Ko Gatana

[Rich T]

Hi all, I picked up a kozuka just recently which came with a ko gatana. I have attached a scan of both the whole blade plus a quick oshigata.

 

The blade is in very good condition and in pretty good polish. It has a nijimei and kiku mon on it, then 2 strings of faded fine small text I cannot make out except for the odd kanji like Yama 山 and a few others still clearly seen. I will try later to photograph it in the sun and see ifg I can see any more.

 

My main question is though, is this a Gendai piece ? The mei looks like a gendai cut mei to me, though I am just not experienced in these things.

 

I have not yet translated the mei but I thought it might be Yoshi something ?.

 

Any thoughts as the to mei and make/age appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Rich

 

P.S, not sure if this link will work, but it is to a slightly larger image.

http://www.turnervfx.com.au/personal/kogatana.jpg

[David McDonald]

Dear Rich

 

I think this is Raigo 雷除

see Iga kami fujiwara Kinmichi godai (5th generation)

I found a listing for him in a kogatana book.

 

This should be Hawley's listing KIN53 around 1751

 

later

david

 

Hi all, I picked up a kozuka just recently which came with a ko gatana. I have attached a scan of both the whole blade plus a quick oshigata.

 

The blade is in very good condition and in pretty good polish. It has a nijimei and kiku mon on it, then 2 strings of faded fine small text I cannot make out except for the odd kanji like Yama 山 and a few others still clearly seen. I will try later to photograph it in the sun and see ifg I can see any more.

 

My main question is though, is this a Gendai piece ? The mei looks like a gendai cut mei to me, though I am just not experienced in these things.

 

I have not yet translated the mei but I thought it might be Yoshi something ?.

 

Any thoughts as the to mei and make/age appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Rich

 

P.S, not sure if this link will work, but it is to a slightly larger image.

http://www.turnervfx.com.au/personal/kogatana.jpg

[Rich T]

Thanks David, yeah that looks close, I have no sword books anymore (no more room in my library, all Kodogu lol) so I will have to raid my mates library on Sunday.

 

I have these extra images which are a little clearer.

 

Cheers

 

Rich

[Rich T]

I also found the following

 

K10) Kinmichi, 10th generation, 1850, Yamashiro, (Kiku) Raijo Iga (no) Kami Fujiwara Kinmichi (菊紋) 雷除 伊賀守藤原金道.  He's the nephew of the 8th generation Kinmichi, and received the "Iga (no) Kami" title on July 5th, 1844.  His works are mostly ko-itame hada (almost mu-ji) with suguha in nioi.

 

With mention of the

 

Cheers to Danny for this info.

 

Rich

[Brian]

Definitely not Gendai. Most of the ko Gatana are signed in this chippy style, but are Shinto or later.

Of course, most are gimei, but there are the occasional one that are shoshin. Hard to judge though, as the mei isn't easily comparable with a nakago mei. But looks like a decent blade and would be interesting to know if the rest of the inscription is a poem or gives details about the blade.

 

Brian

[Rich T]

Thanks Brian. I wonder why that is, that most are gimei ? or considered gimei I should say. I would assume that without the broad expances of a nakago, the smith might have a little more trouble cutting his mei with the same flair and style ? maybe these were made by and signed by apprentices or something ? just a musing or is that ammusing lol.

 

It's hard to make out many of the characters underneath, but I would be curious to know myself.

 

There is some nice activity in the hamon so I know it's not a clunker. I am just curious as I know zip about these little things.

 

I'll be showing it to the local guys on Sunday including George Trotter so it will be fun to see what they have to say about it.

 

Rich

[cabowen]

I would think it is a safe bet to say that this was made by a Kinmichi school smith. What is visible of the mei and the workmanship in the hamon are consistent with that group.....

[Jean]

FWIW, there were some Mino smiths specialized in Ko gatana at the end of the 17th century, circa 1680. I am collecting them. If you search the topics you will find photos of them. What strikes me is the way the mei is engraved on this ko gatana which is very much the same as my ko gatana's mei.

[Rich T]

Thank Chris and Jean. Jean I will go do a search. Hold Please......................................................................

 

 

Yes very cool, thanks mate.....

 

Rich