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Great! Cost?

Sugata, could be Momoyama.

Thus the chart now has "RA" in '41, but with a footnote: (note: Pasting the chart on the NMB site causes spacing distortion) 1941 WA ワ KA カ YO ヨ TA タ RE レ SO ソ TSU ツ NE ネ NA ナ WA 6 -S WA 134S WA 158S WA 175S WA 231S WA 238S WA 638S KA 89-S KA 228-S KA 232-S KA 236-S KA 238-S KA 275-S KA 353-S KA 405-S KA 458-S YO 11 YO 57-S YO 122-S YO 150-S YO 162-S YO 234 YO 320-S YO 349-S YO 350-S YO 352-S TA 24-S TA 68-S TA 127-S TA 181-S TA 287-S TA 298-S TA 277-S TA 305-S TA 313-S TA 336-S RE 6-S RE 71-S RE 153-S RE 193-S RE 347-S RE 413-S RE 409-S RE 476-S RE 524-S SO 25-S SO 66-S SO 185-S SO 216-S SO 219-S SO 231-S SO 257-S SO 308-S SO 453-S SO 482-S SO 564-S SO 574-S SO 620-S SO 630-S SO 718-S Tsu 29-S Tsu 95-S Tsu556-S Tsu 198S Tsu 254S Tsu 438S Tsu 573S Tsu 575S Tso 601S Tsu 651S NE 2-S NE 26-S NE 144-S NE 347-S NE 384-S NE 396-S NE 401-S NE 414-S NA 5-S NA 124-S NA 106-S NA 184-S NA 232-S NA 354-S NA 377-S NA 379-S Na 383-S NA 484-S NA 573-S NA 574-S NA 716-S RA 222-S# ? 218 ? 283 ?xxx Filed off.Bohi 1942 RAラ MUム U ウ WIヰ NOノ O オ* KUク YAヤ MAマ RA 7(?)-S RA 100-S RA 341-S RA 495-S RA 768-S RA 820-S RA 823-S RA 858-S RA 934-S RA 984-S RA1027S RA1030S RA1071S RA1162S RA1196S RA1232S RA1256S RA1333S RA1356S Mu 87-S Mu 89-S Mu213-S Mu528-S Mu555-S Mu595-S Mu637-S Mu705-S U 20-S U 70-S U 99-S U 255-S U 357-S U 414-S U 481-S U 592-S U 703-S U 704-S U 1593-S NO 34-S NO 273-S NO 302-S NO 430-S NO 474-S NO 493-S NO 533-S NO 730-A Ku 33-A Ku 101-A Ku 327-A Ku 452-A Ku 466-A Ku 471-A Ku 560-A Ku 878-A Ku 897-A Ku 947-A Ku1020A Ku1087A Ku1200A Ku1226A Ku1327A YA 72-A YA 79-A YA 201-A YA 246-W YA 350-A YA 353-A YA 417-A YA 475-A YA 505-A YA 608-A YA 622-A YA 623-A YA 677-A YA 702-A YA 710-A YA 736-A YA 957-A YA1048-A Ma 77-A Ma 78-A ? 26-S ? 345-S ? 483-S ? 529-S ? 744-S ノ???-A

For those that enjoy the SMR Mantetsu world, we just came across this 1941 Koa Isshin that has a number - RA 222. That series is from the first series of 1942. My first thought was "Ah, overlap! They started the RA series in '41 and continued through to '42", but after consulting the chart, it's clear the RA series began in '42. We have 1942 blades numbered RA 7 and RA 100 already, both with the distinct 1942 mei. Quoting Thomas, @Kiipu: "... the mei 満鐵作之 is 1941 but the series ラ would be 1942 and a different mei 満鐵謹作. If correct, could it be a blade from 1941 that was not finished until 1942?" His hypothesis is the best one I can think of. Photos

Hi Bob, Sorry havent checked back for awhile. Ive changed my opinion after a second look and I was mistaken on one seppa having an edging added. It appears its the pressure put on the seppa by the tsuka that makes it appear as an add on. Ill draw up from your specs- transfer inches to mm and send you sketch. Will need more specs later! Cheers Mike.

Agree with Jean, it has all the hallmarks of Shinto Takada. The Bonji is a nice touch, it appears it was always meant to be under the Tsuka.

Please accept my apology I am pretty much old school and find it difficult to keep up with the pace of modern times or in any case to offend anyone. regards Bob

SUGATA and NAKAGO condition point to KANBUN era in my opinion.

Bob, in this case, "Jean" is a French male first name. The world is not all American.....

German Small Arms Heidler, Michael. Deutsche Gewehrgranaten und ihre Abschussgeräte bis 1945 [German Rifle Grenades and Their Launching Devices up to 1945]. Aufsätze zu Geschichte+Technik, Band 9. Verlag W. Sünkel, 2003. Autographed by author. German language. Softcover, 8.25 x 11.75 inches, 152 pages, black & white illustrations. Weight 1 lb 3 oz, printed in Germany. The Japanese Type 2 Grenade Launcher was based upon the German Gewehrgranatgerat. US$150 including shipping to US, shipping overseas add about $45. Visier: Das internationale Waffen-Magazin (August 2005). Published by Vogt-Schild Deutschland GmbH. German language. Softcover, 8.25 x 11 inches, 148 pages, color illustrations. Weight 0 lb 11 oz, printed in Germany. The magazine has several articles on historic firearms besides modern ones. Take a look at the table of contents as there might be an article of interest. Free with the book above or US$25.

I had it framed. I'd like to keep the oshigata.

Yes, it was purchased on an Aoi auction.

Did you purchase it from aoi art?? The oshigata looks like his work?⁸

Type: Katana Ubu, Suriage or O-Suriage : O-suriage Mei : (Mumei, Signature) : Mumei Papered or not and by whom? : NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon Era/Age : Late Nanbokucho Shirasaya, Koshirae or Bare Blade? : Shirasaya with Kanzan sayagaki, two piece gold plated habaki Nagasa/Blade Length : 66.6 cm Sori : 1.3 cm Hamon Type : Notare midare Jihada : Itame and masame Other Hataraki Visible : Ashi, inazuma, and tobiyaki. Flaws : None Sword Location : USA Will ship to : I am open to options but shipping will need to be covered. Payment Methods Accepted : PP, venmo, wire transfer. Price and Currency : $4,400 + shipping Other Info and Full Description : Hello, I am offering an early Mino katana with NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon (TH) papers that attributed it to Kanenobu. Here are two possibilities listed in Marcus Sesko’s Swordsmith Index: KANENOBU (兼延), Ōan (応安, 1368-1375), Mino –“Kanenobu” (兼延), Naoe-Shizu school, student of Kaneuji(兼氏), according to tradition the younger brother of Kanetoshi (兼俊) KANENOBU (兼延), Meitoku (明徳, 1390-1394), Mino –“Kanenobu” (兼延), Naoe-Shizu school The sword has an old well preserved shirasaya with a Kanzan sayagaki attributing the work to the Naoe Shizu school but not a particular smith. The blade is o-suriage mumie. The sugata is powerful with a tori-sori given the wide base (motohaba) of 3.3 cm balanced by a narrow spine (kasane) of 0.6 cm that slightly tapers up to a 2.18 cm sakihaba and an elegant chu-kissaki. The ji has a bright appearance with itame and masame jigane and some mokume. Cheki and ji-nei are plentiful with sections of rolling black nei sake. The hamon is a rugged notare midare pattern that is shallow in sections, characteristic of older Mino swords, with deep nioibuchi. Hataraki include ashi and inazuma with boiling nei sections. Long thin stretches of tobiyaki run near the first 5-6 inches of the blade’s ura side. The boshi is a bright, shallow, ko-maru with a small gunome accent near the yokote on both sides. https://photos.app.goo.gl/tNDeSYJmyzmxGK9N7

The Takada school apparently used Taira on mei during the koto period and Fujiwara during the shinto. There was a Taira Takada Sadamori active from 1520. Might be a later generation closer to the end of the 16th c perhaps, but mei for them are almost non existant.

Excellent! Rare to see bonji on a gunto blade. Any estimate of a date range?

Oops forgot the nakago!

Mike I got confused with Jean replying to my Seppa needs thinking she was affiliated with you. I do hope you will make them for me. They are 1mm thick. regards Bob

Hi all, for your enjoyment, this was the first of my recent gunto aquisitions. Nice set of all numbered seppa and tsuba, some great big nobbly same. Lovely choji hamon. Great condition iron saya. Mei is Hoshu Takada Taira Sadamori with a buddhist bonji above.

Finally have one to contibute!

Here is another copy signed Takenori, dated January 1945. The old (war) polishing is still visible on the papers. Sold at Aoi Art.

Thanks. Looks like a 'typical' Yasunori. Nice. New or later polish.

This is my “Zen Bull” by Kogan Gengai (1748-1821), who was the Rinzai Zen abbot of Kogen-ji temple. He was a disciple of Hakuin Ekaku and Genro Suio. The bull appears to emerge from the Enso. “Flying white” forms the hind quarters and tail.

Well.... they can ask whatever they want to... Looking for a gaijin buyer? rkg (Richard George)