1300s Japanese sword?

[Makael]

More image of the tang on the way. Image on the bottom after some cleaning and clarifying. Larger image will be posted. Photobucket

 

[Makael]

Tang, a bit hard to read. I have individual shots but they uploaded out of order but I’ll post them

 

[horseclover]

One thing you might have learned if posting to the suggested board is that you don't clean the tang/nakago. The rust actually helps determine the age. Any monkeying around you have done thus far has not helped matters whatsoever. If you bother to follow through and take your inquiry to the forum suggested, you might just get the answers you need.

 

[Makael]

One thing you might have learned if posting to the suggested board is that you don't clean the tang/nakago. The rust actually helps determine the age. Any monkeying around you have done thus far has not helped matters whatsoever. If you bother to follow through and take your inquiry to the forum suggested, you might just get the answers you need.

I’m posting for my neighbor. Advice is appreciated.this is one picture in touched.

 

[KenHash]

I’m posting for my neighbor. Advice is appreciated.this is one picture in touched.

The nakago and saya reads:
備州　長船　与三左衛門　尉　祐定
Bishuu Osafune Yosouzaemon no Jou Sukesada

Unfortunately it does not match the signature of the real thing below in style or content.
The below is a Katana by this swordsmith (with authenticity certificate) from 1518.

​

 

[JParanee]

Please do not clean tang

 

[NihontoEd]

Looks like Ken beat me to it. But yes, your sword and nakago is signed:

Bishu Osafune Yosōzaemon no Jō Sukesada” (備州長船与三左衛門尉祐定)

I never pay much attention to sayagaki like this until comparing it to the mei. Especially one which is poorly written, unsigned and upside down on the saya.

There were many, many Bizen smiths who used the name, Sukesada. These smiths can be narrowed down by the ones who included the name Yosozaemon. A quick search revealed approximately 4-5.

However, the various generations of Yosozaemon smiths almost exclusively used Bizen 備前 opposed to Bishu 備州 in their mei. Also, of note they almost always used Kuni 国 in their mei. Yours does not conform to this standard.

I have learned that nothing is set in stone in this field which is why I tend to use adverbs such as “almost” and base my findings in probabilities.

Being generous, my opinion is that your sword has 95% probability of being gimei (false).

 

[Mecha]

He cleaned the tang.

 

[Hanne762]

It wasn't uncommon for perfectly acceptable swords made by lesser or unknown smiths to be "signed" with a famous smith's name to increase value. The sword can be Japanese and a "real" sword with a forged name. It happened even when the famous makers were alive according to what I've read. It's likely the sword is real but the signature is forged, either when it was made or at a later date.

 

[Makael]

Thank you for the info. I will pass this along to my neighbor for his information. Thanks again.

 

[NihontoEd]

It wasn't uncommon for perfectly acceptable swords made by lesser or unknown smiths to be "signed" with a famous smith's name to increase value. The sword can be Japanese and a "real" sword with a forged name. It happened even when the famous makers were alive according to what I've read. It's likely the sword is real but the signature is forged, either when it was made or at a later date.

That is what "gimei" means.