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I pulled a few swords from the cupboard tonight to inspect and enjoy. This KANETOSHI (Murayama) Star Stamp, July 1944 in late war RS mounts always demands attention. In WW2 polish, the hada and hamon in Ichimonji style JUKA CHOJI, is like viewing a nice piece of art, something new always catches your eye. For Bruce's benefit, I tried to do my best on the MUNE stamps. I have probably posted photos before, but my new phone camera and LED lights show much more detail. If I had the time and money, this sword would be a prime candidate for a touch up polish.

Tanto made by Sadakazu 1st Meiji 40th year (1907)

鴛鴦図鐔 - oshidori no zu tsuba from https://blog.goo.ne....1d33ed38de37dc7ff5ed

To conclude this topic, this photo. It was taken around 1952 in front of the Komiya family home in Omuta, Kyushu. I can't say 100% whether the translation is correct.

I like sanmai tsuba, and I've just realized I got more than I remember. Here below some more examples papered as ko-kinkō:

No, he was from Tōkyō 東京. All I have is a solitary reference from 1937. See below. Address 住所: Shibuya-ku Shimodōri 2-11 澁谷区下通二ノ一一. Inscription 刻銘: Fujiwara Yoshisada 藤原義定. Number of Apprentices 徒弟ノ数: 3. Capital 資本: １､０００￥. Manufacturing Capacity 製造能力: 90 per month.

My first Nihonto. It’s nothing special but I’m proud to be its custodian. I purchased it from Aoi Art in Japan. Im just a baby in the world of Nihonto and thought I’d jump in and buy early in my journey to learn from a blade in hand. Open to comments and opinions.

Stumbled across this blade, think its cool. Vaguely remember seeing circles within the choji before but never so intentional, 2 near the kissaki and 2 further down on opposite sides of the blade. Sometimes you just come across something different, interesting, nice blade. For those interested. Japanese sword Touken Komachi, Tanto, Shirasaya Hakushu ju Yoshinaga

I won't jump deep in this topic but the sword seems suriage

Next time I will go to a specialist shop, Jean, but I like your thinking! Today I followed the guy's advice and stripped it right back to bare wood, removing hundreds of years of patina, then sanded it to the proverbial finger-tip smoothness. The circular saw marks have gone. My hands and wrists are done for the day. Nearly halfway there, on one side! As you mentioned above, I then coated it in slightly-thinned suki urushi and filled the bath with hot water for a steamy atmosphere. (Ideally) This process I will repeat until it reaches the depth of Manuka honey colour that I want. Bowls of hot water…

I think once you have that guard in hand you will be very happy with the patina, photos can sometimes give a deceptive pale look - add my vote for original patina, well cared for and very old. If you want to compare artificial patina you can check out this auction site https://www.jauce.com/user/dj2hmyuc this guy's stock is made yesterday and has that oily black finish you will get using that "colour-enhancing rust preventive agent" found here. https://www.jauce.com/auction/l1126749580 Both the modern backyard tsuba and the artificial patina can be found on ebay as well. https://www.ebay.com/itm/386829157016 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386845822320 https://www.ebay.com/itm/254728433191 I would not recommend any of this stuff used on antique tsuba. By the way that same guard you are looking at for $133 USD is also selling over on Jauce https://www.jauce.com/auction/c1128842948 or Buyee https://buyee.jp/ite.../auction/c1128842948 at a starting price of $6.71 USD - it pays to shop around! Signed "Tetsujin" For comparison of the mei you might find something here? https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/12900-tsuba-mei/

Adam, a lot depends how the TSUBA was stored. In a dry place and no temperature change, it will remain intact for hundreds of years. The initial/original patination is a protective layer and can preserve the TSUBA perfectly well.

I think you got a very nice and collectible piece of WW2 memorabilia. Signature on the sword is 関住星谷義長 Seki-jū Hoshiya Yoshinaga （Made by) Yoshinaga Hoshiya of Seki The fittings are in good/very good condition, the sword is in good condition for a WW2 sword, and the sword has a distinct mei, and is from a known smith...its all good. I think if you Google the smith's name, you can find other threads discussing other swords by him. The issue of the surrender tag is a side issue, but I think its probably OK, just a bit less worn than we normally see. With a WW2 sword and fittings in good condition like this, the presence (or lack) of surrender tag has minimal affect on the value of the ensemble. I think most people would like to have the tag as evidence of the sword's history, but, really, the condition of the sword and the scabbard are the important things - which is why I think think its a side issue. In any event, it is a real location in Japan, so if you ever wanted to research the presumed former owner, it can be done.

Mumei Attribued to Fuyuhiro Period : Late Muromachi Blade Length : 36,2cm Motohaba : 2,9cm Sakihaba : 2,5cm Motokasane : 0,7cm Sakikasane : 0,5cm Weight : 339g Price for group : ̶2̶5̶0̶0̶ $2300 + $50 shipping (with Insurance, from Japan) More and pictures and video available. Don't hesitate to send a message. Fuyuhiro's lineage is rooted in the Muromachi period, with the swordsmith's family moving to Wakasa province, known today as Wakayama. Fuyuhiro was the son of Soshu Hirotsugu, and his craft was held in high regard, forging blades in both Sagami and Wakasa.

you do have a direct boarder with with the Russian state ( the Kaliningrad oblast)..of all the European states only Lithuanian, Latvia, Estonian, Finland, Norway, Poland and obviously Ukraine have this unfortunate pleasure… your problem is Japan is profoundly fanatical about its pacifism…and export of weapons is both legally and morally riddled with issues. I think you have a problem around the rules around export of weapons which can be found in the 2014 defence white paper, material 62 the key bits that relate to your issue are as follows: “Export of "weapons" requires permission from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry according to the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Act (Act No. 228 of 1940) (Note) and the Export Trade Control Order (Cabinet Order No. 378 of 1949). (Note) Currently, the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law.” Three principles for arms exports Prime Minister Sato, April 21, 1982, House of Representatives, Settlement Committee (Summary) Specifically, the government's operational policy regarding the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Act and the Export Trade Control Order clarifies that arms exports are not permitted in the following cases: 1) For communist countries 2) For countries where the distribution of weapons, etc. is prohibited by United Nations resolutions 3) For countries that are parties to international disputes or are at risk of such disputes. Government policy Regarding the export of "weapons," the government has always been cautious in dealing with the export of "weapons" in order to avoid aggravating international conflicts due to Japan's position as a peaceful nation, and will continue to do so in accordance with the following policy. shall be processed and its export shall not be facilitated. 1) Export of "weapons" is not permitted in areas covered by the Three Principles. Definition of weapon The term "weapon" is used in various laws and regulations, and its definition should be interpreted according to the purpose of each law, etc. 2) "Weapons" under the Self-Defense Forces Act refer to "firearms, explosives, swords, and other machines, instruments, devices, etc. whose purpose is to directly kill or injure people or destroy property as a means of armed struggle." Basically it could be that businesses in Japan have been advised somehow that “Poland” has been designated as a nation that could be in at risk of international dispute ( conflict)…..and so would come under principle 3…but….I suspect it’s not an official designation as Poland is Member of of NATO and bound to article five as are all members states..including almost every nation in Europe, Canada and the US..so if it was an official ban it would logically have to cover every NATO nation which is essentially the European continent and North American…and Japan has just entered a load of agreements around arms sales and shared development of weapons with the Uk and Italy.

Wonder if it’s a deliberate variant of the “moon over mt. Fuji” seen on some (wartime?) blades.

One of those really does look just like a low full moon over a valley. Thanks Alex. Never seen that before.

I track that, when shown. Several of the recoreded blades came from auction sites, and old posts no longer active, that didn't show the full nakago, nor the mune. Having said that, it seems the vast majority of them were marked one way or another. A lot of them were numbered. Many had HO, KO, SAKA, NA, and Seki stamps on the mune. And just a few had small Seki and/or NA stamps on the nakago.

Personal opinion: It does look like an old attribution to Mitsuhiro who is a relatively recognized name, made in a bit unusual fashion on osuriage blade. This is koto, and quite possibly can be a Bizen blade. There is not much to see on such photographs but nothing seen contradicts Bizen. The big question is whether this is (early) Muromachi with a real attribution like say the last of Omiya school (for example) or its Nambokucho and possibly to a bigger name. Statistically one has to be conservative. To make a determination though really good photos are need, or to see it in hands etc.. Its not clear how much its out of polish. If you are thinking of parting with it, I would be interested in buying.

https://www.jauce.com/auction/u1128847112 I cannot buy due to legal restrictions. Maybe someone might find it interesting. Doesn't look a forgery to me, but who knows.

@Bruce Pennington That 特 (Special)mark is one of the Extraordinary stamps.

Yes, I have 4 others. 3, like yours, with the large Seki stamp, and 1, Apr '44, with a NA stamp. And I agree with Steve, that's some really good metal-work on those fittings!

Neil, Yes I have that one on file, and it's the only example I have of that mystery stamp at the bottom of the 3. Didier, The wartime polish seems to have a dull, mirror-like finish. It often will even obscure the hamon. You can usually tell it's original by all the scratches, dings, and such on the surface of the blade. Bubba, post-war, buffer jobs are usually quite shiny mirror.

Rare tsuba, signed Bushu-ju Kunihiro saku Kunihiro was one of the masters of the Bushū school. This is a extremely nice and rarely seen example in near pristine condition! Asking price: $1795 or best offer More pictures and video: https://tsubashi.com...hu-ju-kunihiro-saku/ Remember to set video RES to Full HD

Thanks Dale and Mauro, Tsuba does have a fukurin and is non magnetic. I have looked at the inside of the Nakago ana and can see evidence of three layers so i would say construction is sanmai. Opposite side below:

From those photos, that doesn't appear to be a faked patina. It may not be the original patina (tagane patina is very consistent), but who knows? In my experience with fake patina, the guards will have more of a black, or quite dark finish with a somewhat "dry" appearance. The biggest tell however, is by submerging the guard in static hot water, if the finish starts to leach, it is a fake patina. There are a few high volume sellers who's guards consistently leech when submerged, and at this stage I have about an 80% strike rate of calling a guard out, as having a fake patina (once in hand), but this doesn't always translate with photographs.

Picked this up a while ago. I thought in place of samegawa it was just carved wood. Turns out its copper sheets that is blackened with gold accents. The menuki appear to be dragons with 4 toes. Black lacquered ito which is evidently worn from use and holding. Someone has attempted to "pin" the kabutogane on, but "inside" is also a detailed piece of hammer sheet. Fuchi is unfortunately missing, and I'm not sure what would have been in its place as the bare wood is a height of 20mm. Tsuka is 30.6cm long.

A selected piece of KEYAKI would have been nice as well, I think.

I have a sword that has been signed by Fujiwara Yoshisada. Was he one of the smiths working at Seki? There appears to have been an Ishihara Yoshisada working there, as referenced here: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=7517&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=yoshisada I would much appreciate any information. Andrew

Another one of my sanmai tsuba. Bridge, water, and mountain scene. Onward! With respect, Dan

I got some with my phone. Unfortunately the lens and flash photography they use on the website pictures makes it really hard to get good pictures on anything remotely shiny. I'll upload them tomorrow hopefully.

What problems do you see and where? Usually, a TSUBA will look different in hand, compared with a photo. The guard looks like a basic GO ISHI GATA TSUBA, even signed. A faint MEI is nothing to worry about, it's a question of individual chiselling style and age. Nothing wrong with it in my eyes (but they are no longer very good).

Dragon in the waves

From the Tsuba Gadai Jiten "In Japanese folklore there is the tale of the mouse/rat that wished to marry up in the world, so he went to the Sun to propose a marriage but the sun said he could not as he was easily blocked out by the cloud, the mouse went to the cloud but he said he could not as he was easily blown away by the wind, the mouse then went to the wind who said he could not as he was easily blocked by plaster walls (Suijibei), the Suijibei said that he could not as the mouse was superior because they were always digging holes to undermine the wall! The moral being not to seek for perceived greener pastures. What probably made this image popular was a picture scroll that told of the rat who married a famed Kyoto beauty, who learning she had been deceived fled to Koya-san to seek refuge. (The wedding is one of the scenes depicted) This is not to be confused with the Fox Wedding which comes from another folklore - keep in mind foxes have long thin faces and pointed ears, while mice have fuller faces and oval ears."

HO H0 Birds....

I agree with Grey. Have recently seen an entire tsuka that was made of metal....wrap and all, all in one. They played with many different styles, you can't discount it because it's odd.

Hello Thomas, thank you for your information. Perhaps this Hirohisa -> Signature : Hisahiro is the older brother of Mutō (Hachirō) Yukihiro and Mutō (Hideyoshi) Hidehiro.

I once had a real Nihonto katana on which the tsuka had a mekugi-ana on one side only and the katana had no mekugi-ana. Best guess was that the katana was a gift to a shrine and thus no ana. As for the tsuka: no idea why an ana one side only but it can happen. The only rule is that there are no rules. The tsuka in question, to me, looks to be real Nihonto. Grey

Each Sode is attached by two strings to the wadakami. You need to shorten the front string on either shoulder.

To me, it looks older (early EDO ?) and authentic, but it may appear different in hand.

G'day Guys, Another interesting piece of Gassan trivia for you. I have noticed that Sadakazu and Sadakatsu seemed to have preferred different styles of Boshi. This is in no way meant to be a definitive difference between the works of father and son, but in general, Sadakatsu used a Hosho style boshi where the grain doesn't turn back from the tip and Sadakazu preferred a boshi with the grain wrapped around. I have seen examples of Sadakazu's work with the Hosho style boshi, but have not yet come across an example of Sadakatsu's with the wrap around boshi. Here is an example of what I mean. Sadakatsu on left and Sadakazu on right. Cheers, Bryce

This is what I have for Hirohisa 久廣 in 1937. 氏名 Full Name:　武藤･秀吉 Mutō Hideyoshi?. 刻銘 Inscription:　久廣 Hisahiro. 住所 Address:　福岡縣三潴郡大川町酒見四八六 Fukuoka-ken Mizuma-gun Ōkawa-machi Sakami 487. 徒弟ノ数 Number of Apprentices:　一 (１). 資本 Capital: ２､０００￥. 製造能力 Manufacturing Capacity: 一ケ月 一五 15 per month.

明治三午年二月日　1870 (horse) year, a day in February

Today I made steady progress and hope to be able to report very soon. Daimyō lords in the Edo Period were always looking for something different. A miniature cannon capable of being fired could be an instrument of amusement or even used for instruction. And now we face the most difficult part, the lacquering etc. Manyana! Getting prepared for the metal reinforcing band. Pinned on…

There is an Muto Hirohisa, but I can't place him in the family tree.

I have never seen a mei of 近江大掾藤原國路. The Horikawa smith Kunimichi signed 出羽大掾. Where did you find a reference for an Omi Daijo title for a smith who signed Kunimichi? The nakago looks possibly Showa-era. What does the blade look like? Possibly gimei if it is not a valid meikanmore smith.

平重造（花押）　Hirashige zō (tsukuru).

The term for the knotwork is listed as "Whiteline or Belfast" and is on page 77 of the larger Fuller & Gregory book. These are some unique fittings, note the small screw securing the Kabutogane. Shame the Tsuba is gone.

All the lines in this blade appear rounded. I can't see the yokote line at all. There is pitting and some rust + the mentioned blister. The blade might take a polish but I do not think the restorations costs will ever be recovered. The tang certainly points to Kaga. I do not think that there is much to be learned from the blade in its present condition. Check the blades for sale on messageboard. I have seen some very well priced good blades.