Need help with Mei.

[Edward G]

Good Morning all.  Recently acquired type 98 small size configuration Wakizashi blade.  I am unsure of the inscription, please confirm what you may think it says.  I read it as 'Mura Yuki, or Tomo  Yuki".  Nagasa is 21 inches.  Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

Edward G

[YourBabyBjornBorg]

Hi! This reads 江村作 (Emura Saku). 

[Edward G]

Great, Thank You so Much

 

Edward G

[Marcin]

5 hours ago, Edward G said:

Great, Thank You so Much

 

Edward G

https://japaneseswordindex.com/emura.htm 

great source of info.

If You can add more pictures of mountings and blade I would be gratefull.

Metal saya? Close up on kissaki

Is nagasa really below 60,6cm/23,858 in.?

 

As thanks I can say nakago-jiri of Yours is great, and yasurime pattern goes for quadrangable finish near habaki.

I'm confident in Yours.

For comparison check similar mei type with sharper nakago-jiri:

and of course ohmura:

http://ohmura-study.net/213.html

 

Edit. Looks like a match both with chisel and hamon: https://sword-auction.com/en/product/30296/as09330-刀-長運斉江村作/

Buon appetito :]

Edited May 4 by Rawa

[Edward G]

Rawa:

 

Attached are more photos of the Emura.  You were correct the nagasa is over Katana Length closer to 26 1/2 inches.  Hope these pictures are what you were looking for.  In any event,

pleae give me your overall opinion on the sword.  I have been somewhat overwelmed the past few days as I aquired this sword along with 5 others as a group and got confuesed on the

length of the blade.   If I might ask, please share with me your value thoughts on this particular sword.  Mounts are excellent original condition with a Lt grade tassel and pierced Tsuba.

 

See Attached

 

Edward G 

[ROKUJURO]

Ed,

the white background, photos taken at an angle or out of focus are not helpful.

[Marcin]

6 hours ago, Edward G said:

Rawa:

 

Attached are more photos of the Emura.  You were correct the nagasa is over Katana Length closer to 26 1/2 inches.  Hope these pictures are what you were looking for.  In any event,

pleae give me your overall opinion on the sword.  I have been somewhat overwelmed the past few days as I aquired this sword along with 5 others as a group and got confuesed on the

length of the blade.   If I might ask, please share with me your value thoughts on this particular sword.  Mounts are excellent original condition with a Lt grade tassel and pierced Tsuba.

 

See Attached

 

Edward G 

Ed
Blade that I linked You at the end is cuurently in the process of getting NBTHK Hozon.

You can check for any marks at nakago-jiri but looking at yours habaki I have no hope.

Please add close up of hamon.

 

Guys here are more experienced but it looks like Gunome mixed with choji.

As waves are regular I dropped - midare.  

(yeah I know every hamon other then suguha is midareba, just it dsn’t look like typical chaotic choji)

 

I have no idea If this mei was done by Emura himself. 

Even my own Emura with full Bishu pointing that blade was made at prison is distinctly different then other 3 also different from each other bishu examples shown at jssindex.

 

I would tell it’s completely new signature with full „sai” kanji but without „mura”.

So we have 3 :D and 4th with his shoshin „mura”.

(Shoshin mura- mei example „H” ; looks like „sai” have different strokes)

 

Why I’m babbling about it here?

My mei is another proof showing that mura character used in Slough’s book could appear as his only (and shoshin) after Okayama prison factory was closed and Shigetaro Emura went for his indywidual career as tosho.

So don’t look down on blade without his „mura”.

 

His birth date would be helpfull but I can’t find it.

H, K, M (jssindex) and mine in comparison to F („Doshu shoshin”) 
(I will do basic bishu comparison later so We will have another „kanji-matrix” just for bishu mei. 
But it’s just mei. There is only documented proof for yaki-ire made by him. 
There were 50 cherry picked prisoners

from entire country at forging alone.

 

So yeah dunno how many trained tosho were criminals but those forging at the Okayama prison weren’t just random cutthroats.

I’m posting „Chounsai” type comparison.

4th is one I think was signed and probably forged by same people as Yours. (Hozon pending)

5th is mine 4th bishu obvious example.

6th - already with hozon

7th - Doshu shoshin

[Marcin]

I’m not going for value. Emura with longer full mei sold for 1550$

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/228312469_wwii-Japanese-katana-w-military-mounts-signed-ww2-willoughby-oh

But how can You compare both swords? Suguha is rare amongst emura-to but Your line also looks original. Almost like made with prefabricated shape.

 

Sane price up to 2500$ and yet You buying blade not mei. 
 

3 years of hard work. 50 at forging alone, I would go for 20k blades made at prison. They were using autohammers and have unlimited coal and iron way before pearl harbour.

 

Take care of this black rust spot at ha before You start thinking about selling  If it’s at surface only baking soda with choji will make it grey. Show it to someone before etc.

Edited May 5 by Rawa

[Edward G]

Rawa:

 

II will admit I am not the best photographer.  However, I think the attached pictures are more detailed than the last ones.  Let me know your thoughts.  Thank you again for the information

 

Edward G