1860-date Minamoto Tsunesato blade (?) in Shin-gunto

[Ketoujin]

Hi All,

I have just translated the tang of blade in WWII Shin-gunto mountings. The

sword is missing its tsuba and I believe the shibabiki has been reversed

at some point as well. The tsuka has its samehada moved around and the mekugi

were absent when I received this sword from a local man who wanted me to

take a look at it. He'd been given the sword when a child by another local

guy who apparently was a Marine vet who brought it back.

 

The poor thing is, as I say, in awful shape, but I'd still like to get your

opinions on the smith's background info.

 

The tang is dated as 萬延元年八月 or "The Eighth Month of the First Year

of the Manen Era," which would place it due to the Chinese zodiac system

used in Japanese calenders at this time, around the late August to September

timeframe of 1860.

 

The smith's name and location is 播磨国住源常里 or "Minamoto Tsunesato of Harimono-kuni." I've ascertained Harimono-kuni was in what is now today's Hyogo Prefecture.

 

Now then, what does anyone know about this smith?

 

I will attach pics soon uncluding some of the blade and overall condition and I thank everyone in advance for their suggestions on this matter.

 

Thanks,

 

Gunnar

[Nobody]

The smith name looks Tsuneshige (常重) to me.

[Toryu2020]

Gunnar -

I have to agree with Moriyama-san. No Tsunesato () listed in the Meikan. There is however a Tsuneshige () listed:

 

Banshu Meiishi ju Minamoto Tsuneshige, given name Sasao Taichiro, dated works from Ansei 5. More information in the Kokon Kaji Hayamidashi, To-ken Soran and the Shin-shinto Taikan.

 

The Mannen date may be new information that needs to be added to this record. Would love to see better pics of the nakago...

-t

[Ketoujin]

Thomas,

Thanks very much for the info. The nakago is quite rusty, plus I'm quite inexperienced at reading tangs so that accounts for my misreading of the signature. You infer that the date for this particular Tsuneshige might be uncommon, that is very interesting!

 

I myself think the date is very neat. I like to think the blade was carried in the Restoration a few years after it was made and carried into WWII as well, but I can only be sure of use in the latter conflict of course.

 

Might you care to give a guestimate on value once I upload better tang pics? Just to be clear, the sword is missing its tsuba and mekugi, has loose and gnarled hilt wrapping, lacks the sarute, and has quite a few dents and some surface rust on the scabbard. As you can see, the blade has seen better days too.

 

Thanks to the both of you who've replied so far.

 

Best,

Gunnar

[Toryu2020]

Gunnar -

I would first caution you not to touch the rust on the nakago. The color and quality of rust is very important in determining the age and authenticity of your signature. Second given the condition of the blade as seen in your photos I could hardly guess at a value ( I am hardly qualified in any case).

 

The Meikan is a listing of sword-makers and it is periodically updated to include new information. My copy is a bit old so there may be Man-en dates in there now but if not you would be doing a service to the collecting world by sharing an oshigata with the publishers of the book for inclusion in a future edition.

 

-t

[Ketoujin]

Thomas,

Thanks again for your help. I wonder what the value of a Minamoto Tsuneshige blade in much better shape is? I do get the sense that the condition of this blade would obviously, it seems to me anyway, warrant a lesser value but I am a total neophyte at this and prefer to trust the comparitive experts like yourself for the time being until I get to know more.

 

Is there a particular volume or volumes to the Meikan or perhaps a compendium that would give me some good images of blades and oshigata of blades that are good examples of the best known smiths? I have Sato's "The Japanese Sword," as well as Yumoto's "Handbook." I will see about procuring the titles you reference in your info on Minamoto Tsuneshige.

 

If you like I will do an oshigata and send it to you, or post it on the forum here - whichever would be better.

 

Thanks very much again,

 

Gunnar

[Toryu2020]

Gunnar -

If you want to post larger (quality) photos of the nakago I am sure others would like the chance to see or you could email them to me. The Shin-shinto Taikan is the one you want but it is a lot to spend for the one blade.

 

If you are patient someone with a better scanner than mine is sure to post an oshigata or two for comparison, maybe even the pages from the Taikan...

-t

[Grey Doffin]

the sword is missing its tsuba and mekugi

Gunnar,

If you mean menuki (hilt ornaments) all is fine. If you do mean mekugi (pin through handle) then you need to replace it ASAP. Without a mekugi, if the sword is jarred the blade can crash down inside the saya and shatter its point. Whittle one out of a chopstick.

Grey