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三善長道上□ - Miyoshi Nagamichi shortened (this?)

Hello everyone: As many know, swordsmiths change their mei for a variety of reasons over time. RJT smith Kanehide was no exception. But since there has been no readily available study on these changes, I've compiled as many examples of Kanehide's mei as I could find - 76 to be exact. That's not to say there aren't others, however I believe the sample is large enough to paint a definitive picture of his changes and when those changes took place. I'm including the first two pages of the study here in (low res format) for those interested in just the conclusion. The entire study, which includes an extended biographical background and all of the collected samples plus references, has been submitted to Brian for approval and inclusion in the downloads. In the meantime, if you are a fan of Kanehide, have a general interest in RJT smiths, or are just interested in smith mei changes, please enjoy the short read. Respectfully, John C.

Barry! How long has it been? I hope the Oz commies spare your Boer War rifles. You should see the Khyber Pass Martini in .303 I bought from a returning veteran. No salmon fishing, but after California, we moved to Northern California hunt country and got in lots of fox hunting. Here's a photo I took with a pocket camera between fences. My email is: jdz@usa.net. Let's keep in touch. Happy New Year!

Threw the Hon'Ami Kojo image of the Tenka-Sansaku into AI to try bring them back to life. Just a little fun. grok_video_2026-01-01-11-45-05.mp4

And Masamune. grok_video_2026-01-01-11-41-27.mp4

To add to this - at the price range you're looking for, and even up to double that amount, there's always going to be something 'better' (or at least compelling in a different way) than anything you can get. By the nature of the market, anything in that value range is going to be lacking in some way, so what you're really hoping for is someone selling something decent at a lower price than it should be; and you're not going to find that here or at a reputable dealer, because anyone fitting that category would know what they have and roughly what it's worth. I would recommend spending at least a portion of that money on some good books; if not the usual Nihonto guides then at least one or two catalogues from a museum exhibit (the Sano Museum ones have English indexes, which is nice) so you can look at the best of the best and see what sort of shapes, hamon and jigane appeal to you and then look for scaled down versions of those in the range you can afford. If you must have a sword, right now (and I can understand the urge, I really can) then look for something that appeals to you personally, even in spite of any flaws or shortcomings, even if you can't really explain why. Something that, when you look at it, you just feel really moved or inspired on a personal level, and then when it's in your hands and the initial buzz starts to fade, use it as a jumping-off point to learn more about your own personal tastes and goals in the field - the things that drove you to pick that particular piece. At this lower-end, the best you can really hope for when it's time to move the piece on is to get back roughly what you paid for it; abandon any hopes of selling at a profit and using it to buy something better. The real value you gain will be knowledge and understanding - if not for the blade itself, then about your own aesthetic preferences and desires that led you to that point.

John, rather confusing and I needed to check with wife, as I had/have no idea. As often occurs basic problems relate to words/characters originally from China. But it seems basically 午 UMA (or in Chinese Wu/Go) is the zodiac year 午年 and 馬 UMA is the animal (and the kanji represents its mane and legs). So your stamp is the animal horse? Looking further, in Chinese zodiac 午 was also used to indicate time and direction. There is shougo　正午 (shougo in Japanese) for “noon” (also called the hour of the horse), 午前 (gozen in Japanese) for “morning” and 午後 (gogo) for “afternoon”. Up to the Edo period a day was divided into 12 segments called “koku”.

Hi folks, I recently purchased a large collection of Nihonto books. Here is a list of some of them with links to them on my website, where you will see a bunch of pictures and a short description for each. You can access all new stock by clicking on Books in Store Categories and scrolling through the top 2 pages. There will be more to be listed in coming days. If something catches your eye please contact me through my site, not here with Personal Message; I need your emails to keep track of business. Thanks, Grey B474. All 59 issues of English Token Bijutsu. $1,295. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b474-token-bijutsu-english-edition-all-59-issues/ B590. Mino To Taikan by Tokuno. $275. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b590-mino-to-taikan-by-tokuno/ B868. Shosoin no Token. $200. SOLD B645. Issues of Juyo Token Nado Zufu by NBTHK. $50 each. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b645-juyo-token-nado-zufu-volumes-1-to-19/ B241. Early issues of Tokubetsu Juyo Token Nado Zufu. $60 each. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b241-tokubetsu-juyo-token-nado-zufu-various-issues/ B628. Kotetsu Taikan. $225. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b628-kotetsu-taikan-by-dr-s-homma-sato-2/ B735. 8 Volume set of Toso Kodogu Koza. $375. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b628-kotetsu-taikan-by-dr-s-homma-sato-2/ B724. Shumi no Menuki. $85. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/fittings-books/b724-shumi-no-menuki/ B782. Mon The Japanese Family Crest. $125. SOLD B992. Nihon no Hinawaju. $50. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/other-books/b992-nihon-no-hinawaju-1-2/ B331. Hizento Taikan. $200. SOLD B364. Nihonto: Swords of Japan A Visual Glossary. $175. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b364-nihonto-swords-of-Japan-a-visual-glossary-Japanese-volume/ B639. Choshu no Tsuba. $175. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/fittings-books/b639-choshu-no-tsuba-by-murakami/ B119. Inoue Shinkai Taikan. $200. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b119-inoue-shinkai-taikan-by-nakajima/ B654. Nihonto Koza translation. Koto Part 1. $200. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b119-inoue-shinkai-taikan-by-nakajima/ B939. Niihonto Koza translation. Koto Part 3. $225. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b939-nihonto-koza-as-translated-by-watson-koto-part-3/ B656. NIhonto Zuikan. Koto Hen. $550. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b656-nihonto-zuikan-koto-by-kataoka/ B394. Masamune: A Genius Swordsmith and His Lineage. $50.https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b394-masamune-a-genius-swordsmith-and-his-lineage/ B880. Illustrated Catalogue: Sword Guards. $100. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/fittings-books/b880-illustrated-catalogues-of-tokyo-national-museum-sword-guard/ B678. Minamoto Kiyomaro. $150. https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b678-minamoto-kiyomaro/ And others.

My humble opinion would be to talk to several dealers (especially any that might be close to you -- moreso if it can be within driving distance) and find a piece that you like a lot. Then appreciate it in person, and finally work towards a price that you can live with. Setting out with a price in mind first is good for the wallet, but may not be as good for satisfaction with what you might end up with. A signed and papered Muromachi katana in old polish is a possibility. But a new polish alone with most polishers these days runs for a lot more than just 2k. The little to no flaws part is also a big factor in this case; as most lower condition blades of that eras will have flaws from being polished down. For example, I have an attributed Den Oshu Hoju katana in shirasaya in old polish for $2200 but if someone asked me for what you're looking for at that price level, I would politely decline even an effort to search for them. There is just nothing left at that price point to make the search worth the effort. At the price level you're looking at, you're probably going to have to accept a less than optimal polish or a blade with a fair few flaws or both. Its nothing personal to you, it is just how the market is. I would also probably be acceptive that it is almost certainly going to be in shirasaya, rather than koshirae. Since even minimally appropriate koshirae adds more than 1k value to a blade. My best advice would be to try to approach I suggested at the start of my post. You should end up with something that you'll enjoy a lot more and have a more solid resale value when you decide to move it on!

For the sword enthusiasts in Southern California, there will be a meeting of the Nanka Tokenkai ("Southern California Sword Club") on Friday, April 12th, at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute in Gardena from 7:00-9:00pm. For information check out the club's Facebook page. https://www.facebook...174273/?ref=newsfeed Gardena Valley JCI, 1964 W. 162nd Street, Gardena, CA 90247

Happy New Year Everyone, The next meeting of the Southern California Japanese Sword Club (Nanka Token Kai) will be on the 9th of January, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the usual venue. Club Sensei Mike Yamasaki will be unable to attend, so there will be no formal agenda, but feel free to drop by. If you have any documents/items and you would like to know what they say, bring them and I will take a look. Steve Meeting Details: Location: Gardena Valley JCI, 1964 W. 162nd Street, Gardena, CA 90247 Day/Date: Friday/January 9, 2026 Time: 7:00-9:00 PM

Yes, it does look to have been modified slightly. The kissaki might have been tipped or chipped at some point. Some better images of the boshi would be worth acquiring before making a decision.

Hello Jussi, Rivikin and Klee Thank you very much for your comments and appraisal. Below are some more photos of the Tanto, been described as follows a good 20 years ago: School (Den) Yamato School, maybe Shikkake or Taima. Production period Late Kamakura period, 13th Century. Jitetsu (Jigane) Masame Hada, Chikei in jitetsu Hamon (Temper line) Suguha, Ko-Nie-deki. Kinsuji Sunagashi.

I really like the fittings on this koshirae. The signed tsuba, fuchi, kashira and menuki would not look out of place on a much higher priced blade. The quality of the workmanship is very clear.

Here we have Gō Yoshihiro. grok_video_2026-01-01-11-33-22.mp4

It'll be a genuine nihonto of some historical value; it will always sell, whether on here, on the Sword Buyers Guide, on Reddit or on Facebook marketplace or even the 'Bay. Just don't expect to turn a profit, and don't be surprised if you lose a little (especially taking postage etc into account).

Cheers for 2026 Year of the Horse 午 Uma

so my comment was accurate, the first 10 blades you buy will never be the best for you at this moment. because your still learning what is good, and what is GOOD for the price range. your price range might be "big" for you. but is in the low lower end of the market. your trying to buy a FULL package, but that means there's no value to add, no learning curve just buy, look/study and move on. papers only give you someones elses opinion, if you buy mumei and study you learn your opinion. this takes 10 blades and time go forth and learn, instead of pigeon holing your self to a budget

Just making sure I pick whats right for me at my price rang. And that I understand what I am buying. I'd hate to spend the cash to only find something better the very next week.

theres some good starting piece's here at sensable prices, that should make anyone happy. but somepeaple will always find a reason not to buy

I am appreciating even the older papers for regular items. If you have extremely high level mumei sword or signed item by famous smith it is of course advisable to upgrade them. I do think most of the shinsa attributions have always been made with good intentions. However the knowledge has evolved with time and some things are maybe seen differently in current study. I do love my sword books and magazines, however as was said that in 50 years knowledge advances. I have some 50 year old books that have some errors, I think I have some about c.100 year old books that might have even more incorrect information but that information was of course thought to be correct at that time it was written. I think sword in the first post could likely be a katana by Muromachi Kongōbyōe Moritaka. I could very easily see the modern NBTHK papering it with just the signature mentioned in the paper. To me personally this would not add too much value. However if NBTHK would specify the period in paper in brackets, that would be a huge plus. Unfortunately it is not guaranteed that they will specify anything in the paper. As I believe Kongōbyōe Moritaka lineage goes from Nanbokuchō up to early Edo, having some specification in paper would be preferable, instead of them just awarding the paper and stating there is a signature Minamoto Moritaka. Just a personal feeling that NBTHK papers have become hugely impactful to the market, their opinion is pretty much the only organization that carries weight and there can be huge spikes in prices for attributions that market wants. I don't think it was like that back in the day. I cannot really read all the articles at Tōken Bijutsu magazines with my language level but I have used translators for some to get decent results. I have heard the Hozon & Tokubetsu Hozon shinsa are fully booked now that they put on limits for items accepted and there is nothing written out on the results. Some of the early magazines feature full lists of items that passed the early Kicho shinsa, like you see modern Jūyō results featured in the magazine. And on some occasions in some articles even some of the items were mentioned what had possibly been the interesting items of the session. I just wish there would be few more swords featured in the monthly magazine, of course they do probably run a very strict standard and rules for their articles etc.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/114849901730 Two types of police swords during WWII, only the Shin-gunto had menuki but they were the standard three cherry blossoms. The police did have a fuchi that was distinguishing

In Eric's time, most of the images we posted here ended up on Pinterest, which caused a reluctance inside me to continue to post here. Sad, because it sometimes caused exactly the opposite of what he truly wanted, a free database for all. Anyway, starting anew, I thought perhaps here on NMB we could post some of the original tools necessary to the maintenance and use of a Tanegashima-style Hinawa-Ju matchlock. Such tools could include: せせりseseri Vent pricker. ホクチHokuchi Flint, steels, Netsuke ashtray for lighting matchcord. 蒲の穂入 Gama(no)Ho-ire Tinder container Old 火縄　hinawa matchcords. A. Large coarse blackpowder flasks. Kayaku-ire 火薬入 B. Smaller fine-powder priming powder flasks. Ko-yaku-ire 口薬入 早合 Hayago quick-loading tubes 漏斗 Jo-go funnel 薬研 Yagen grinding mortar (早合)胴乱 Dohran waist pouch (for Hayago) 玉 Tama musket ball 鉛 Namari lead aggregate 玉鋳型 Tama-igata ball mold 玉入 Tama-ire bag for musket ball 玉鋳鍋 Tama-inabé, lead ladle 烏口 Karasu-guchi Crow-beak ball dispenser 目釘抜・打 Mekugi-nuki/uchi Mekugi pin hammer 尾栓抜 Bisen remover カルカ Karuka ramrods 的 Target 弾薬箱 Danyaku-bako Battlefield ammo box for ball, powder, cord, etc. 射撃箱 Shageki-bako Firing range accessories box 鉄砲袋 Teppo-bukuro gun bag 鉄砲箱 Teppo-bako gun box 鉄砲の登録書 Registration paperwork for teppo　 There may be mistakes above, or other bits that I have forgotten!

https://www.toukenkomachi.com/index_en_tachi&katana_A030925.html Here is another good one that is slightlly cheaper ( also shorter ) and mounting . Has a brand new NBTHK from May 2025 . The NBTHK attributed it to the Kai Mihara school . I would disregard the Kurashiki museum paper. Kai mihara is a very good school in my opinion but check with Tsukada san ( owner ) and ask for more photos of the kissaki/Boshi. It could be just the angle of the photograph but looks like it could have been reshaped. This is not an issue at all most of the time as swords were repaired often but you want to make sure there is no problem with the boshi

Higo or Nanban? Pretty thick. 75 X 68 X 7.

Enormously talented, and incredibly kind, Richard was one of those exceptional people whose integrity was beyond question. I knew him for more than two decades. He never failed to show respect for everyone, and interest in everything. His loss is a great loss for all of us who knew him, for our KTK group and for the larger community. On one trip to Japan many years ago Richard took the time to help me call my mom back home via the internet, which I could not have done without his help. He didn't make me feel I was doing him a favor. He seemed happy to help me, his inept friend. There was a humility and decency to Richard that exceeded his great talent as an artist and engineer. Richard will be greatly missed. He set a high standard in every aspect of his life, including especially his love for his family. His contribution to the field of nihonto study, and all his life's good works, will endure. God bless this good friend, and great human being.

Not to hijack… but a couple pics of the car too wouldn’t hurt my feelings…

It's awful when you only find out about someone by news of their passing and then see how amazingly talented they were. After following the link provided here, I've been looking through Richard's photography and it is so stunningly beautiful. Rest in peace, sir.

Thank you, in session 35 I am not sure what item I was missing back then, as I got the book it has bit different numbering that I have adjusted for the current version. It is so much easier with the books as I can always look at the item. For session 61 I had actually skipped a den Unjū blade by accident later on, so big thanks for noticing this. Going just through hundreds of lines of text without any pictures is where I had made most of mistakes. I just have some Jūyō books that are very delayed because of Finnish post waiting inline for customs for 2 weeks now. I think I can do a full updated version of this early next year where I have corrected most of my mistakes.

Recent posts regarding powder flasks have led me back to look again at A. and B. in the list at the top of this thread. 1. A gunner would have a large flask (A) for coarse gunpowder to replenish the quick-loading tubes, or to pour in measured amounts directly down the barrel for the main charge. 2. Hanging from the front of his armour would be a smaller flask (B) for the pan-priming powder, which is the same powder, but more finely ground. The pouring spout is narrower, to pour a pinch of fine powder into the pan. (B) flasks are smaller than their companion (A) flasks, though for a large gun you could have a relatively large flask (B) and a much larger flask (A). Photos below, showing example 'pairs' of (A) left, and (B) right, and their relative sizes.

Recently acquired this one.

This topic is surely worth expanding. Looking to post a coarse powder flask I found over the weekend, I discovered this good old thread! These old black-powder flasks can show astonishingly fine work. If you can find one with matching bits (frills), then all the better! See below the collar of the spout, the top of the powder measuring cap, the heads of the pegs, and the flask side-attachment seat. Detail Pouring spout

Thank you, Mal. That helps. I can eliminate a particular year as a possibility. The hanko came as part of a yatate so I suppose it was either a nickname of the user or possibly he was a stable accountant. John C.

Maybe looks like 鯨 恒 dont know how to read , but its not about whales!