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I'm glad the atmosphere here is active again. To celebrate. Continue to share my collection with you. Ranka (legend) One plot element of the legend features two immortals playing a board game, interpreted in later times as Go, so that Lanke (or Ranka in Japanese) has become a literary name for Go. The legend is recorded in Ren Fang [zh]'s Shuyiji [zh; ja] or Tales of the Strange, and features a woodcutter, Wang Zhi or Wang Chih (王質, Wáng Zhì), and his encounter with the two immortals in the mountains. The story runs as follows: Wang Zhi was a hardy young fellow who used to venture deep into the mountains to find suitable wood for his axe. One day he went farther than usual and became lost. He wandered about for a while and eventually came upon two strange old men who were playing Go, their board resting on a rock between them. Wang Zhi was fascinated. He put down his axe and began to watch. One of the players gave him something like a date to chew on, so that he felt neither hunger nor thirst. As he continued to watch he fell into a trance for what seemed like an hour or two. When he awoke, however, the two old men were no longer there. He found that his axe handle had rotted to dust and he had grown a long beard. When he returned to his native village he discovered that his family had disappeared and that no one even remembered his name.

This is a set of fittings that I have owned for many years. The maker is Asai Yoshihiro, and one of the really interesting features is that the tsuba is made of soft metal on one side and iron on the other (shown is only the soft metal side). There is an inscription that looks like an appraisal underneath the set (see next page). I can make out most of it: Yoshihiro mon jin Edo yotsuya ju is the middle line and Asai Yoshihiro gyotaku mei jin nari is the right side. My understanding is that he lived in Yotsuya in the Edo period and was famous for making fish images. The left line appears to have the name of the appraiser, and I can't figure that one out (see next page).

I recently consigned a sword with Ray and it was a very easy, pleasant transaction. Ray communicated everything, and set the price commensurate to the sword, condition, etc. with the intent of selling it for market. I highly recommend Ray for any swords you may want to sell or buy. Everything was honest and straight forward, no surprises. Thanks Ray!

Hi Bruce, Yoshiharu.

備前国長船則光 Bizen Osafune Norimitsu 文明九年製作而五郎左衛門尉也惟時同工七十二歳同工ハ祐光ト並ビ応永備前カラ末備前へノ過渡期ニ活躍ツタリ Made in 9th year of Bunmei，this smith Goro Saemon (no) Jo was 72 years old at that time. This smith as well as Sukemitsu were active during the transition period from Oei Bizen to Sue Bizen. 本刀ハ比較的短寸ノ打刀デ精良ナル板杢ノ肌合ニ穏ヤカナ中直刃ヲ焼キ刃ニ近ク直映ガ立ツナド其ノ一作風ヲ示ス優品也 This sword is a relatively short in length uchigatana, with a refined itame-mokume mixed hada, calm chu-suguha yakiba and close sugu-utsuri which stands out. This is an excellent work which demonstrates one of the workmanship styles of this smith Hope that helps

So this sword is familiar to me.. I bought it! I have been looking into it lately and ran across this thread. Your questions are valid making me think I overpaid for this particular piece. Yes this is new to me, and yes I should have done a bit more research. Now that I own the blade I might as well reach out and hear some more opinions! I have some questions to anyone willing to answer and help me educate myself. Thanks in advance!

Hello, I can contribute a photo of an M1873 naval petty officers sword. It is just under 32” long end to end.

I was going to post this in Edo Period Corner Part II, but a message popped up saying the topic is old, so would I consider starting a new thread, unless it was particularly relevant. My fault I guess for not refreshing it. Yesterday the news arrived that all further regional live appearances in 2021 have been cancelled for our matchlock troop. "Even the annual purification event at Kibitsu Hiko Jinja?" I asked. (See last autumn's posts and videos.) "Yes, that too, everything!" came the answer. "Anything that draws crowds is out, under the extended state of emergency." "Ah" I replied sadly, thinking of the heap of armour where I last took it off back in April, still needing an excuse for sorting out and hanging up. Today, however, the message came through that Kibitsu Hiko Jinja now require our presence in their Autumn 神事 'Shinji' Shrine Dedication Ceremony, which will be going ahead, together I guess with the Tameshigiri and Yabusame peformances. If it is the same as last year, it will be a private shrine service for small numbers with no crowds. About half the day is taken up with blessings and prayers at various portable altars set up here and there. Anyway, this will be an excuse to air the armour in preparation, and to clean and prime the guns. I know those invited will be thinking of which helmet, which maedate, which cuirass, which sword or tanto etc., to wear for the occasion. Compilation from last year taken from the shrine's home page. https://www.kibitsuhiko.or.jp/event.html

It's a 造兵刀 Zohei To http://ohmura-study.net/206.html

For the interest of those out there - the Shibayama sold for 962,000 yen - with fees, that equates to close to $9,000 USD. Something of a drawn out battle of 214 bids! For my taste the wonky fukurin was a let down.

I don't agree. All that did was tell people out there that repros like that are: a) Not so bad, and are close to real ones, it takes an expert to see that, and b) that it's fine to buy and own repros like this...they aren't junk and are worth owning. Nah. He had to do that for the show. Personally, I think people need to be discouraged and to be made to feel like they need to educate themselves. This pc soft attitude does zero for the hobby or for the owners. And is the reason the Chinese sell thousands. Blunt and to the point. Without being rude. If he can't take it, then this hobby isn't for him.

Just wanted to give a sincere thank you for translation.

3 inches is the border line between katana tsuba size and wakizashi tsuba size. this is a westerner rule. Japanese samurai did not give a damn about these inches. I have often see katana with wakizashi size tsuba.

Would you believe this is Chinese?

It’s signed ‘Kashu Fujiwara Ietsugu saku’ (加州藤原家次作).

Hi Marco. Which one is the fugu?! I assume it is one of the ones on the tsuba. Does this image help?

My pleasure, and thanks for the kind words Brandon. Take care, Ray

Yoshihiro mon jin Edo Yotsuya ju Asai Yoshihiro gyotaku mei jin nari

Work has been a touch crazy with caterings pre Labor Day. We'll get some pictures up of the clean version this afternoon. Positively amazing difference

Thank you all, for your time, efforts, and inputs! I hope everyone has enjoyed this fun little exercise.

Hi Matt, I was/am critical of the date engraved on the tang, and critical of the sales pitch used on the site, but the sword itself is an authentic, typical WW2 sword, so if that is what you were after I think you did well. I disagree with Bruce regarding any added value the date may impart. I think this date is so bad that it is likely a later addition. Could have even been made by some western person not used to writing kanji. But it doesn't change the fact that the sword looks to be a genuine WW2 sword.

Outstanding. I think the sentence should be split as below, but its a minor thing and doesn't change the overall meaning too much. 中直刃ヲ焼キ、刃ニ近ク直映ガ立ツナド And the length and date? Only mildly tricky.

I've had the same sorta thing once. A legit Osuriage blade shortened by the early Ichimonji school. The guy started on the wrong side for signing. He stopped and then put the full mei on the left side for a remaining long wakizashi length blade

Not mine, something at auction, but it has a stamped number "250" on it for my files (no date). Just need the name, thanks guys!

Hi Alain, yes, I know the entry about the subject in the copies of the "Meikô zukan" and I think the popular belief is based on the information given in "this book" (or better in the copies and their copies... ). Also Iida san's book relies on this work. What makes me wonder are two "facts". 1. It is said that the Iwai (岩井), going back to Yozaemon (与左衛門) and Genbei (兵衛), been made mainly two styles of menpô. The Oie-bô and the Etchû-bô. Like mentioned in the MZ. Well, that means, that they had focused on the one hand of the high quality (and rarely seen) Oie-bô and on the other hand of the Etchû-bô. An menpô in a competely diffrent form, adorned with yasurime (the Hosokawa thing) and executed in diffrent qualities. Thus totally contrary to the fine and feminin Oie-bô, IMHO. 2. The latter ones, or at least the basic shape of this type are seen very often. Therefore it can be assumed, that they were made in large quantitys, probably during the whole Edo period. Admittedly, also without their trademark, the yasurime. The above in turn forces the comparison with the so called Nara-bô of the Haruta (春田) school. A "mass produced" menpô which could be adepted to the respective customer's request. Unfortunately, almost all extant specimens are not signed. That makes an accessment considerably more difficult. Furthermore, and that is my main problem, the few signed pieces all refer to Haruta...

DeepL translator gives: Norimitsu Nagafune, Bizen Province This sword was made in the 9th year of the Bunmei Era, and was made by Goro Saemon, who was 72 years old at the time. This sword is an excellent example of a relatively short sword with a fine grained surface and a gentle, medium straight edge. Cheers, Jon

Any info would be welcome; thank you in advance.

Lightly oiled rag for nakago till red rust is gone.

i have in parts a transitional 1873 to 83 sword for petty officers and it was very simular to my once owned and published admirals flagsword which both didnt fit in either groups. they were both Japanese made and were closer to the completed 1883 models

One suggestion with FedEx. NEVER have it delivered to your home or place of business. ALWAYS have it redirected and delivered to one of the affiliated businesses that will hold your package until you pick it up. No “we delivered it but no one was home” or ‘somebody’ signed for it “we think” type situations. I used a local 24 hour pharmacy so no excuses that it was closed and couldn’t be delivered, etc. Just my opinion.

Unfortunately it is much too difficult to read for me to get fully. Here is part of the start of which I am thinking I got correctly but there are few blanks as I am not sure if I was correct on those. 備前国長船則光 文明九年製囗囗五郎左衛門尉囗囗囗同工七十二歳同六祐光囗囗応永備前囗囗末備前

I think the mei might be starting with - 関善定 - Seki Zenjō...

Ben, sorry to hear about your situation. I have just recently gone through a similar situation that I posted here on the forum. ( stolen sword ). My sword started out with DHL that handled their end swiftly. My problem started when DHL handed my sword off to the USPS? It landed 1 hour from my home and then started traveling, next stop 12 hours from my home. I immediately started filing complaints. No one cared. Two times USPS sent me emails stating “ consider your item lost as we cannot track it any longer”, I just kept reopening the claims. At this point I filed a complaint with Consumer Affairs, make sure you actually talk to someone, and I believe that they were the ones that found my sword and got it to me. Hope it works out for you and I don’t know if Consumers Affair can help but give them a try. Hope you end up as lucky as I was and it all works out. MikeR

Yeah you gotta pass the back ground check and have a good credit score 😂. I'm not a expert but maybe a direct message to Stephen telling him alittle about your self might be nice or not I don't really know. I see that you've been a member for a few years with no warnings which is a good start.

I also took a sword bag to a dry cleaner in Japan. They took care of it with no problem. (But they are kind-of used to silk brocade items).

Please consider registered mail. https://www.stamps.com/usps/registered-mail/ It has its own room, when you drop off at PO, each time it's handled it has to be signed for and noted who did it. UPS store is a racket, they rip you off in price. One of the few things I've lost was via UPS store.

Thank you so much, Mike! Looking forward to perusing these

So here are some links to other threads I started on the complete blades that Grandpa brought back: Type 98 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33084-type-98-my-cousins/?tab=comments#comment-342680 Type 97 - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33233-type-97/?tab=comments#comment-344312 Kuniyuki Wakizashi - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33129-kuniyuki-wakizashi/?tab=comments#comment-343294 Mumei Tanto - https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/33165-mumei-tanto/?tab=comments#comment-343700 There are imgur links for all but the type 98 which belongs to my cousin, so I got what I could from that. May pay him a visit if people are interested to see more on that one. Cheers everyone,

Robert I would also recommend Markus Sesko

Hey there Dale, The forgers out there will go to any length to fool the buying public. It is very simple to add a few punch marks and place a soft metal filler piece at the Nakago-Ana, to give the illusion of being older and have been mounted on a blade. However, all Tsuba's that I have seen that have been mounted, tend to show a shadow line/discoloration/rub marks, where Seppa's would have come in contact with the Tsuba over the years. This example does not appear to show any such telltale indications. So buyer beware....... Mark

Robert, for a small fee Markus Sesko offers a full translation service for NBHTK certificates which comes to you as a PDF file that you can print and keep along with the certificate. This way you will not have to search for this thread in years and puzzle back the individual portions. Especially since we are talking on a Juyo blade I think it should be worth it. I'm sure he'd do the sayagaki as well.

I case anybody doesn't know it yet, that book is available for free here: https://archive.org/details/japanesenameshow00koopuoft

The paper also appears to state that it has gonome hamon and masame hada. I also think that it attributes the sword to the Edo period, making it a true samurai sword. Sadaharu is listed in Hawley's as Kensaishi Sadaharu, and worked in 1866, toward the end of Edo.

The most "fancy" one of my collection. Shakudo tsuba depicting tiger and leopard by Itō Masataka 伊藤正隆 (aka Itō Katsumi 伊藤勝見)

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.

One of the most often recommended NMB sellers anytime someone asks for a place to buy swords.

Ray is one of NMB pillar, very easy to work with and with a vast knowledge.

I really enjoy your YouTube videos. I hope you can create some more in 2021.

Ray always steps forward with a helping hand. His descriptions are great and his buyers are happy with their purchases. I have known Ray for years and respect him and his approach to swords and life - a fine gentleman indeed.

Ebay is your friend for that job, but I suggest buying from Japanese vendors and US only.