Gunto Tang

[mp409mm]

Is the sword Tand descrition ""Gunto mounted sword, with an early Shinto period signed ancestral blade by Echizen kuni Musashi Daijo fujiwara Yasuhiro, c 1660, in full Edo polish "" Correct Please.
If you wish I can try to get a couple of photos from the dealer.
Alf

[mp409mm]

Here is a photo:
Alf

[mp409mm]

Another two photos
Thanks
Alf

[mp409mm]

Thes are the last two I have. It is stated the the Blade is early Shinto period signed ancestral blade by Echizen kuni Musashi Daijo fujiwara Yasuhiro with traditional WW2 Showa brass fittings, and a fine 1936 pattern pierced gunto tsuba.
Thanks Alf.

[Beater]

Translation looks right. The Union Jack background looks like The Lanes Armoury, Brighton, in which case, they know their stuff but are rather expensive.

[mp409mm]

Translation looks right. The Union Jack background looks like The Lanes Armoury, Brighton, in which case, they know their stuff but are rather expensive.

Thank you Beater, of course you are right.
So is the blade made in the date they are stating ?
Thanks mate
Alf

[Beater]

Thank you Beater, of course you are right.
So is the blade made in the date they are stating ?
Thanks mate
Alf

The nakago looks as if it could well be of that era. As to the authenticity of the mei, I could not begin to say. That's well beyond my pay grade!

If I were in the market for such a piece, I would spend many hours trawling the Internet for swords by that smith from reputable sellers and compare the kanji very carefully. Also compare physical features like hada pattern, hamon style, file marks on nakago and shape of nakago jiri.

Also, if it is a high-priced item as I suspect, ask for a written guarantee of authenticity. Of course you may find they will offer such with the caveat that in the event of a dispute you must prove the mei is false to get your cash back and the only way you can prove it beyond doubt is by submitting it to a Japanese kantei and getting papers. Costly and a complex process.

Looks a nice sword though.

[mp409mm]

The nakago looks as if it could well be of that era. As to the authenticity of the mei, I could not begin to say. That's well beyond my pay grade!

If I were in the market for such a piece, I would spend many hours trawling the Internet for swords by that smith from reputable sellers and compare the kanji very carefully. Also compare physical features like hada pattern, hamon style, file marks on nakago and shape of nakago jiri.

Also, if it is a high-priced item as I suspect, ask for a written guarantee of authenticity. Of course you may find they will offer such with the caveat that in the event of a dispute you must prove the mei is false to get your cash back and the only way you can prove it beyond doubt is by submitting it to a Japanese kantei and getting papers. Costly and a complex process.

Looks a nice sword though.

Thank You Beater for this wise advice, I never thought it was so complicated
much appreciated.
Alf

[GHP]

...I would spend many hours trawling the Internet for swords by that smith ...

More good advice.

You might get some results using the kanji to search:
越前国武蔵大掾藤原康廣

The last kanji, hiro, is used in a simplified version nowadays:
越前国武蔵大掾藤原康広



Hmmmm .... I'm not finding a lot on Google .....
--Guy

[mp409mm]

More good advice.

You might get some results using the kanji to search:
越前国武蔵大掾藤原康廣

The last kanji, hiro, is used in a simplified version nowadays:
越前国武蔵大掾藤原康広



Hmmmm .... I'm not finding a lot on Google .....
--Guy

Thank you Guy for your help.

Now it is getting more complicated ....

and I can't keep bothering you huys every time I like to buy a sword..
Alf

[Bob Coleman]

A couple of comments on the dealer's description. There is no way to confirm that this is a family blade without provenance from the original owner. Dealers like to use this term to hop up the price on an older blades in military mounts. Older blades, such as this one, were available for purchase from sword dealers during the war period. The blade is Shinto or a new sword. The value of Shinto is graded by the condition of the blade being as close to new. As this blades has two holes in the nakago, it knocks the price down quite a bit. This also appears to be a wakizashi which should also make the blade reasonable. Old never equals value. this blade is not in Japanese terms considered old so keep these facts in mind when negotiating a purchase.

[Sengoku]

I have seen near enough as many old blades in Gunto mounts as Gendaito or Showato. I myself would only judge a blade as probably being a family heirloom if there was a Mon on the Kabutogane. If you read Nick Komiya's article here you will see one reason why this was so prevalent,... a shortage of new made blades!
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/japane...ersion-584796/
An old blade is not a bad thing though by any means.

[mp409mm]

Thank you all of you for your help and patience with me asking all these questions.
but I got another, maybe some one can translate this document please.
Alf.

[GHP]

Item: Sword
Name:
延壽宗義 (丹波)
Enju Muneyoshi (Tanba)
壽 = 寿 [simplified kanji]

万延二年二月日
Man'en Ni-nen Ni-gatsu, Jitsu
A day in February 1861

Length: 2-shaku, 1-sun, 2-bu
64.240664cm / 25.2916 inches



--Guy

[GHP]

Thank you all of you for your help and patience with me asking all these questions.
but I got another, maybe some one can translate this document please.
Alf.

I forgot to say, this is an authentication paper from the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kai (NBTHK) classifying the sword as "worthy of preservation"

You can read all about these "Origami" [literally "folded paper"] here.


--Guy