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This is a rare Tsingtao sonin level colonial sword! Tom

Tom nailed it! I learned something today, too! Dawson pages:

For once we have a picture allowing it, it is interesting to look at the hada. They are 2 ko-itame and yet they are quite different from each other, the one of Kotetsu is more dense and stronger than the one of Nagamichi. It will be worth to note that Nagamichi's hamon looks like Kotetsu's but during his hanetora period; the sword showed here is one of the hakotora time so there is not that similarities. i should have been more precise in my first comment.

To be precise, the first two kanji are not 皇紀 (Koki) but 紀元 (Kigen), though the word has the same meaning in the context.

Hi Charlie, No one will be able to tell you value accurately without seeing the sword in hand. That said, best guess given the condition (not the greatest), is somewhere between $600 and $1,200. That's just a guess; I could be way off. Resist all urges to fix/repair/improve the sword. Anything you try is likely to cause damage and lower value. Restoration needs to be left to properly trained craftsmen. Grey

紀州住 - Kishu ju 貞命 - Sadanaga

Re Item No. 57 Some oblique views as promised - And , just because , an Iris in my garden today ... Will have some more fittings featuring Irises shortly.

Location: Japan,TOKYO. PriceL 45,000USD (Include shipping) JUYO TOKEN 重要刀剣 Appointed on 17th Nov 2017 平成二十九年十一月十七日指定 Session 63 第六十三回重要刀剣 Katana：Mumei Motoshige 刀：無銘 元重 Period : Nambokucho (1336-1392) Nagasa（blade's length）: 69.1 cm Sori : 1.6 cm Motohaba : 3.05 cm Sakihaba ： 2.15 cm Kissaki length : 4.1 cm Nakago length : 20.2 cm Nakago : O-suriage Mumei, Two mekugiana. Nkkago Sori : 0.3 cm Form : Shinogi Zukuri(镐造) , Mitsu-mune （三ツ棟），wide mihaba with inconspicuous difference in the width of the motosaki, the sori is extremely shallow, Chu-kissaki. Kitae : Itame-hada(板目肌)，Hadatachi（肌立）, Ji-nie（地沸）, Chikei（地景），mixed Jifu（地斑）producing Utsuri tachi(映り立). Hamon: Predominantly Suguha（直刃主調), Gunome（互の目), Ko-Gunome(小互の目) mixed Ashi（足), Yo（葉), Ko-nie(小沸), deep Nioi（匂深), Sunagashi（砂流し） Boushi ：One side Midare-komi（乱れ込み）maru（丸）Kaeri（返り), the other side Ko-maru(小丸) Kaeri（返り）is round shape and Hakikake（掃掛). Horimono （彫物): Bohi(棒樋) and Soebi(添樋) of both sides. Bishu Osafune Motoshige The well known Motoshige's full name is Bishu Osafune Motoshige（備州長船元重), who is 'Nidai'（二代) (Second generation) of the Motoshige family actually, while the Shodai (初代）(First Generation) who is called Ko-Motoshige Nijimei（古元重二字銘). The "Ko-Motoshige" works were knowned in later Kamakura(鐮倉) period，while Nidai Motoshige was active in Nanboku(南北朝) era. Though Motoshige was a smith of the Bishu Osafune school, his style is slightly different from Kanemitsu(兼光) or Chogi（長義) in the same period. He were learnt from Aoe(青江) so that his pieces of works are influenced by Aoe's stlye a lot. That is the reason why some Motoshige works have the same Boshi(帽子) with Aoe's.（In this case). Also, Motoshige was known as one of the 'Sadamune no santetsu'(貞宗三哲), who were Disciples of Soshu Sadamune(貞宗) . The another two were Yamashiro Nobukuni(山城信国) and Tajima Hojoji Kunimitsu(但马守法城寺国光). So that we can see Ko-Bizen（古備前), Bizen Osafune（備前長船), Aoe（青江）and Soshu(相传) are all mixed together in one sword sometimes. That's why we say Motoshige's works are always in totally diffecent styles. Fujishiro(藤代) appraised Motoshige as Jo-jo saku (上々作) for his extremely superior quality of works. And Motoshige was one of the only fifteen smiths who were achieved the rating of Sai-jo O-wazamono(最上大業物) assessed by the professional cutting appraisers in Edo period for the supreme level of sharpness. The cutting prowess of Motoshige's blades are legendary.

We call "Miyoshi Nagamichi" Aizu Kotetsu. So, How similar can they be?

Does a damn good German style beer, no one wanted to close down the German founded brewery and it still runs today. Sometimes governments get it right!

I have seen a couple of them, and they are very good..... It gets harder every year!

Yeah, that's my feeling too.

From what I can see, I believe it to be a polish replica

I dont like it,

Well, the hotel has a pool, Florida Mall a short uber away and there are also the theme parks and I -Drive. Plenty to keep a person busy. BTW, the hotel has a complimentary shuttle service within a 2.5 mile radius. That includes the airport. You would need to call ahead.

It is “兼房” (Kanefusa)! Probably one of the many from Mino...

Regarding nr 61 it's probably a Japanese water wheel:

Ko-kinko Amida yasuri tsuba now sold

Gentlemen, I am helpless with this signature . All I think I can read is SADA in the name, and possibly -SHÛ no JU on the other side. Your help is really appreciated!

Hi Thomas, About the Nihonto Meikan by Homma and Ishii, yes I have a copy and no...as far as I have seen there is no distinct Meobo list included...but from reading it I can tell you that (I think) ALL RJT are mentioned...you just have to go through it - only 1226 pages with about 25 smith details on each. I seem to remember Chris Bowen saying long ago that "someone" should go through it and do that...list them all...(I pretended not to hear him ha ha). Regards,

The mei on the nakago does not read Chounsai but Chojusai (長壽斎). FYI: 日本刀・居合刀の販売専門店　美術刀剣　刀心 (nihontou.jp)

Great. That way I can send some funds to the forum as well! John

Thanks! I'm a retired teacher and I am used to poor writing but this was way off base. I thought of Mitsu but it was too far off from what I expect to see.

Hi Steve life been pretty normal very lucky with the whole covid thing, you guys in Hawaii?. Im leaning to gimei as well, i can not find a matching mei in my reference books but nice to have other opinions as im no expert.

Nicholas, No date = gimei. All sword with naga mei (long mei) of that era must have a nengo on the other side.

Maybe Sadamitsu: 貞光

wow. I think Youtube is easy and frist.. If you want check this MOTOSHIGE , plz check this link

This is being posted earlier than originally intended as it is doubtful if I will have time available over the next day or so... Item No. 57 - Iron tsuba in mokko gata form , gold , shibuichi and shakudo details 7.28 cm x 6.88 cm x 0.45 cm ( over plain ) , 0.61 cm at thickest. Subject of a lake scene with a mountain in the background , fishermans sail boat to rear with skein of geese . A temple is partly hidden by the mountain , a house close to shore . A waterfall is depicted opposite the mountain. Signed Yasuchika , but which generation ? Whenever I show this Tsuba at meetings or exhibitions , I get two responses . The majority of viewers seem to be indifferent ( maybe it looks too plain and uninteresting alongside some of the other pieces ) , but a few pick it up and study it and are almost always positive in their comments. My personal view is that it dates from sometime in the 18th century and displays a lot of the elements that were also used by Natsuo in his scenic works. The mountain is carved from the same piece of iron as the rest of the tsuba , in other words it is not an inlay . I will try to take some oblique pictures to give a better view of this. I have also included a picture of this tsuba without its protective coating , as it is possible to see that the house on the shore is inlaid in shibuichi and the temple in shakudo and gold. The more you look at this one , the more you see .

Wow. That is a FINE example. Used to seeing that basketweave pattern. But don't see them with that level of detail to each "weave" I'm impressed at how organic that looks. Lovely!

Item No. 56 - Iron Tsuba Mokko Gata with silver and shibuichi detailing 7.5 cm x 7.3 cm x 0.48 cm Subject of Basket weave design with flowers. Signed Choshu Noju Tomohisa Saku? which would date it to around early 18th century. A nicely made quiet and understated piece .

Item No. 55 - Iron Tsuba with remnants of gold highlights - 7.93 cn x 7.74 cm x 0.39 cm For lovers of Old Iron -described as Ko Shoami from Muromachi Period (1393 - 1575 ) - The surface showing very fine tekotsu and a lot of nie. I believe these are referred to as drain cover tsuba ? Acquired about 12 years ago from a U.S. dealer.

Hi George, Bob M., NMB: --- I currently have location limited ability to post on NMB. Mid response, the power cut out. Lest it do so again, I'mma gonna keep this short. #41 Gimei Shozui where someone tried to remove the signature. #45 Ko-Goto. I'm not sure I would have said Ko-Goto vs Ko-Kinko, but NBTHK is stronger than me in looking a the construction, measurements, nanako and the rest. Nice piece. #49 D@mn nice Choshu. One of the two best I have ever owned. That one is also ex. Arnold Frenzel. I don't collect Choshu, but that one and another are the two I regret selling if I permitted myself a larger collection. I'm surprised the Choshu expert on the board hasn't ripped that one from your grasp. #53 Shozui that the current heavily Wakayama dependent NBTHK would not pass. I'm not sure of my own opinion. George is right that I have owned a few papered ones and I did get into a phase where I went through all resources and did an extensive study of kantei points culminating in a long write up primer. I do think Wakayama is too limited in its review of Shozui, but often the deciding point is how close it is to their accepted footprint of his signatures and whether the design or the ratios on the design fit what I know of his work. There is a f/k for sale right now that I am surprised the NBTHK was willing to paper the signature not being spot on with Wakayama, but it was one of Shozui's favorite designs. This one I'd have to study before putting my own final opinion down. Gonna go before I lose this post again.

Item No. 52 Iron tsuba with brass & gold highligths / inlays 8.22 cm x 7.68 cm x 0.31 cm over plain , 0.44 cm over rim. Plain iron plate with a smooth finish , Brass inlay of cord or rope , Mimi shaped as a stylised long handled cutting tool with remains of gold highlighting on the blade. Simple but nicely done tsuba. Mumei , acquired as part of an auction lot about five years ago.

Just occurred to me - for some reason the decoration / symbols around Item No. 61 reminds me of the Phaistos Disc.... Undecipherable ?