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The Token Society will be ready to assist in enquiries and help members deal with law enforcement and clarify the regulatory framework. In fact, the Society committee is intending to summarise the regulatory statements and interpretations as a brief non-binding guidance & tips document. Ownership of an exempt antique should not be an offence. Theoretically, almost any antique could be used as a weapon, so emphasis here needs to be given to the nature of the item, its age, its purpose, its manufacture and its physical dimensions and characteristics (with regard to the exempted items in law) and evidence all of the aforementioned with third-party documentation.

Newly arrived, with civilian wakizashi single fullered signed blade, fits well with the mounts and they look to all be put together WW2 period correct. Apologies but my phone keeps rotating phones when i try to upload🤷

The mei is 石州長濱-/ Sekishū Nagahama (cut off after this)

That is a retention cord, it would be wrapped around one of the hangers to secure the handle as these didn't have locking buttons. They must have been quite common as you can see them used in many period photos but not many survived or were simply discarded.

Been a looooooong time since I bought anything. Recently 3 tsuba appeared on a local online auction site. I advised for what I thought was the best on (the Bushu tsuba recently posted) to a local collector acquaintance, and I think he got a bargain. The other 2 were just so-so. However another popped up a few days ago, and I really liked the look. Since it was under $100 shipped, I took a chance and received it today. Must say, I really like it. Nice dark iron with delicate sukashi. I think the colour is good too. I haven't given it light tlc yet, but will do so. Anyways, I thought the punch marks to be fairly distinct and wondered if they are any kantei point, or are they just random. Maybe @Curran has an idea or anyone else? Geese over grasses. I am suspecting this to be a plains of Musashi theme possibly. Size is 70 x 73mm. Anyways, comments welcome. Thanks as always

And newly arrived naval sword. Does anyone know what the small hanger knot under the standard sword tassel is? Its the second one ive come across and 1st one i though was a cotton ribbon with pull knot someone had added but now im gathering it was issued

Ditto the above. 濃州住福本兼宗作 = Nōshū jū Fukumoto Kanemune saku.

You spend too much time baby-sitting us lot Brian and not enough time buying! Jon

I know there is at least one book in Japanese focused solely on Etchū smiths so Uda school should be majorly focused on there, unfortunately I do not have it. So far I have found 5 signed tachi by possibly various Uda Kunimitsu and 1 tanto (there is 1 only dated to 1321 but I do not count it here). These signed works according to the sources vary from late Kamakura to early Muromachi depending on the item. For Uda Kunifusa I have 10 signed tachi and 16 other signed blades from Nanbokuchō to Muromachi. Then I do have signed items from various Uda smiths from Nanbokuchō to early Muromachi. However the lack of dated items makes accurate dating of smiths tricky. I know some sources list some dated items for Uda smiths that I have not yet been able to locate. So far I only have the 1321 dated blade with shumei to Kunimitsu, 1405 dated Kunifusa and 1400 dated Kunihisa (there are more dated ones later in Muromachi but those are not that relevant to me). That is extremely few dated works for the early school and I think like you that there is lot to research on this school.

Criticism taken with pride! Fixed the dicksleksik wording. Also added an important note from @Shamsy from the Fake Type 95 Nco Sword topic. Real v Fake Type 95 NCO swords.pdf

Noshu Ju. X X Kanemune Saku. Need a clearer photo of the Mei.

All handle parts stamped 7

And more photos

G'day Guys, Lately I have been looking at more of Gassan Sadakatsu's tantos online. Many of them come with their original display boxes like the examples above. Many also have a hakogaki stating that the Soshu Kamakura Masamune process was used, but the actual hada of the blades varies from "Matsukawa-ish" right thru to tight koitame/masame. I haven't yet come across a blade with this hakogaki that is actually pure masame. I am beginning to think this phrase doesn't refer to a specific type of hada, but is actually just a catch-all phrase for any blade that isn't ayasugi. Cheers, Bryce

You're right, the wording is kind of confusing. When I looked at the photo it threw me too.

Kudos to the Token Society who I have only ever heard good things about, and who are known to always support this pastime and assist where they can.

The defences that already exist under section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 also apply to their simple possession. This includes that the weapon in question is: of historical importance to be used for historical re-enactments to be used for sporting activities for use in film and theatre possessed on behalf of a museum or gallery, or lent or hired by a museum or gallery for cultural, artistic or educational purposes possessed for religious reasons Antique weapons, over 100 years old, are exempted from section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988[footnote 18]. This exemption now also applies to the offence of possessing such antique weapons. There is also an exemption for swords with curved blades of 50cm or longer made before 1954 or those made at any time by traditional methods by hand. Swords with a curved blade of 50cm or more may be imported where the weapon: was made before 1954 was made by traditional methods of making swords by hand is only available for the purposes of use in religious ceremonies or for martial arts is for use in a historical re-enactments or sporting activity for example a martial arts demonstration for which public liability insurance is held this is an extract from the offensive weapons act What seems to me to be the issue is they are following this first section which are valid reasons to import an offensive weapons (section 141) What they are not doing is following the second section which makes the items exempt from section 141 and makes simple possession legal. the minimum proof needed is one of these poitns as stated here. the easiest is that the items were made before 1954. well they are ww2 gunto one with the surrender tag still on. all this has been told to them with reference photos from books etc so they easily meet this case. since the war was well over by 1954 in Japan. They are traditionally made, i did my best to provide proof on this but it is a harder case to make of course. one of them is over 100 years old which i proved by comparing signatures with reference, the age also means it has to be traditionally made. because that's the definition of traditionally made... maybe by the end of this they will both be over 100 years old :p (I provided many pages of information, this is just a summary)

Hello Gents, just posted a listing of new yoshimitsu dword but curious about the fittings. Tsubas quite flyid in its main detail, almost like pressed clay in the malluable ways the irons been formed, not something ive come across as mainly collect WW2 era pieces. Any help appreciated.

Ian looks at the Type 95:

A double-struck arsenal stamping on a kabutogane. Magnify to clearly see the arsenal and company logo. Stamp on kabuto-gane

Yes rayskin same, Georgie trotters hopefully popping by in next few weeks as i was going to ask him about the fittings as they struck me as odd but dont think theyve been buffed clean removing the normail gilt and paint as condition elsewhere on handle is extremely good and untouched.

Not a kantei point I would say, just what is seen fairly often for fitting tightly. Nothing irritates as much as that jingling sound of iron tsuba. John

Very clever. I just hauled a group of tsuba to and from the Chicago area sword show in a back pack. The repurposed brief case looks to be a much better option.

Agree with Peter. Hopefully a turn and some new blood. I enjoyed the show. I often watch Forgotten Weapons, and think he did this one particularly well. Also sounds like he may be a beginner enthusiast and hang out with at least a few collectors. He has my dream job. Nice to see he's involved in the book too. Thanks for sharing

I just watched this presentation and was considering discussing it here on the NMB - only to find that Richard had acted with greater dispatch! Thank you Richard. I think something new may be going on in Japanese sword collecting and as "collectors" we might/should watch it. Basically, I think the great generation shift is happening in Nippon-to. The rules, strategies, and personnel that used to operate are becoming obsolete as new tastes, knowledge, and people are appearing. Publication of the Plimpton volume - and serious (!) consideration of non-com swords by a wider collector community really shows that there is a broader interest than there was years ago. These are swords that literally can't go back to Japan! As a "foreign interest" it will be interesting to see how it develops. Likewise, international collecting of pre-modern Japanese blades used to be funded by the Japanese markets. As supplies and knowledge have tended to even out (there are fewer swords, MANY more books, and higher prices), it will be fun to see a world market evolve! Peter

At least on my piece the horn parts are frames and not clued flat to the tsuka and saya...

Fukumoto?

thanks a lot and congrats to Jussi!

I used soft brass flat buttons and a thick string to secure the buttons to the padded backing board, the buttons pass through the wide base of the nakago-ana then slide up to the top - when the box is moved I have a thick pillow between the lid and base to stop any contact. The guards on the base are mounted so that they hang down when the box is lifted by the handle so basically their own weight holds them in place. I bought a brass handle to match the box fittings so it can be carried like a suitcase. It was a very well made cutlery canteen with torn interior so it was good to give it another use. I don't expect to use it for long term storage it is more for a portable display rather than taking two dozen kiri boxes to a fair or exhibition.

You can always make your own boxes or at least recycle something suitable. I just up-dated an old [1937] cutlery canteen into a display/transport box- I found there is a weight limit to what you can comfortably carry - even 24 iron guards starts to add up the weight [box and guards 7.5 kg / 16.5 lbs]

The saya 2 tone lacquer and the white swirls look to be sectionalized sea shell pressed into the surface. Yes the iron fittings are very nice.

It def got a ”projectile” shape to it. Is that a hole on top? You find the strangest of things inside your barrels. I got 10+ matchlocks at home and the only thing I ever found was a piece of blackpowder-covered cloth in one of them 🙂 Jan

Very nice, the Mei look like "Bishu Osafune xxxx" - likely one of the Sukesada smiths. Custom length Type 98 fittings are always interesting, look forward to the rest of the swords if they are half as good as this one.

A few more on the mune. I’m thinking this is where a good amount of parrys happen. Martial arts practicioners are welcome to correct me, as I know nothing of Japanese forms.

This is on an old wakizashi. Don’t think it was backyard play that caused this. In the first picture, just under the slice into the kissaki, there is some kind of shaving action happening on the iori that starts suddenly and then drags down, almost like a parry, (sorry, don’t know the Japanese term for it), and the angle is also just right for a defensive move.

Kurihara Akihide with dragon horimono by Akitada. Tanto Kurihara Akihide saku Keitei Iwakami Kinsaburō kun Shōwa Jyūninen ichigatsu futsuka

Count me jealous! I very nice find. I think it says 桐華 "Paulownia flower" you'll want to see if there is a good seal script dictionary online to say for sure... -t

Cross-reference to another Type 95 which has a leather adapter for a 2nd hanger. WWII Japanese Army NCO Type 95 Shin-Gunto Sword

So now freedom of association is a thing of the past in the UK? You HAVE to be a member of a sword society to import swords? I didn't see that in any of the legal documents regarding sword importation into the UK. Now they are just making $^&$ up.

Yes, and he was known colloquially as "machine gun cutter Naganobu". At best an officer may have cut into a red hot barrel a small amount and the sword survived, war time propaganda did the rest and all of a sudden inspired officers were slicing and dicing through machine guns, tanks and aircraft carriers without breaking a sweat.

Im also not sure how this blade start life but from the feel I can imagine that the shape was altered because of the weight. Compared to other swords of this size and with a short nakago the blade feels still heavy. I prefer to say what it is now unokubi zukuri, because I think there won’t be a reliable answer how it started. the blade seems to be in this size for long time, for me it looks like it was shortened around mid Muromachi but this is just speculation from what I see in the Nakago. For the Boshi I have read somewhere that sometimes they have a very long kaeri that turn into muneyaki sometimes. EDIT: Ohh Maybe you talk about the overall size of the Kissaki, i think it is the longest i have seen with this attribution but i can imagine that this could be from some form of reshaping from naginata or nagamaki and the small kaeri is only a repurposed bigger Hamon element. Some years ago the founder Uda kunimitsu was just on papers but now there a 2 signed works existing. I think there is more research necessary too understand Uda school better. (Alternatively i dont have the right books) Also how reliable are sources that claim that some Uda smiths learned from Norishige, I can understand how someone can come to such conclusion but the similarities are not that much and also different.

Just to add to the information about the jumonji yari, I thought I had seen the feature somewhere and find that, of course, the Knutsens book illustrates several naming them Uekama jumonji yari. All the best.

You actually have the right person right there in that post. Speak with Moses Becerra: nihontoantiques.com

Hi John I said I'd find some boxes which I did and then PM'd you last Monday. As we are both are in the UK I thought that would work Now four days later no reply Have you been inundated with offers and haven't had time two PM back?

Was sure about the simple form of forging on the fittings but actually really like the way the irons folded over and seems habd pressed in its finish the more i look at it.

I received the letter today and am still going over it and thinking about my next step They have offered the chance to appeal the decision so I will be thinking about what to include in that. Originally I supplied a large swathe of documentation even references from books when they were first seized to prove the age and that they are traditional etc, this was quite detailed information! they even say they have looked at this but then ask for further dates and proof they are traditional again. I said that I was a member of the To-ken society but they want more proof of this even though it is irrelevant and now asking for information that I have provided swords to them in the past???, I'm happy to provide what i can but i've provided a lot of information already so may have to go the certificate route as John has said. I guess I did show @Ian at the Birmingham arms fair my Gassan Handachi and Sent @paulb images of it last year to look at. will write that I guess but this is far outside the scope of the law and very invasive if you ask me. Not Sure why they even want this information it's not part of the law on importing the items. What I really can't seem to get across to them is that the items are legal to import and the argument they keep making is. It isn't a legal item then I need a valid reason to own it. They never have once refuted my evidence but only my reason for owning. These are two separate things as the law clearly states the exceptions and also there is no restriction on possession and ownership. I feel ....bullied

Well gents, I have irrefutable proof that it never ever happened. I used the Monkey Meter of Truthfullness. The Monkey has a YouTube video titled 'Japanese sword cut through machine gun barrell'......BUT even he has used the word rumour! If there had been even a shadow of a doubt as to the veracity of the story he would of capitalised on it. He has not done that, therefore it is simply not true.