unusual stamping of several characters in addition to sig...

[kaigunair]

was perusing old auctions and came upon this one. has this type of kanji stamping been seen before? Smith signature is nidai ?? saku?

 

[SwordGuyJoe]

It's Yoshichika. See site for more info on this smith and the stamped sword test.

 

http://home.earthlink.net/~steinrl/yoshchik.htm

[bluboxer]

An interesting note about the works of this smith below proving again there are always exceptions to established rules.

 

"They are considered true gendaito despite being made from western steel."

[cabowen]

An interesting note about the works of this smith below proving again there are always exceptions to established rules.

 

"They are considered true gendaito despite being made from western steel."

 

 

Considered true gendaito by whom?

[kaigunair]

"Yoshichika swords have received NTHK and NBTHK origami and origami from Fujishiro. They are considered true gendaito despite being made from western steel. The oshigata (left) is a Shodai (first generation) Yoshichika blade."

 

Thanks for the link. I think I disremembered this one!

[bluboxer]

That was from the link given Chris.I also wonder how they could say this of a blade made of mill steel.Perhaps the wording needs editing?

It does need clarification.

[kaigunair]

hmmm, I see the problem. Maybe the original yoshichika is papered, but perhaps the ni-dai isn't. I bet there is more to the story behind these two smiths. Seems like there are examples of both smiths, with and without the cutting testing. I also wonder if all the blades were made with western steel, or maybe only those with the cutting test (or without). I could see it go either way, the cutting test indicating tamahagane or the cutting test done to assure that the western steel blade was OK.

 

Very neat! Now I only wish I had won that auction....

[Toryu2020]

I suspect not all of Yoshichika's works were western milled steel...

-t

[cabowen]

I suspect not all of Yoshichika's works were western milled steel...

-t

 

I have said, he made both types of blades.

 

I have seen at least several dozen blades by the shodai Yoshichika and of those, I have seen but two that were traditionally made blades. One was excellent, made for Nakayama Hakudo, 29" or so long with an o-gissaki....It showed that Yoshichika was a talented smith but also illustrated how poor in comparison the typical cookie cutter blades one sees by him truly are....It would seem that once his reputation was made he started printing money....