SamSwo Posted April 6 Report Posted April 6 I wonder if anyone can give me more information on this sword ? Quote
ROKUJURO Posted April 6 Report Posted April 6 Jo James, welcome to the NMB forum! The TSUBA seems to be of the NANBAN type. The NAKAGO (= tang) photos are a challenge as they are not well focused. Please use a plain dark background, light from the side and orient photos blade-tip vertically upwards so reading is easier. There are no photos included of the blade, so not much could be said on it except that the NAKAGO looks KOTO to me. Signatures are not always authentic! 1 Quote
Jussi Ekholm Posted April 6 Report Posted April 6 I think my first guess would be Yoshifusa (能房) from Kongōbyōe (金剛兵) school. Could you perhaps take clearer picture of the signature? Of course it might be very difficult as it is bit worn down. 1 1 Quote
Rivkin Posted April 6 Report Posted April 6 Second that it does look like late Muromachi Kongobye. 1 1 Quote
SamSwo Posted April 12 Author Report Posted April 12 thanks for your help - apologies slow reply. I’ve added more photos, hopefully useful ? Quote
SamSwo Posted April 12 Author Report Posted April 12 (edited) A few more - very ornate fuchi Edited April 12 by SamSwo Quote
SamSwo Posted April 12 Author Report Posted April 12 (edited) One more - menuki Edited April 12 by SamSwo Quote
SamSwo Posted April 12 Author Report Posted April 12 A few more where I’ve tried to clean up the signature with photoshop Quote
SamSwo Posted April 12 Author Report Posted April 12 (edited) Close up on inner face of fuchi - looks like makers mark but don’t want to clean up myself obvs so this is best I can get image-wise. A circle with inner dot and maybe 2 or 3 additional marks to right. Edited April 12 by SamSwo Quote
ROKUJURO Posted April 12 Report Posted April 12 James, all NAKAGO photos (except one with a date) cannot be read as they are upside-down. Please do not shoot the photos at an angle but right from above. The TSUBA and FUCHI photos are not oriented correctly either. The NANAKO-JI of the FUCHI is of low quality, the horses are hopefully a bit better (if I could see them properly). It is difficult to give an opinion of a sword only with photos, so these should be as good as possible. Just look at how swords are presented in books ! Quote
ROKUJURO Posted April 12 Report Posted April 12 18 minutes ago, SamSwo said: Close up on inner face of fuchi..... This low resolution photo is not helpful; it could be anything. FUCHI are usually not signed or marked on the inside. Quote
John C Posted April 12 Report Posted April 12 Jo James: This last bit looks like part of the date. All that I can see is a day (auspicious) in the eighth month. I don't see the era or year listed above. John C. Quote
flemming Posted April 13 Report Posted April 13 Jussi is right, this is signed "Kongohyoe no-Jo Yoshifusa Saku", and dated "a day in August". That unhelpful date is frequently seen with Kongohyoe blades made during the Muromachi period. There were 2 Yoshifusa smiths, and I suspect this may be the work of the second, 1469 peak period, Hawleys reference YOS 1226. Rather than pictures of the furniture that have nothing to do with the sword, I would have expected some of the standard measurements, like Nagasa, Kasane, etc. to determine the exact period. This nakago appears to have been cleaned, hence the vertical marks that look almost made with a file. The rust appears to have some shale-like patches, so one might suspect it has been in a fire. I would check it out for being re-hardened. Lloyd 2 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted April 13 Report Posted April 13 Jo James, They are looking for a bare blade photo with the following measurements: Also, a couple close shots of the blade body showing hamon (temper pattern) and blade tip are helpful. 2 Quote
SamSwo Posted June 1 Author Report Posted June 1 Thanks @Bruce Pennington @flemming @John C hard to be precise to the mm but measurements to the cm are correct. Nagasa - 63.3cm Kissaki - 3.3 cm Nakago - 13cm Quote
John C Posted June 1 Report Posted June 1 Jo James: I don't kantei swords, however I can give you a couple of tips. Note the red line in the first photo. That is the measurement for the nagasa, or cutting edge. The perpendicular green line in the middle is the sori, meaning curvature. That can help determine age or period or school as well. The second pic show a fingerprint on the blade. You'll want to wipe down the blade with rubbing alcohol to remove it. Then oil the blade lightly with mineral oil. John C. Quote
flemming Posted June 1 Report Posted June 1 John's picture with the red line, and knowing the nagasa says everything necessary to pinpoint the period of manufacture. It is from the earlier Sengoku period, or warring states, or Period of Anarchy, by the nagasa; something seen with many schools during this time. The red line highlights the sori, which as you can see reveals 3 individual curvatures. Koshi sori at the base, central sori, and the addition of saki sori seen an inch or two behind the kissaki. This is common in the latter 1400's in Kongohyoe and I have a very nice Moritaka (1492) which is almost identical in length and shape to your blade. It does not have a bo-hi unfortunately. So, I think this must be from the later Yoshifusa with a peak period stated as 1469. Lloyd F. 3 Quote
SamSwo Posted June 4 Author Report Posted June 4 On 6/1/2026 at 10:20 PM, flemming said: John's picture with the red line, and knowing the nagasa says everything necessary to pinpoint the period of manufacture. It is from the earlier Sengoku period, or warring states, or Period of Anarchy, by the nagasa; something seen with many schools during this time. The red line highlights the sori, which as you can see reveals 3 individual curvatures. Koshi sori at the base, central sori, and the addition of saki sori seen an inch or two behind the kissaki. This is common in the latter 1400's in Kongohyoe and I have a very nice Moritaka (1492) which is almost identical in length and shape to your blade. It does not have a bo-hi unfortunately. So, I think this must be from the later Yoshifusa with a peak period stated as 1469. Lloyd F. Ps any thoughts on fire damage with sight of new images ? Quote
flemming Posted June 4 Report Posted June 4 (edited) Regarding fire damage, I think I see a hamon in one photo, however I have acquired a few blades including an Inoe Shinkai which were "burned out". A good polisher can do a Kesho polish in which the hamon appears to exist, but careful examination reveals it is not there. The only way to be sure, is to use a light, like an overhead tungsten or led spotlight, and force the nioi-guchi to illuminate, which they all will. I am sure you have seen the effect in photos if nothing else. If it is there, at some angle you will see it, usually near a light flare. If no hamon is illuminated, it is not there, and the metallurgy has changed from a fire. That is the only way to be sure, but shale type rust on the nakago is an indication that it should be checked. Lloyd F. Edited June 5 by flemming Quote
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