted April 19 Report Share Posted April 19 美濃住 光沖 Minō-jū Mitsuoki 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curious Cosmos Posted April 19 Author Report Share Posted April 19 2 hours ago, SteveM said: 美濃住 光沖 Minō-jū Mitsuoki Thank you! That helped me narrow it down to Mino ju Mitsunaka (美濃住光仲). Doing a quick search yields many results that look very similar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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