Opinions On My Antique Sword

I have got a person saying that on another board. Can you provide any info on the smith, date, place of manufacture? Muromachi period is from 1337-1573. A fairly great expanse of time. Any way to narrow that down a bit. I can't seem to find a smith with this name from this period. Any help? I would love to finally put this to bed sort of speak. I have a word out to Christies in NY and the NY Nihonto club. As well a local expert willing to come to my home, who believes it Kamakura, who also told me many would think otherwise but since this is a different type of sword it might not fit normal conventions. I am paraphrasing. I really dont care what period its from I would just like a correct and accurate attribution. Feel me? I have no commercial interest in this, and will sit in my collection regardless. The previous owner had it since '47, I intend to keep it at least that long. Thanks for any help.
 
The shape, forging, and hamon are all consistent with a latter Muromachi period blade. Forget about the signature- it is the blade that tells the story and confirms the signature, not the other way around. There is a good chance that this is a fake signature or a latter Bizen smith, perhaps with an unrecorded signature.
 
watanabe said:
Forget about the signature- it is the blade that tells the story and confirms the signature, not the other way around. .
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Got that.
watanabe said:
There is a good chance that this is a fake signature or a latter Bizen smith, perhaps with an unrecorded signature.
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That's interesting.

I will keep ya'll posted when I hear what the guys, who have it in hand say. I really hope they agree with you. I am starting to find this very frustrating.
 
There aren't many people in the US with the knowledge and experience necessary to make any solid determinations so be careful with the "experts".
 
watanabe said:
There aren't many people in the US with the knowledge and experience necessary to make any solid determinations so be careful with the "experts".
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The "old man" told me that, I tend to believe him. I have long been a collector of ancient Greek coins and there is a wealth more information on those than there is on these swords. Everything I read is largely opinionated and every single convention seems to have exceptions. I believe that is what I find more frustrating than anything. There are no "dies" to compare or lists of all smiths and their works. No online reference books, and what online references their are yield a wealth of information only on the piece shown and not others. I have difficulty finding multiple examples of Nihonto work of the same smith let alone an obscure one.
 
I have looked at tons of test book examples of swords. Mostly rubbings and drawings but if I hold up a sword and try to compare its almost impossible. Then i take a known sword and look for an example of the temper and such and it looks more like a conglomeration of different things and I can see where all this is largely open to opinion. Especially in this country, I can't speak for Europe or Asia, but compared to ancient coins there is didly for information available to the general public. There is a wealth of general information but little in terms of specifics.
 
It takes many years of study and it helps quite a bit if you can read Japanese. Few people in the US have had the opportunity to get experience with directed study using good examples.
 
watanabe said:
It takes many years of study and it helps quite a bit if you can read Japanese.
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Just very poorly, and the Hiragana and katakana I can read does not help me in the slightest. I can kind of see components of the kanji but I dont know the meaning or how its supposed to be conveyed. I am also 10 years out from my 2 year study and I probably read worse a 4 year old. It would help if there was more to study, but unless I had an armory of high end swords and a minimum of 2 Japanese men knowledgeable in swords I seriously don't see me becoming an expert anytime soon.
 
I hate to post this too...but I was also told by SEVERAL people and the old man that there exists a bad Nihonto culture in this country where it is (maybe unconscious) compulsion to downplay other peoples swords. I am not accusing anyone of doing this (because I don't care and don't have commercial interest) and I actually feel there are many people of various skill levels willing to help. I was warned of the bad culture.
 
There are good and bad in all fields where there are financial interests at stake, such is life.
 
Being rather obsessed with this sword at the moment I took some exact measurements based on this website

http://japaneseswordindex.com/measure.htm


My sword is....drum roll...

Zaimei-備前國住助包

Uramei-國次

Nagasa: 53.2 cm

Nakago: 14.7 cm

Kissaki: 3.2 cm

Kasane: 0.6 cm

Mihaba: 2.4 cm (center of the blade)

Sori: 1.8 cm
 
Needless to say, I am still researching the crap out of this sword to learn more about the smith(s) that made and signed the blade and circumstances surrounding it. Its still a real honor to own a real Koto (old sword period) blade. I did find two smiths that signed swords KUNI TSUGU with a two character mei. They are both not the famous RAI squad that is so revered but they both worked in the early part of the 14th century. I will post more as learn more and find examples of their work. In the end, I will find out all there is to know about it and I am still in awe at the condition (aside from the old polish) and quality of the blade, especially the lack of openings and other kinds of (shinae) on this sword. It has been determined that the blade is at least above average in quality and state of preservation.
 
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