Jimmy R Posted January 24, 2011 Report Posted January 24, 2011 Here is a sword on E-bay and I cannot figure out the mei. Does anyone know who this is and if it is authentic. Here is the item # 400190186630 Thanks, Jim Quote
Jacques Posted January 24, 2011 Report Posted January 24, 2011 Hi, Mei reads Omote : Nanban tetsu wo motte ni oïte Bushu Edo 以南蛮鉄於武州江戸 Ura : Echizen Yasutsugu 越前康継 Quote
Jimmy R Posted January 24, 2011 Author Report Posted January 24, 2011 the million dollar question is... Is it real? 150 points in Hawleys. Jim Quote
Curran Posted January 24, 2011 Report Posted January 24, 2011 What looks like a broken or ground kissaki & questionable mei. Ebay being what it is, certain to go for big bucks. Amazing that people still chase the poor odds vs the papered bargains to be had at sword shows and independent sellers here in the USA/Canada. Sure some of the old timers still want 20,000 for their stump monkey of a 'Masamune', but get thee to a sword show or haggle with someone the next time they put something papered up for sale in the NMB section. Quote
Jimmy R Posted January 24, 2011 Author Report Posted January 24, 2011 100% positively gimei. I am sure someone will drop $4000.00 or so hoping against hope it is real. Only to sell it again at some later date to someone else who is hoping against hope it is real etcetera ad eterna.......................... Jim Quote
Jamie Posted January 24, 2011 Report Posted January 24, 2011 I don't know why you guys are ripping on such a beautiful sword, at such a good price. Namban tetsu no less!! Quote
Stephen Posted January 24, 2011 Report Posted January 24, 2011 100% positively gimei think we have had this come back and bite us in the ass, Jim you a shinsa judge? this is a active auction, owner could come back on the board. Quote
Brian Posted January 24, 2011 Report Posted January 24, 2011 Very true Stephen. Jim, I take it you are still fairly a novice? In which case, even more reason not to make absolute statements. Few of us here are qualified to make an outright statement on gimei or shoshin. At best, they are an educated guess. I'll leave those calls to the shinsa panel, and as for me, I'll stick with "....in my humble opinions..." Brian Quote
Jimmy R Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Posted January 25, 2011 In my humble opinion, 100% sure it is gimei. That is very well documented smith. The similarities among known works are missing in this blade. But who am I? Just a novice who spent the last year and a half in Japan going to every exhibit and museum I could find. Like a lot of people on here Nihon-To collecting is not the sum of my life. Just an expensive hobby. Peace, Jim Quote
Jacques Posted January 25, 2011 Report Posted January 25, 2011 Hi, That is very well documented smith Do you know how many generations signed that way and which is the particularity of each one ? Quote
drbvac Posted January 26, 2011 Report Posted January 26, 2011 I wouldn't want to call it either way Quote
Ed Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 I hate to make comments on other peoples items, but even though the photos are blurry, I am able to make out enough to convince myself that the mei is doubtful at best. My opinion is based on one character alone and I did not look any further at the rest of the mei. I have attached photographic evidence to back my opinion. Regarding the "L" stroke in the "Tsugu" character, the Nidai, both Sandai and the Edo Yondai cut the stroke this way. However, it is too short to be the Nidai, and too many other discrepancies are present for it to be any generation. The 0700 area would likely reveal more info, but it is to blurry for me to comment on. See Photo: 1. Blue, only the Echizen Kyudai used this stroke. 2. Red, this stroke should point to the center of the cross in all generations. 3. Purple, doesn't belong in any yasutsugu mei. 4. Yellow, appears to be a hook, which again doesn't belong in any yasutsugu mei. Just my humble opinion on some blurry photos and I hope for whomever buys it, I am wrong. Comments for educational enlightenment are always welcome. If you just have something rude or negative to say, save it or send it to Idon'tcare@giveashit.com. Quote
Ed Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 Reading over my post, I may not have been totally clear. So, before I get corrected, please note, the info in the post above was in regards to mei which used the 90° two stroke "L" cut in their mei only (as the one in question). There are other nuances in individual generations of yasutsugu mei. Quote
loiner1965 Posted January 27, 2011 Report Posted January 27, 2011 take your pick......http://www.nihonto.com/abtartyasutsugu.html http://yakiba.com/article_yasutsugu.htm Quote
Jimmy R Posted January 29, 2011 Author Report Posted January 29, 2011 So sad. Another Gimei blade gets bought by some poor sap and meanwhile Jock's beautiful Yukinaga goes for a mere $700.00. That nihonto of Jock's is incredible by the way and in all liklihood a 60 point smith according to Hawley. J Quote
loiner1965 Posted January 29, 2011 Report Posted January 29, 2011 more than likely gemei but even then some of them are fine swords too Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.