Is this Signature from the Soshu school? 1500s?

[Jumper]

Hello,

Im doing some research on a piece and wanted to toss it up for discussion.

This tang has some info on it but I think some is missing?

Does it look like Soshu school to you all? Late 1500s early 1600?

Too bad the blade is not in great shape...

thanks for any info...J

[Jumper]

1

[GHP]

deleted repetitive post. "Sorry 'bout that, chief!"

[GHP]

O州住大和....
O shu ju Yamato....

Here's an example of a somewhat similar signature, and how important it would be to know the full signature:

城州住大和大掾藤原忠次
jōshū ju yamato daijō fujiwara tadatsugu



On your sword, the first kanji MIGHT be 摂 (for Sesshu Province) or 城 (for Joshu ... but I don't think so), or 濃 (for Koshu)

[add-on] I don't think Soshu style ... I cannot envision the first kanji being 相 for Soshu (相州). The kanji "So" [also pronounced as "saga"] comprises two distinct kanji; on the left side (the "radical", which, in this case on the left side) is "tree" 木 and on the right is "eye"目.

木 + 目 = 相 ... and there are too many strokes on your sword to convince me it is 相; besides, there is a long horizontal stroke on the right side that just confuses the heck out of me.

--Guy

[GHP]

Hmmmm .... the more I think about it, the kanji just might be "sesu" 摂 for Sesshu 摂州; though, the 5th stroke (indicated in orange) is missing:



--Guy

[Luis22]

From the rust on the tang you can tell that its a very old sword,,,,

[Jumper]

Thanks GHP..

If it is the Province... does that date it at all?

Can anything else clue me in to its origin/ maker/ age?

thanks

[GHP]

I'm No Sword Expert ... but that doesn't stop me form opining ...

No, do not think the province alone will date the sword ... it's a 伝 "den" [means "transmission"]... a style "Sesshu-den," "Soshu-den," "Bichu-den," etc.

There currently are swordmakers who forge swords in the "soshu-den", etc.

Err .... I'm not a sword expert, though. I know someone (Roberto Candido) who took his tosho license under the 24st generation Masamune in Kamakura; Tsunahiro sensei forges in the Soshu style. Though ... I don't know if his signature includes "Soshu Kuni Ju..."

Here's a LINK showing a 20th-Generation Masamune blade forged in 1912; note that it says "Soshu ju Tsunahiro." So, just listing the province does not date the piece. Dating is done by experts who look at the shape, construction, skin, jihada ... and the rust on the nakago (tang).

Best regards,
--Guy