Out of the woodwork

[Brian]

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut :-)

I think I got my Xmas present.

About a week ago, a respected and high end US collector of Gendaito posted on an SA site asking for advice on shipping a sword from SA to the US. All I could offer was the name of a lady that does knives for the collectors here, and the advice that shipping a sword from here is very complicated and difficult. None of the courier companies want to handle them.
Anyways, I was interested how a decent sword would be found in SA of all places, since we hardly ever see Nihonto for sale here, but I forgot about it.
About 3 days ago...I was browsing the website of a large local auction company that regularly has antiques and collectibles auctions. I have bought from them a few times, but almost never Japanese stuff. Usually knives and other small things.
Imagine my shock when among the lots, I see a Shin Gunto for sale. I assumed it was a fake, but opened the pics anyways, and was surprised to see it was genuine, with a nijimei signature. Took me a few minutes, and I was gobsmacked to realize it was signed Takenori! (Later I realized it was Taketoku)|
Realizing this was the Yasukuni smith, my heart went into overdrive. I realized this must be the sword that the collector had his eyes on, and i knew on an SA budget, there was zero chance I could compete. But I bookmarked the auction, and started planning what my budget was. A Yasukuni related sword has always been on my bucket list.
Before the auction ended, I took the bid to a winning bid of about US$1150, and prepared for a fight at the end, and to see it end at far more than double that.
Auction time, the lot eventually came up, and I prepared to lose, but at least to put up a fight.
The lot starts...the price sits there. I'm waiting for other bids. Nothing? My heart is about to burst. Final call comes up...usually for about 5 seconds...this time it sits there for about 15 seconds. I am having a panic attack.
Closed. I win it at $1150 plus about 20% premium. I don't know what I did to have some luck for a change, but I'm not complaining. Maybe shipping overseas was too complex. Don't know why locals didn't bid, that's cheap even by local standards for a regular Gunto.
I was lucky..a friend was flying down to that city yesterday and driving back, and he agreed to fetch it. After some complications (Auction house decided to close yesterday and i had to reach out to the owner) my buddy brought it back late last night and I got it today.

A lovely Kajiyama Taketoku Gendaito, made privately while he was working at Yasukuni but after he changed his nakago shape to kijimomo to prevent confusion between himself and his nephew Kotani Kenzo.
Dated 1937 and in very good original polish, some stains but everything can be seen. Cleaned up nicely with isopropyl alcohol and some oil, and has a stunning sugata, tapering to a small ko-kissaki.
Kijimomo nakago, nagasa is 655mm. Signed below the mekugi ana, which is something I need to research. 
It's only in hand you can appreciate how different these are to military swords. Light in the hand, with a Koto feel. Has a straight and active ko-choji hamon that I am still getting into examining. Lots to see and beautifully forged.
Hard to take photos, so will add as i go along. 
But consider me one very happy guy. No idea how this got to South Africa, or the story behind it. But for now I am happy to be its owner, and thanks to that collector for giving me the shot at it. It has a good home and will be well cared for.

 

 

[Mark]

congratulations  well deserved win  

[george trotter]

Well done indeed Brian.

I think the sword angels like you.

Merry Christmas,

George.

[Bugyotsuji]

Yup, all good things come to those who wait. It was meant to be. Serendipity at work! Great find, and nice write-up.

[Hector]

Wow! Congratulations! 😀👍

 

From the look of the field saya, I guess it used to have an upper leather seppa with a popper flap passed through the tsuba?

[Brian]

Yeah, I think at some point the fittings were changed, as the solid tsuba has 2 regular very thin seppa and the tsuba has has a slot for that leather retainer. I'll look at sorting the fittings out sometime. Interesting leather combat cover with lacing, and a brass? protector at the bottom.

[Bruce Pennington]

Great story, Brian, and what luck!  Worth twice that in the US market.  Also, lucky to still have the koiguchi on the saya opening.  They are often missing on these type saya.

[Nazar]

Indeed, great story and great luck! Congratulations, Brian! 

[Brian]

I think this would be of interest to @Volker62 and @PNSSHOGUN

[Volker62]

congrat's Brian !!

 

rare find with this signature great sword  and what a christmas present!!

 

 

 

 

[Brian]

We still have no conclusive meaning of the signature below the ana?
I know there is talk of onkashi-to, but those had the same on the same side as the mei. So a bit confusing.

[Volker62]

Brian

 

after my reseach the reason for different place of the Mekugi ana could be

 

a visual marker that the blade was made outside the shrine  forge.

 

the smith was free to choose the style of the balde and was not bound by the the strict rules of the shrine smith gulid

[Volker62]

sorry forget to mention

 

The appearance of such eleaborately crafted blades is often more attractive to our taste.

 

like hamon ,shape , ect ect

[PNSSHOGUN]

Congratulations, glad the blade cleaned up nicely. Onkashi had the important differentiation of having "Kinsaku" added to the Mei, they seem to have been only made at the Yasukuni Shrine forge.  

[Hector]

This is the only Taketoku signed blade i could find. Apparently, they are much rarer than those with Yasutoku signatures. 👍

 

日本刀・表/武徳（靖国刀匠 靖徳同人）｜日本刀・刀剣販売の十拳

 

 

[Brian]

Here's the best write-up I've seen on Taketoku
https://yasutoku.blogspot.com/2014/07/tachi-by-kajiyama-yasutoku-may-1936.html

 

 

 

[Hector]

7 minutes ago, Brian said:

Here's the best write-up I've seen on Taketoku
https://yasutoku.blogspot.com/2014/07/tachi-by-kajiyama-yasutoku-may-1936.html

 

 

 

I read that blog while trying to find another Taketoku. Apparently, the guy who wrote it actually met Yasutoku's nephew, Yasunori! 😃

 

Kotani Yasunori of the Yasukuni Shrine

[Brian]

I believe our own @Volker62 has a very charming and personal history with Yasunori :-)

[Volker62]

Thank you Brian

 

 

 can only confirm, that Kotani san was a kind and polite person and as we all know by now a great swordsmith!

 

 

I was happy and proud to have been in good contact with him until his passing on March 1. 2003  a on nd special thanks to his granddaughter, who kindlydid all the translations between us.

 

Once again, congratulations on your new Taketoku, we've already talked about it.

 

An extremely rare signed example crafted by the great Kajiyama Yasutoku.

[Jcstroud]

A just and well deserved find,of all places ! Congratulations and enjoy.   John