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I offer for sale, a Spring 1943 Koa Isshin WW2 officer sword. They are rarely found in the original leather combat covers these days, which I have left on to preserve its originality. I have slightly peeled back the leather, and looks like the painted metal saya is immaculate underneath. The blade is in as found condition, no rust no pits, no chips. The features of the blade are there for the eyes to appreciate. As expected there is very slight staining with age and combat use. I love the patina on these swords that show that they have been taken to war, and not left in an office or cupboard. The mei is well cut, and the nakago is in very nice condition. To further prove its originality, the MUNE stamps are evident, and not obscured by rust that so often happens. At AUD3150, I will express post with tracking and signature any where. These swords are now very collectable and sought after, not often does an original example that hasn't been monkeyed with come up.

Collector friends, This article is worth a read! https://www.academia.edu/s/096d6faf59 Peter

A fine Edo-period Tsuba for sale Old Sakura / Ume - tree under the moon Iron,Gold,Silver Dimensions 87 mm x 83 mm x 4 mm Very nice condition Price is 180.- Euro ( plus shipping ) PM me if interestet Cheers! Christian

SOLD............. Thank you to the buyer and to all those who who shown interest. Kind regards Doug

Just a few observations on ' A series of fittings ...etc ' Having just posted item No. 25 , I wanted to mention that this is a similar quantity to what I would take and show at a Token of GB outreach meeting , and this in part is the idea of the thread. As we have all been in various stages of lockdown , for probably a year or so , for most people , I thought that I would put my fittings on the NMB instead and give a wider access to those who are interested. The main difference is that the entire collection will be displayed , albeit one at a time , over the coming months . Of course this may be regarded as a ' look what I've got' vanity project , but that is not the intent - as I have stated in an earlier post , the good , bad, and indifferent will all be shown. I have numbered up all fittings and then generated a random sequence of them so that , with the exception of a few favourites which I am keeping to the end , any quality or type of fitting could appear next. No. 26 will be posted tomorrow ( Wednesday )....

I'm not sure if it's intended or whether I'm imagining the image but anyone seeing the galloping horses?

Please leave the name of the "down voter" on. You can't (in my opinion), post anonymous snipes.

Nagasa? Would love to own.... couldn't have come up at the worst time. Think I'll take a sabbatical leave the place for a while God bless you all.

I can also see who gives what reactions via voting emoticons. And frankly, Brian, it is useful to know who has voted how. It gives you a perspective into who “likes” what you have said / done or even you, or who “dislikes” you, perhaps an inkling as to who you might have angered..... So, please do not remove this feature.

For anyone who collects modern knives..it's a Shirogorov 110 Kickstop. It's an awesome flipper, and an easy $1700 on the secondary market. So the waki isn't cheap. But it fits into my main interests better, and add a kozuka and kogai, I think antique swords will hold value better than modern customs. I'll do the deal. And then spend a few months trying to replace that knife anyways

I offer for sale several books 1. Higo kinkō taikan Kanzan Sato 1964 390 € Higo Kinko Daikan 2. Kiyo maro seitan 200 nenkinen Sano Museum 2013 140 € 200th anniversary of Kiyomaro's birth 3. Tsuba no dezain Mitsuo Shibata 1993 60 € Design of Tsuba 4. Japanese Art and Design Christie’s London Christie´s 2004 50 € 5. Rokushō Vol. 34 sold Bakumatsu Meiji no tsuba Tōsō kinkō 6. Masamune to sono deshi Sano Museum 2002 100 € Masamune and his disciples 7. Kurihara Nobuhide no kenkyū NBTHK 1976 90 € Nobuhide Kurihara research 8. Tōkō tsubakō jiten Takanori Shimizu 1973 50 € Swordsmith Construction Code 9. Nihontō no okite to tokuchō Mitsuru Honami 1967 sold Rules and characteristics of Japanese swords 10. Tokugawa bijutsukan zō-hin 抄 3 Tokugawa Museum 1998 90 € Tokugawa Art Museum Collection Extract 3 11. Nihonto Juyo Bijutsuhin Zenshu vol. 2 140 € 12. Meito Zufu Junji Homma 1935 290 € Famous sword All prices + PP fees + shipping Sent from Slovakia - no additional charges within the EU

日本刀一振南満州鉄道株式会社 所有主　阿部文雄 Nihontō hitofuri Minami Manshū Tetsudō Kabushikikaisha Shoyūnushi Abe Fumio Japanese sword (one) South Manchurian Railway Corporation Owner: Fumio ABE The cloth tags also belong to Fumio Abe, and give his address and the name of a neighborhood association (presumably near where he lived). The address is Motobuto in Urawa (close to Tokyo). Urawa is a fairly major town. The section of Motobuto is still there, but the address system changed, so you'd have to find an old map to pinpoint the location.

This looks like a Komonjo fake from Japan.

I can recommend taking Japanese lessons at the cultural center. I hope you will enjoy it. However it will not give much assistance to certificate/sword translating etc. this is such specialized field that your normal every day Japanese language studies do not often help quickly. But thumbs up for language study

Yoshimasa.

金華 ---------- 山麓

Hi Brian, I had a sword very much like yours, many years ago, it was from the Heianjo group - muromachi period. But, it could be later, most likely shinto, pointing to the yakidashi, and simple boshi. Regards, Tom

Hi Uwe, i gave you a bad arrow for your linked video "Putin send bad waves." I have explained it why i can't laugh about it. You can klick on the ratings to see who reacts on a posting. Best Chris Btw: I dealed with Brano and he is a friendly and competent member.

It is OK for me Brian! please do not worry you! I definitely do not understand such behaviour ( as honestly speaking i even do not know this person at all - even do not remember me if i had some contact with, in past ? ) but well.... it seems to least make him happy! .....OK for me! i am well aware this Tsuba got dumped....i can not change it! but well.....least i am not depinding and secondly i do like it a lot myself....such speaking.... Please No Worry! Cheers! me

It's really crazy, they'll never meet again Mainly out of principle, I did not participate in the auction. The seller hoped for more profit, the opposite is true. https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/o466540567?u= https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k541037255 https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/q438974602 https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d508575695 https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k542223987 https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/m484700525 https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/q443638685

Its Nihonto collector Pete. An explanation would be nice. If anything I think its only hurting his sales. Down voting good deals for nice items like this is just silly. I don't care if my comments are down voted for speaking the truth , water off a ducks back.

Just to follow up on the earlier posting, here is another similar, simple style of Heianjo inlay IMO ? I quite like these flush inlay types of tsuba, also for their period of about 1600 ? A very simple design, nothing to stir the soul but for all that, a pleasant example. 75.5 by 72.3 by .28 at the mimi, .35 at the seppa area. The other point is that they can be pretty much O.K for price which suits me very well nowadays, as much as the display of the U.K collection currently coming on line here for viewing is something altogether different and greatly impressive. Roger j

Ok. But let's stop the off topic now and focus on Christian's sale.

無銘 - Mumei 伝 (越前 来) - Den (Echizen Rai) Followed by the measurements....etc.

I started collecting in the late 80’s . We have a good group in St. Louis and we get together, show off and compare swords as often as possible. I’ve been most fortunate in that I’ve never had to sell anything. The COVID lock down provided an opportunity to catalog and organize the lot. I’m hoping some or all of the grandsons will show an enthusiasm so we can share them. jim

Tip to notch, 67cms.

Great stuff. Yes, I looked at that original pic you linked to Bruce, so now you have three from Niigata...all " ta ". Seems it might be a Prefecture mark....lots of research still needed... Life never gets boring with RJT. Regards,

Good evening, Best shots I can use. Poorly polished but almost original gasane. All opinions welcomed! Cheers John

Just to add, there is a kaigunto preserved at Dartmouth Royal Naval college, presented by Lord Louis Mountbatten. All the best.

I see downvote but not who voted that way.

Should be from that lineage though. Looks like it may be a decent sword.

I don't understand this comment, all members can see who voted what.

Hi Brano, where can I go to ident the red and white arrow shooter ? Think that the bad arrows and the blue hearts should be named, I give a blue one to Brano and a blue one to Greg.. Who gave me a bad arrow for the Biden tube? What`s going on here? BEST

i just think this Gentlemen is just jalous or just a bit misleaded...? maybe also ( my collegue with his books ) and myself are in the Gentlemen´s viewpoint dumping his selfexplained asking prices ???? ( as i personally really do not see anything negative on the offered books and also nothing negative on my offered Tsuba here ) jbw..... but to help "leveling" asking prices....i just allow me to dump my asking price i did give and do offer this Tsuba for 150.- Euro ( plus shipping ) now..... (because i can ! !) maybe still too low ???? LOL! Christian

What Greg said. Keep your comments to yourselves on items for sale.

One katana, mei Hisakatsu, (Mino, around Eisho). Eisho was the nengo period between 1501 and 1524. Length, a bit over 2 shaku, 1 sun, 9 bu.

Nr.5 sold

Nothing in particular but yesterday morning I went to Kurashiki to see the local NBTHK sword exhibition of members’ blades. It was a beautiful day with deep blues skies, and I was happy to wander around the narrow streets of the old town, with very few tourists around. How long has it been since I last visited? I used to live here about 45 years ago. Here is a Twitter feed with shots from the exhibition. The venue behind Ohara Art Museum

金華山麓 – The base of Kinkazan (Mt. Kinka) 於濃州長良川邊 – at the riverside of Noshu Nagaragawa 藤原清長 – Fujiwara Kiyonaga

Nr.9 sold

長﨑國住人 - A resident in Ngasaki 弘雲子彫之 - Kounshi (art name) carved this.

I also will be at the show and, since I drive to this one, I can bring books with me. If there is a book on my site that you'd like and you'd like to save the cost and trouble of shipping let me know. https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Books Grey

硬 = hard. 中軟 = medium soft. 軟 = soft.

Have very much enjoyed the above presentations. Hoping someone can clarify my offering. Purchased here at NMB just over a year ago from Mark who was very generous to me after being given something of a barracking from one, maybe more spectators on the "For Sale' sidelines. A Kwaiken, a concealable women's knife, great condition, about 16.8cm blade, originally a Kikutchi Yari cut down to make a small tanto in 1897 as per inscription on reformed tang. The maker's name is more obscure ?-Kane ? Koto period ? Actually it was Mark then BaZZa who put me in some of the picture. It is a lovely Kwaiken in my opinion. Thank you.

I built a fire proof lined vault in the man cave and lined it with slat board. Then we got to work in the shop and made wooden, stepped brackets which allow a blade in shira saya to be displayed adjacent to the koshirae. Blades having just shirasaya simply rest on slatboard hooks. I’m now gradually repositioning blades and grouping them by eras, and schools which is useful for study purposes . jim

One of the best thread of the NMB. Keep 'em coming. I'll revive it with this image, which I found on the old archives of the forum. The most epic Higo lineup ever to have graced a table in Europe since Alfred Baur.

My collection is a result of search and discovery so I really enjoy "finding" my swords when I get them out. As I result I keep very little of my Japanese stuff out and visible. I remember with pride when I visitor to our home, after looking around said, "I thought you collected Japanese swords." Now if I could only figure out how to store rapiers! Peter

Thanks for sharing Bob. I'm sure that many of us wish that they were for sale rather than show.