Signature question please

[Putu]

Hello

I have been approached by someone to sell them a Japanese sword. I am not sure they are being 100% honest with me. Can anyone tell from the signature if an item is nearly worthless or not? If it is real or a later copy?

I am sorry for the quality of photo. My camera was not up to it so a friend helped me.

Thank you

Suci

[george trotter]

Have I got this right?

You own this sword and someone wants to buy it from you?

You don't know anything about this sword, but you do not believe what they are telling you about it?

Maybe you can start by telling us what they are saying about this sword?

 

Geo.

[Putu]

I just wanted to know what someone might be able to tell me from the signature, sorry.

[Mark]

Awataguchi Omi (no) Kami Tadatsuna. Famous maker from late 1600's. There was a sword with this name that recently sold on eBay for several thousand. It is hard to be exact from just a small part of the tang, i would think caution would be best and move slowly until you know enough to decide what to do.

[george trotter]

I just wanted to know what someone might be able to tell me from the signature, sorry.

 

Why sorry?

You said someone was maybe being dishonest with you...you must therefore have some idea about the sword for you to feel this...I was asking you what you already knew/what they have said.

Geo.

[Brian]

If buying a sword from someone, and it has a big name on it without papers..most collectors will treat it as gimei (false signature)

I expect the potential buyer has doubts about the validity of the mei, and is expressing them. He may be right, but a false signature won't make a sword junk. Some good swords have gimei on them. Only the actual blade can tell you that, and the workmanship.

Unless it has papers, it would be difficult to price it as a shoshin mei.

 

Brian

[nagamaki - Franco]

.jpg]

 

here's the imaged brightened up.

[Jean]

And here is the Fujishiro, a lot of difference ....