Thoughts please

[Mike Noel]

Hi Guys

 

My attempts at reading Mei continue I think the attached reads Kado Kuni  I am sure about the first not so sure about the second. What I can see of the hamon it is tight suguha the sword is not mine yet I am thinking of buying it. any thought greatly received

[Mark S.]

I believe Kadokuni is correct translation.  Only one listed in Sesko’s A-Z smiths:

 

KADOKUNI (門国), Tenshō (天正, 1573-1592), Higo – “Kikuchi-jū Kadokuni” (菊池住門国), Sue-Enju school, it is said that an earlier generation Kadokuni had worked in Kikuchi already during the Hōtoku era (宝徳, 1449-1452), his name is in some sources quoted as Hirokuni

[Mark S.]

Listing:

 

https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/antique-Japanese-sword-katana-signed-by-enju-kadokuni-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-certificate/

 

[Mike Noel]

Thanks for the reply Mark I am starting to think that the signature may be  Gemei as the sword does not appear to have the age to go with the smith

[Mark S.]

Well, I can only see the picture of the nakago you provided so I can’t comment on rest of the blade.  A couple things to consider:

 

1) While any blade has the potential to be faked, ‘usually’ bigger, more famous smiths have a higher likelihood of gimei.  There is much less profit in faking a less known smith.  But of course it is still possible.

2) The nakago may not appear old due to cleaning or other abuse.  Someone may have damaged/removed the patina before you got the blade. 
3) Maybe this is a later blade and smith simply wasn’t recorded… aka “meikan-more”.  
4) Didn’t have much time to compare with papered example I provided, but the relatively ‘square/straight’ mei style seems close.  Of course I don’t know if this smith signed in the two character style, or only in the longer style as noted in the Sesko reference. 

Just some things to consider, and I am commenting off a single picture of a portion of the nakago.

 

[Mike Noel]

Like everything else it is only worth what you can get for it. The sword is for sale at auction and is in a tired state in need of some love and care if I can get it for a reasonable price I will take it on. 

The points you make are valid and appreciated If I get the sword I will post some pictures of as found and hopefully some a few months later when the various pieces come back  and I can decide if it was money well spent or otherwise.

This picture gives a feel for the sword certainly not past the point of no return. The kisaki looks damaged in this picture but in others it looks undamaged hopefully a trick of the light

[Mikaveli]

22 hours ago, Mark S. said:

I believe Kadokuni is correct translation.  Only one listed in Sesko’s A-Z smiths:

 

KADOKUNI (門国), Tenshō (天正, 1573-1592), Higo – “Kikuchi-jū Kadokuni” (菊池住門国), Sue-Enju school, it is said that an earlier generation Kadokuni had worked in Kikuchi already during the Hōtoku era (宝徳, 1449-1452), his name is in some sources quoted as Hirokuni

 

Interesting reading. In Sesko's index, all three of the Kado 門... smiths are listed as also being quoted as Hiro...

 

Mon is obviously the most common reading (in general Japanese), followed by Kado then To.

 

I've also encountered Men and Ne as irregular/ one off readings.

 

Would be very interested in learning anything of the original of the Hiro reading?