Katana Mei

[Francis Wick]

Hallo and thanks

 

Can anyone recognize this Mei ? The second character looks asif it’s written in “ grass script “ or calligraphy type script ? I’m not aware that this type of script was used in ancient times but the blade looks pretty old perhaps pre muromachi 

 

thanks

 

francis

[Ray Singer]

To my eyes, this looks like: Moritsugu. 

 

Look into Kongobyoe school. 

[Francis Wick]

2 minutes ago, Ray Singer said:

To my eyes, this looks like: Moritsugu. 

 

Look into Kongobyoe school. 

Thank you Ray 🙏🏽

[Ray Singer]

Please show a photo of the full nakago. This is the typical nakago shape seen in Muromachi period Kongobyoe (on the right in the image below).

 

 

[Francis Wick]

Ok thanks so it looks like the picture in the lower right 

[reinhard]

For those interested:

The mei reads "Moritsugu" for sure.

You find the sword in an ongoeing auction at www.rockislandauction.com in Texas.

Problem is:

The sugata on the pics looks like very old (Ko-) Aoe work.

This could explain the mei on the sashi-ura, for some of the Aoe-smiths signed their tachi contrary to common practice.

But: The nakago looks quite "fresh", unaltered and with one mekugi-ana.

The kengyo-butt could point to Chikuzen-Kongobyoe school as Ray Singer already pointed out.

Maybe a Southerner finds the time to check it out in hand.

 

reinhard

 

 

 

[Francis Wick]

Just now, Francis Wick said:

Hallo yes it seems very old in shape which does not fit in with a Muromachi attribution, but as Ray pointed out the signature and Nakago shape are a very good match with that era. It might be worth buying for someone as it is signed, shortened and already polished. I always worry that these have hidden flaws like hagire though , I will not try and buy it because I’ve been burned a few times buying things that I didn’t see first