UK auction 2.

[charlesf]

Just arrived this morning,my latest 'rescue' to be housed in my orphanage for rough swords . . . .

What you see here is what I had to use to bid on (I can hear the groans already!),so you can determine whether or not you would have tried to buy it!

Auction house described it as 70 cms blade,they invariably measure from tip to guard so no surprise to find it measures a touch under 27".

It is genuine ubu,the brown streaks are grease,there are one or two areas of light pitting,a slight 'wriggle' in the middle of the blade and the very tip of the kissaki has gone.

Tsuka has lost amost all of its same,it was a civilian hilt cut for a kashira,plain iron fuchi and signed tsuba (I'll try to take a photo).

nagasa; 68.2 cms

motohaba; 3 cms

sakihaba; 2 cms

nakago;21.2 cms

Tall shakudo habaki; 3.3 cms

hamon; medium suguha

 

charles

[charlesf]

Further images . . . . . . 

 

charles

[Lewis B]

You're a braver man than me. Ultimately it comes down to price and the risk/reward calculation.

[charlesf]

All in,delivered to my door it totalled £510 which I think is reasonable for a signed Hizen-to albeit not in perfect condition.

As far as I can tell the signature is good and compares favourably to those shown on commercial sword sites.

It was a bit of a no-brainer for me,I've always admired Hizen-to but they are usually out of my reach financially so this is an opportunity to study one first-hand while not breaking the bank.

 

charles.

[Lewis B]

Ahh you didn't mention it was signed. I couldn't see a signature on those nakago pics. That changes things somewhat. At about 500 quid all in you did pretty well then. 

[charlesf]

Thank you!

Last picture; 'Hizen Kuni No Ju Ise Daijo Fujiwara Yoshihiro'.

I've no idea whether 1st or 2nd generation.

 

charles.