Nihonto Club

Hi, perhaps it is simply not a SHODAI (1st gen) Kinmichi? There are a dozen or so possibilities...
I would not be quick to call it a gimei, especially since it is an unusual size.
The registration says that the length is 32.0 cm (using the old formal style of kanji), BTW.

Does it have a standard-shaped kissaki (like a typical katana/wakizashi), or is it hira-zukuri (typical tanto style), or something else?

Does it show other "classic Mishina" features? Things like: sudareba, other 'decorative' hamon features, kyo-yakidashi, Mishina boshi ?

If you need another Mishina blade to go with it, I have this pair for sale (on consignment on Ed's site):
http://yakiba.com/Daisho_Tango_no_Kami_Kanemichi.htm
You can buy either or both :-) .
If you're interested, I can discuss offline with you.

Pete

Hi Pete,

I suppose I've assumed from the swordsmith pages on this website, that the 1st generation Kinmichi was the only one to sign with just two kanji?
I'll post up some pictures, but basically it is like a standard wakizashi with chu-kissaki and shinogi-zukuri, and defined yokote. All in miniature (to my eye). Very plain hamon - chu-suguha I'd say.

A

Hi, my feeling is that many smiths could use a 2-char signature as a default, even if it was not their most common way. And if the smith is a less-famous member of the line, it may not be well documented.
The database on this site, like on most other sites, was originally based on what is found in Hawley's book. Hawley's book is certainly imperfect - it was based on famous Japanese sources such as the Nihonto Meikan, Fujishiro, and Tokuno.
Meanwhile, the data that Stan started with on this site was an import of my "ToShoW" database that I made many years ago. It was about 2100 smiths as I recall. Stan has made many additions and corrections.
So, the history of the data is now: Japanese sources -> Hawley -> ToShoW (me) -> NihontoClub (Stan).

And, on a small blade with a small nakago, the chance of a 2-char sig goes up due to lack of space.

For a given smith, if the ONLY extant examples all use the same set of kanji, then that's an important factoid.

So, I suggest searching the web for any Kinmichi that has a similar "handwriting" to yours, and see where that leads.

Pete

Hi Pete,

Thanks - that was my next step - to do a thorough check on the net and see where it takes me.

I take your point about the two characters and space - one thing, the signature is nice and clean, whatever that means - nicely defined. On a previous post where we discussed a mei which read Kunisuke, I was critical of the 'sloppy' signature. I am still not clear if this aspect has a bearing generally or specifically - there can be a number of reasons for 'bad' signatures - age, failing eyesight, illness, done by a pupil/student etc... as well as, of course, it possibly being a gimei. Also, I suppose it's perfectly feasible that an expert swordsmith could be not so expert at engraving/etching - very different skills involved in both.
Anyway, I digress.

Thanks again.

Andy

Hi Pete,

Had a look at listings for Kinmichi in Markus Sesko's 'Index of Japanese Swordsmiths'
I'm not much more the wiser of course. Most Kinmichi generations were given honorary titles and some engraved the kikumon on the nakago.
Obviously prior to having a title the signature would be devoid of any titles/characters as such.
So, just based on the Kinmichi list in the Sesko book, it could either be 1st generation or 10th generation most likely, but.....

Added a few more images - one shows the 'Kinmichi' next to my 'Kunisuke?' - just to show scale.

Cheers

A

Apologies for quality of images. Haven't quite got the right equipment to take quality pictures.

A