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Good News!!!!!!!! (at least about the swords -- still sad to lose Larry) I heard of a large number of swords for sale in WI. i contacted the seller, they were Larry's swords, he had returned them to the family so after communicating With Chris B i understand all are accounted for

I might have bought this one from you John! Field grade. Still had tiny rubber band around it. I promoted my company grade Mantetsu with it!

1. Blessings upon us from the priests. 2. Four gunners stepped forward to fire 10-Monmé Shizutsu or Samurai guns. 3. Three stepped forward to fire 30-Monmé Ōzutsu hand cannons. 4. One stepped forward and kneeled to fire the 50-Monmé Sendai Ōzutsu hand cannon. (That was me, attempting the kneeling shot for the first time.) 5. Mr Koiké stepped forward to fire the big 100-Monmé, repatriated from Ireland in 2020. Tremendous BANG! Clapping heard from a distance. 6. We stayed to watch Mr Kanzaki’s Tameshigiri group, including his son and young grandson continuing the tradition. Wonderful. 7. Group photograph.

守次 Moritsugu?

I don't have a lot of Nihonto. I do have a very decent WW2 collection and it's mostly going to my son (probably everything else as well). He takes good care of things and he's a good kid. But that's a LONG way off for both of us. He's 14 and I'm 36. Luckily we both have the same taste in things. I started out collecting when I was younger than him and in that time I've met a lot of collectors that were not so fortunate. Often it seems the kids actually dislike their fathers collection or don't care about it. I had a friend who was a very advanced M1 carbine collector who passed away about 6 years ago and only one of his son's was even slightly interested in his collection and from what I understand only the monetary aspect of it. He sold off the collection which is fine. Probably for the best I know his father would be happy he got something for it and that his carbine's ended up with good homes. However because he didn't understand the subject or have any respect for it he had all the parts including stocks hauled off to the dump. His father would be rolling in his grave if he knew his parts all ended up in the trash. He cared more about some of those parts then he did about entire rifles. Things like this have lead to some collectors I know attaching tags to items in their collection with instructions on where it should end up or how much it should be sold for in the event of their passing. Seems a bit morbid to me but it gives them piece of mind. One friend who probably has a very extensive GWOT collection said he plans to appoint a friend to oversee his collection when he passes. Some items he wants to go to curtain people some items he wants sold and the money to go to his family and some he wants given to younger collectors that show potential. There's a lot of ways to handle it but if I was in the position where I didn't have anyone to leave it to I think this would be the way I would want it to go as well.

Mr. Farr, ... that is your prerogative. I can see by your profile you are a novice or as I prefer to call them, " a wanna be ". Until you win the Lotto 649. whereupon you will have money to spend on QUALITY and indulge your self in serious study of a worthwhile blade, ... please accept a few words of wisdom from an old timer, .... " BUY BOOKS and STUDY, and then study some more ". On one of your threads you mention eBay. This IS NOT a good place to begin collecting as this venue is well know as the home of fraudsters and / or poor quality items. I wish you good luck.

Hi Tom, You would be very smart if you went slow on this; don't be in a hurry to get it to an "expert" who will polish it for $200 and tell you what you have. Nothing wrong with Boston MFA but, since Mr. Ogawa no longer works there, hard to know who you'll end up with and what knowledge he might have. As Brian said, wait for one of the members here to read the signature and then take time to learn a lot about Japanese swords before you do anything with this one. Here is a care and handling brochure you should read: https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/ Cheers, Grey

Nobutoshi, I think. Grey

mint kyu "field grade"

I have never seen anything like that But I like it a lot. Congratulations on your find and as you I look forward for others to join in and explain what we are looking at. Thank you for sharing. MikeR

Hamon is really distinct and unique. I'm guessing it will be a big kantei point. Looks like a stunning sword.

Stephen you posted it first - I will respect that and not bid, I hope others will do the same. But it is a good practice not to show your hand! Too many others have seen the deck [if you know what I mean]

タイ〱　(the third mark is a "repetition" mark, so the cutting test is たいたい or 太太 = taitai)

Well, Curran, I got so upset about a scammer that I went to https://pages.ebay.com/securitycenter/report_concern.html & reported the guy there. Don't know if I was the cause, but I never saw another post by the idiot.

Please share any tassels still in their original box or packaging. Below are two in my collection:

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

A very personal matter to consider. For me, it is all about making sure each piece makes it to the next generation. Yes, they are investments/retirement plan pieces to me, but I also wish to make sure they will be appreciated and not abused by their next custodian. I think taking the approach that Stephen took is best, carefully curating who they'll be passed onto is ideal. I think selling them to fellow collectors is only part of the solution; I think what is more critical is encouraging, educating, and raising the next generation of collectors. For if we do not have knowledgeable and invested younger folk in this hobby/passion, it will surely die out. This would spell the end of many a piece, and the neglect of many more.

Steve great find! very thick tsuba, '94 pattern shin gunto, is the Kabuto Gane pinned ? Perhaps you can send some close up pictures from blade and koshirae?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124947464368?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT This 滿洲國有鐵道 Manchuko National Railway Gunto without scabbard sold for $2800, it's going to China.

a person i know, said hey Mark i hear there is a collection of swords available for sale, call this guy he has them I call the person, he says yes he had bought a collection, but found out they had been stolen, so gave them to a friend of Larry's. I don't know the details of how he found out I contact Chris B and he verified that the swords are returned and accounted for Since it was mentioned here i figured i would let the group know they were recovered. probably could have been clearer

Dear Sunny, Tenmei 1781 - 1788. You can do the rest. Look up Japanese Nengo for a chart with the periods and kanji. All the best. P.S. Don't tease, show us the sword!

Hi Bob, sorry I'm late in my posting about Item 131 @Geraintgets the atari! The subject is a cart wheel from a "Genji Guruma" (a generic term for an Imperial Ox Cart) on a Kanayama School tsuba. As Geraint said, it comes from the Tale of Genji (considered by many scholars to be the World's first novel) about the romantic exploits of Prince Genji. There are several chapters in the book that refer to Genji Guruma ("guruma" is the euphonic of Kuruma or "car" in Japanese) but the best known is the Aoi chapter. In the case of tsuba like this though, it is just a generic imperial cart wheel and probably doesn't refer to a specific chapter in the book. We often see these cart wheels on tosogu in water (soaking up moisture to keep them from splitting in use). The meaning was something like you have to prepare yourself under difficult conditions to be ready to be useful later.

There are a number of tsubas in the collection that are signed Nobuie - I will be posting these over the next few weeks interspersed with the normal additions to the thread. Most of these will be 'Nobuie revival ' , I expect. There is good reason to believe that one of them was papered by the NBTHK as Myochin Nobuie ... There must be some Members out there who could steer me in the right direction , please ? The first of these - Item No. 136 Iron Tsuba 7.72 cm x 7.15 cm x 0.57 cm Hot stamped iron tsuba , heavy , with many iron bones ,shows evidence of mounting . Consistant dark brown patina , faint carvings of leaves and tendrils.

Thank you, I will try to get some better pictures of it today taken apart. I took the first couple of pictures during some down time while I was working so I couldn't get very indepth. I believe this as well as the others I picked up last week came from the estate of a WW2 11th AB vet and where likely acquired while he was there for occupation. He brought back a lot of stuff from Japan besides swords. If I had more money I probably would have tried to buy some of the future and wall scrolls as well. Three including this one were civilian, one was a tanto I posted up earlier and one is a army civilian sword. It's pretty interesting as well even though it has a wartime production blade. I'll try to post up a picture of all of them together.

That is wonderful news Mark. So glad at least to hear that they were all recovered. Kind regards, Ray

Very cool pickup! Any backstory or information on how and where you found it? I agree with all the above Edit: it always kills me to see blades laying on tables, couches or even the floor. Please! Put a piece of soft cloth or pillow under the blade if you're making photographs or just want to put it down.

Like many things that life presents to us, Ron is an acquired taste Sometimes it takes reaching a certain age to appreciate what and how he is feeling. I get it. And I grant him the leeway that life and age and experience sometimes earn. I'm sure Ron himself will not expect everyone to be overly fond of him. But many of us are. Those that are offended, sometimes it's just advisable to withdraw. Cancel culture has no place here. That said, Ron....you sure do push the buttons hard, so responses such as Dave gave can hardly come unexpected. Anyways all...carry on.

利 - toshi = profit, advantage, benefit.

Just an opinion, but this is almost certainly pre-war. The second hole is because it was remounted at least once with a new handle. Consistent with tens of thousands of swords pressed into service for the war effort. Btw, the members here are far more likely to be able to read sword tangs than a native speaker for various reasons.

Neat package! Is that a shakudo habaki?

They sometimes show up on yahoo.jpn/buyee/jauce. The issue with getting one on a Tsuka is some were stitched together in the middle when attached.

I literally bought a tsuka on ebay that had the cloth sarute in it ($200). Took to the sarute off and put it on mine. Still have the extra tsuka.

Blows my chance.... always always buy first ask questions after the win.

Looks neat nice share I like the hamon and saya too

Following Very interesting Ray could it be Tsune? TSUNETSUGU (常次),

Hey Bruce, I have got these infos during the numerous correspondences I had with Chris Bowen, sorry I don't know or remember the written sources. What I can tell, and if I am not wrong is that the sho/seki stamps was a marketing technique created by some really smart business men in Seki to indicate the swords passed a quality control inspection for non-traditionally made blades so they are in actuality showato. Nothing decreed by the government, and the absence of a stamp isn't proof of anything except the blade didn't pass through the seki inspection. The star stamp is also an inspection stamp which was used to verify that the blade met the specifications for the RJT program, which included the requirement that the blade be traditionally made with tamahagane, etc. So since we know that smiths were required to make swords with tamahagane and that the smiths received tamahagane, a star stamp is a de facto indication that the blades are traditionally made. The RJT program was a stable and good source of income for smiths- doubtful they would try to dodge the requirements and risk being removed. So to summarize, the sho/seki stamp was a quality control for non traditionnal blades but the purpose was not indicate the blade was non traditionnal. I hope I am clearer, sorry I can't explain better with my limited english.

Nope, you are wrong guys. This is a dual Russian/Japanese team that has been searching the island since 2014, looking mainly for deceased soldiers. They then arrange for them to be id'd and repatriated. This isn't just one of the usual artifact digs. These guys are mainly searching for lost soldiers. They document everything intensively. I follow another guy in Russia who digs for artifacts and when remains are found, they are dealt with properly and respectfully.

Ron although we were not able to do any business ( I was always to late ) I appreciated looking at all your sale items and reading your write ups. In the collecting world, for those interested and dedicated, with age comes wisdom. Time spent enjoying and studying leads to knowledge. Being able to examine examples of our interest over many years gives us a advantage the new/younger ones may never have. Books are a necessity and the new electronic world is invaluable, but being able to hold the items of interest in your have is the best learning experience. All of this comes with time and as time goes by we all age. Not all of us become smarter with age, but for those who do enjoy and retain the things that they have been lucky enough to have had that chance to hold, they are the truly lucky ones. Glad you posted here and good luck with your future where ever it leads you. Thank you for sharing MikeR

The Russian invasion of southern Sakhalin was quick and marginally important. It certainly deserved systematic archaeological investigation, but this video shows pot-hunting rather than "recovery". It also looks like they were finding both Japanese and Russian stuff. This is site destruction and should NOT be encouraged. I also recognize that this was over in the Kuriles and VERY late. Peter

Hi guys I have this one by Bishu Ju Hisayama Suketaka Saku February 1865 cheers Glenn

Geoff, I'd never thought about it, but I've been married twice, & both brides were 22. First one lasted a decade, & I just had our 43rd anniversary with number 2!

The turtle is a minogame. Represents longevity and wisdom. That is his tail.

John, do not note on many things, read a lot but this school it is a favorite 1. with Akasaka , first buy the Akasaka book then note the following, 2. shape of the seppa , look 1,2 then 3 then the rest 3. Seppa tagana ..the signature if not one 4. the angle of the Kogai Ana ..leaning to the right or not ??? 5. thickness of the mimi 6. the edges of the motif ...Akasaka did many fine edges, age adds corrosion 7. over all flow of the tsuba ... when you noted old , ones on the group understand this vague meaning of Tadamasa to Tadatoki with be nodding there head 8. look at as many Akasaka tsuba as you can even online you will start to see it 8. weight or maybe I should say density in hand being last good luck , great school to study ! Fred Geyer

Matsukawa-hada is also a characteristic of Kiyomitsu of Sue-Bizen.

Firstly, don't tell me how to apply the rules. They are my rules. I will apply them any way I want. Secondly, don't pretend this is an unusual occurrence from you. I have ALL the other "reports" archived every time you have a gripe about the same person. Please don't patronize us into thinking this is not a personal issue. It is now more than 10 reports and issues from you about the same old minor things. Thirdly, I am the one who has to edit and archive stuff, and since you have no idea what is involved and how much work it is...I suggest you leave it up to me as to how and what I "archive" Fourth, why is it always you who seems to have an issue with something this minor? You always talk big about "all these people that agree with you" and yet none of them has contacted me with the same complaints. Let them speak up! Snide comments about all these people at the sword shows talking down about the NMB seem to be your trademark "warning" to me. Fifth...as someone who greatly benefits from the exposure here for your own services, odd that I receive thanks and support from just about everyone else..... Resist the urge to debate this point by point. I am not feeling democratic right now and this is not a debate. Brian

I was wondering if anyone would notice, but the two stamps on the face of the fuchi dai read "Tsuka Hei Maki". This is the mark of a highly respected tsukamakishi named Shukichi Yamaguchi. He died in 1966 iirc. The stamp may have remnant of red ink also. Unusual that it is stamped twice on your tsuka. Usually only one stamp on the few I've seen. You should try to protect and conserve it as best as possible because his work is rare and getting even more so with time. I think these mounts, while not top tier, are better than average quality gunto mountings. I'm not familiar with the corporate mark on the tsuba, which is similar to Suya Company, but definitely not the same one. The officer certainly had enough money and pride to have an old blade mounted in respectable mounts to carry into the fray. There's an article by Bob Benson out in the ethernet somewhere about Tsukahei. It used to be on his site, but looks like its been removed.

Its just you, SAS. To me this looks like a completely "normal" utility grade, "old" sword mounted up for War service early in WWII. The Officer's name was Hayashi, and in 1941, he, or his family, ordered up a nice rig. In 1989, this would have beena piece of merch, but then the bubble burst. . . . Peter