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Hello. This is always been a curiosity of mine, as far as what type of product is utilized to make green and other colored, spreckles ( for lack of better words) in a lacquered saya? Also, are the spreckles inlaid in dark/black urushi then topped off with clear lacquer?

OK, too easy this time...

Are there any kesho yasurime ?

播磨守金高 - Harima (no) kami Kanetaka.

Hello, Could someone please help me identify the swordsmith in this tanto? I might have an idea but AI isn’t very helpful today. Thank you in advance!

I haven't been able to shoot anything for over a year due to health issues - but I FINALLY got the studio cleared out, the various wind up stands in place, figured out how photoshop photoshop had screwed up my workflow (and workarounds), etc, and... Just for grins, here's a couple of images of a ko-tosho (or at least that is what the NBTHK thought it was, FWIW) I picked up off of yahoo!Japan not too long ago. I am not sure what the theme is, comments about what it might be are appreciated. The little beastie has a black coating - when I get some more time I will have to ascertain if it's black lacquer (I that might be what is going on) or if somebody put black wax or something on it. I need to pull down the microscope and fix that workflow next, thought that might take a while as I have a whole bunch of other fittings to try imaging. The piece measures74.2mm(H) X 73.3mm(W). It measures 2.9mm(max) at the seppa area and tapers to 2.3mm (max) at the mimi. rkg (Richard George)

Hello, Detailled photos of the mei has been done with my smartphone ! Luckily, there was a sunshine at this moment. Please find below few more pics. Very hard to do good pics of a sword, moreover with a bad polish. Hope you can see something. The hamon is suguha with nice nie. The hada is a tight itame. We can see it at the ha machi area that what more or less protected by the habaki. Unfortunately this area is very small. Giordy, you are right for the mei position in relation to the ana. When we look closely at this part, I am not sure the present mekugi ana is the original one. We can see another one that has been filled (red arrow on the pic). I guess it is the original ana. If we consider it as the original, then the 1st kanji start at the right place. If you like Sukehiro work, please also have a look at Sukenao, and Suketaka in shinshinto that make utsushi Thanks

BTW for those interested: found a Japanese site that lists all fake sellers on sites like jauce etc.: https://gansakubokumetsu.web.fc2.com/

I have been trying to find a nice kaigunto with sharkskin saya, vs. the same' skin. Hard to find. The one above makes me . That kaigunto would make a good match with my sharkskin kyugunto.

And then this Mantetsu also from the same seller only sells for a modest $1100 even though these mounts are far more rare than the Type 98. I think certain eBay sellers have developed a status of being "trusted", whether this status is deserved or not it depends on the particular seller. This consequently inflates the prices they receive online. Mantetsu and Type 95 also seem to be items of interest for WW2 collectors that are not solely focused on collecting Japanese swords. https://www.ebay.com/itm/235403345246 Conway

Thank you so much Steve. I really appreciate it.

See your facebook messenger.

He was selling a mantetsu at the same time that I believe also went for over 2500. The market seems strong at the moment. John C.

Looking forward to more pictures. To Brians point - The crude erasure of the signature is suspicious. The only reasons I can imagine is that: 1. This was done to erase a false signature (gimei). 2. Or done to hide an arsenal stamp so it could be sold as a nihonto rather than an arsenal showato. 3. Or that it was done to mislead someone into thinking it's an o-suriage older blade refitted for the war. 4. Maybe I'm missing a possible scenario. I think the arsenal stamp scenario is most likely, but hopefully better pictures will tell the whole story. Per usual, I'm inclined to agree with Kirill, as he's much more knowledgeable than I. All the best, and welcome to the forum! Cheers, -Sam

Its hard to say because the signature has been purposefully (very harsh transition from nothing to deep strokes still visible) erased, and it was done in a rather careless fashion. Yes its real nihonto most likely, but its also unlikely something of premier quality or value.

I will try to put better pictures up when time permits. These are from the seller that were sent. The sword is supposed to be 17th century. But I don’t know if that is true or not. But I don’t care that much it’s the best I could afford.

LOVE THAT GUY SHAW OWL https://mailchi.mp/z...1153891?e=7824bbba9b

That's quite unusual! Don't know if it's a stamp or a mark, maybe, of a clamp when they added the bohi? Unusual location if it's a stamp, though. Those are normally seen above the ana or at the jiri.

Just to add, spent a few hours this afternoon sorting it out. Scraped with a fingernail, cotton bud with a touch of white vinegar. Alright now, but where it was bad it is now slightly pitted, although the patina is intact. Not telling folks to do this with expensive tsuba or anything of great value. Anyways, they are coming back in the house, definitely over winter Just glad it wasn't some expensive bronze cannon or something

Good example, Sam. The polished wood work on that one in Dawson's book looks quite like the OP saya wood.

Jounior, these photos do not tell much. From the looks of the NAKAGO, the blade might indeed be an older one. In case you would like to have more input, it would help to post photos in the correct orientation: - NAKAGO photos with tip (KISSAKI) pointing upwards -- no hardware on the blade - photos taken directly from above - close-ups of NAKAGO, KISSAKI, HADA, HAMON.... - with light from the side - well focused - against a dark background to get a good contrast - presented as cut-out so nothing is distracting from the item

Right below the peg hole there is a tiny flower stamped in if you zoom in on the tang picture you can see it

The hi seems to have been extended at a later date to run through the nakago. I wonder if they weren't trying to hide an arsenal stamp? Seems to be genuine Japanese though, although I can't guess at age yet.

I’ve recently acquired the sword and I’m only a beginner with really no knowledge of true nihonto swords. I’m not needing a value of the sword but only to know is it a real nihonto blade. The mounts are shin gunto type 98. The tusksa is in decent shape for its age. the Bo-hi runs all the way down to the end of the tang. That is the part I wonder about most. The signature seems to run into the bo-hi. Right below the peg hole there is a tiny flower stamped in if you zoom in on the tang picture you can see it. Thanks. for all input good,or bad. This post is not for financial gain it’s my personal sword not for sale

Hi Peter, We are not selling digital files, only the prints themselves but we can ship just the rolled canvas (not stretched) to Germany. Naotane may be possible as well. Please email me to discuss further: raymondsinger@gmail.com Best regards, Ray