Jump to content

Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 05/13/2022 in all areas

  1. This sword could fit into high class Gendai or high class Gunto, and I may have even posted it before. But I am playing with my new phone camera, and thought I would share the photos. HOKKE SABURO NOBUFUSA, rated at 2.5 million, puts him in the very highest echelon of Gendai smiths. This sword appealed to me because of the because of the quality of the workmanship, and near mint 98 koshirae. With a Nagasa of 65cm, it is a powerful and elegant sword.
    8 points
  2. Requesting help and opinions on this leather field covered Tanto … It was purchased from the son of the veteran who fetched it back from Burma .. Thanks Gareth
    3 points
  3. Worthwhile reading and re-reading a few times. Every now and then I re-read his blog posts..... He touched greatness as far as nihonto are concerned and was very, very highly regarded by Tanobe sensei himself, great dealers/collectors such as Kurokawa san, Takahashi san, Saito san, Iida san, even Sawaguchi himself etc. Few of us on this board were lucky to be friends with him and also be fortunate enough to be custodians of some of the blades that he found.....
    3 points
  4. Dear All I have recently acquired this little hamidashi tsuba from Yahoo Japan, since I liked the little fella on the mimi, even though not in my line of study right now. Dimensions 53.4 mm x 36.8 mm, thickness at mimi 4.6 mm, at seppa dai 4.1 mm. Any help on attribution is really welcome. Regards Luca
    3 points
  5. I think there are more than 3000 users on the nmb so making a sweeping statement regarding the lack of quality within collections is foolhardy to say the least. I am aware of a number of collectors here who include highest quality works
    3 points
  6. I am offering for sale a long Koto signed Tachi from Osafune School Late Nanbokucho / Oei era The tachi is signed "Bishu Osa", the remaining kanji are unclear NBTHK Tokubetsu Kicho papers and Sayagaki by Kanzan Sato - Bishu Osafune Masamitsu - Late Nanbokucho NTHK - Bishu Osafune Iemori - Oei era Both smiths are Bizen Kozori School The blade is with magnificient shape with strong clear Utsuri Nagasa 75.4cm Sori 2.4cm Motohaba 3.1cm Sakihaba 2.1cm Kissaki 2.7cm Nakago nagasa 23.1cm The blade its just a little suriage ( 6-8 cm ) Incl. a very good quality Shirasaya Price ... SOLD + PP fee or SEPA payment Including postage within the EU The complete photo gallery can be found here https://eu.zonerama.com/Nihonto/Album/6292432
    2 points
  7. 鎌田 Kamata for sure, but a bit of a mystery in terms of who he is as a swordsmith. There was a sword scholar in the late 18th century named Kamata using these same kanji, so maybe this person is related to that scholar.
    2 points
  8. Oh, well, I miss Darcy and his rigorous and data-driven approach ..... https://blog.yuhindo.com/pass-factor/#more-439 https://blog.yuhindo.com/2017/09/
    2 points
  9. Recently posted on the Military sword section. And was informed this is not a military smith ? Any help would be greatly appreciated .. Many thanks Gareth
    2 points
  10. To think that members don't own some of the highest quality works is amusing. I personally know of collectors here owning stuff at the very top levels, and even in fittings we have members owning names like Natsuo etc I think you would be very wrong to assume that.
    2 points
  11. Noticed a few swords in this video. timestamp of note 12:20 Just in case, There are a few scenes in the video here and there of executions and dead civilians. Most of the video is fine but a couple here and there. Just in case people wish to avoid seeing this.
    2 points
  12. good morning. here is my latest acquisition and I have many questions. the nakago takes me back to yamato school with yasurime takanoha and nakagojiri agari. I post some photos that should save me from talking nonsense. RG. Caractéristiques du wakisashi.docx
    1 point
  13. How many participants in this thread own (present tense) two Juyo or more?
    1 point
  14. 1 point
  15. I think there will be a change in the Japanese law, and guntō will cease to be treated as items to be destroyed (or hidden for fear of confiscation and then destruction). The number of guntō that we see with registration cards lately makes me think there is already a subtle change taking place at the ministerial level. Actually the law doesn't explicitly forbid guntō from being registered. The law just says only "swords with artistic merit" can be submitted for registration. The registration criteria are also sufficiently broad as to include guntō if the authorities wish, so really all they have to do is issue new guidance saying guntō should be treated as having artistic merit (or are historically significant reference items). I've mentioned this before, but I suspect the authorities are taking a more generous view of these items nowadays (hence why we can see some for sale on the Japanese dealer sites). At some point (I think fairly soon) the official stance will shift from "we don't usually register guntō, but accidents happen" to "these are historical items and they therefore fit the criteria for registration" and we will see an official acceptance of them.
    1 point
  16. Sorry but I forgot to add some context. I’m usually looking to purchase a variety of items, many of them under $100. Unfortunately Kelly Schmidt charges a minimum fee of ¥6,000 per item. Also, I was asking about Samurai Kyobai as their website is automated which would allow me to purchase multiple items easily. Thanks for the reply!
    1 point
  17. Defining "Quality" in something defined as and art object without taking in to account aesthetic appeal is not possible. The NBTHK compare blades against the standard for that tradition or school and define the quality in relation to that norm. They do not for example compare a top Soshu blade with a top Bizen blade in terms of which is better quality. To reach a high level of paper the blades must be very well made in excellent condition and demonstrate all the features associated with that smith or school. This is not new. Aesthetics have always played a major part in defining which swords were best. Soshu blades only came to prominence when it was noted that Hideyoshi liked them and the appraisers who worked for him started ranking them at the top of the league. At other times Yamashiro Awataguchi and Fukuoka Ichimonji have topped the table. Again this wasn't to do with functionality or how well made they were (they could all cut and were all well made) it was which one appealed the most to the market of the day. I believe Awataguchi blades are amongst the best ever made. The quality of their forging the superior raw material that was available to them resulted as something that is near perfection (To me). Others would regard them as boring and dull. This has nothing to do with quality. Based on what we read in various texts The top 3 best Tanto makers were Awataguchi Yoshimitsu, Shintogo Kunimitsu and Masamune. Top best long swords were made by Go-Yoshihiro Ko-Aoe Tsunetsugu and Masamune. Other names that would be in the top 10 would include Sanjo Munechika Yasatsuna Ko-Bizen Tomonari. But for all of these the reputation is based to some extent on how they look and whether that appealed to the taste of the day.
    1 point
  18. Interesting to see a tanto in military leather!
    1 point
  19. Hi Bryce, I think it is a Gasaku of Sho and Nidai. I gave a lecture on Hisamichi at the NBTHK EB more than 15 years ago, but unfortunately I no longer have the script. Hisamichi is originally from a samurai family and is not a member of the Mishina clan. How he was actually able to assume his position in this family group, I have never really been able to clarify. Officially, you read everywhere that he was a student of Nidai Iga no Kami Kinmichi. But it is noticeable that there was a strong bond between Hisamichi and the Izumi Kami Rai Kinmichi branch of the family. I rather think that Shodai Hisamichi worked a lot with the Nidai and Sandai Rai Kinmichi, and probably learned more from the Nidai Rai Kinmichi, whose 3rd son he adopted as Nidai Hisamichi. His name was Hisatsugu during the Shodai's lifetime. In the late phase of the Shodai, Hisatsugu handed over the Kikumon, while he then engraved Edagiku, and Hisatsugu proudly calls himself Chakushi, heir or successor of Shodai Hisamichi.
    1 point
  20. MASANORI. Certainly not a military related smith.
    1 point
  21. Looks more like a craftsman's marks on a FUCHI.
    1 point
  22. Absolutely, and few here have seen what museums and private museums in Japan have in their collections so on the NMB you have to take the members at their word.
    1 point
  23. We all know that if we haven't seen something before it can't possibly exist, right?
    1 point
  24. Not classic "Soshu" Hada per se. More it's a copy of Norishige.
    1 point
  25. They can be registered, one of the reasons stated is the officer or officers family registering it and the prefecture board sympathizing with them. Unknown about being imported into Japan, but highly doubt it.
    1 point
  26. Another one, this time with the more classic Soshu style Hada: https://www.aoijapan.com/tanto-gassan-sadakatsu/
    1 point
  27. Understood @Bruce Pennington each to their own. I guess everyone has their own preferences and joys in collecting. Regards
    1 point
  28. Item No. 228 Iron Tsuba with gold highlights and shakudo plugs 7.69 cm x 7.37 cm x 0.53 - 0.75 cm Subject of two intertwined dragons signed Mitsuhiro. A complex piece with the two dragons enveloping the surface of the tsuba . All details are well carved and , in particular , the strands of flame are elegantly portrayed . The artist Mitsuhiro appears to be from the Yagami school in Bizen - but which generation ? Incidentally , while typing this post , I had ' Echoes ' by Pink Floyd on in the backgound - it somehow seemed appropriate for the piece...
    1 point
  29. This ENTIRE thread is a reflection of Japanese social and intellectual patterns. In Japan social, ASSESSMENT of those things is as important as the things. That means that collectors have to follow socially accepted assessment. Becoming an expert involved learning what people THINK, oh,... and also being able to identify and assess the thing. Personal taste is always discounted in Japan. What YOU like is always less significant that what others judge to to be "good." Discussing topics like the top 10 etc is all right. But for us as individuals, we should always aim at getting the BEST possible swords. Practically, there are TWO approaches to collecting, 1) diversity OR 2) quality. We can either try to acquire the RANGE (historical, geographic etc. all the generations, and "schools") that is out there. OR we can acquire pieces that are the best of their types. Few of us can get any of the smiths beings discussed in this thread. But from an economic point of view, getting the BEST of whatever it is we are interested in, is the way to go. Learn your own "top 10" and aim at it... P
    1 point
  30. Ha! Rick beat me to this, but @Paz - you do realize you're posting this on the "MILITARY Swords of Japan" forum right? Sure, gunto don't sell for as much as a really fine, old nihonto, but honestly - that just means I can buy 4 gunto that I really like for the price of one nihonto! Love it! Seriously, 'showato swords' are the only thing on my list, ok, I do have a nihonto in gunto fittings, but that's a one-off. Oops, I have a gendaito in RS fittings too. But you know what I mean.
    1 point
  31. True, but most collectors class Shinken as just a Sharpened sword. The term Shinken, is mostly used by martial artists.
    1 point
  32. Ken, that’s between Japan 🇯🇵 and the USA 🇺🇸
    1 point
  33. Hi Ian, repairing a scratch will need to be handled by a professional togishi. If it is the black line in your photos though, that appears to be a kitae-ware in the hamon. Kitae-ware can sometimes be closed if they are in the softer part of the blade, but doing so inside the hamon is more difficult-to-impossible. Best regards, Ray
    1 point
  34. Motivation for my preferences: 1. Jigane. All of my top choices have incredible jigane, rich in nie and chickei, 2. Shape (I know this should be first but it runs very close) the shape of early blades be they long swords or tanto can be exquisite 3. Activity and interaction within the hamon inazuma, kinsuji, sunagashi etc. 4. The way all the above hang together and compliment each other making the whole far greater than the sum of the parts. The choices are all based on pieces I have been lucky enough to see in hand. Had I seen other great early Soshu work closer (Shintogo, Go or Masamune) the list may be different.
    1 point
  35. I didn’t pay a lot for it. Thought it was one to keep me occupied in my spare time and study it and share with the board. It’s probably toast with a few interesting features
    1 point
  36. Once this appeal is finished I'll write a whole thing explaining what I've found out. There's been a lot of back and forth since the last update with borderforce.ill include why the items are seized and what sort of thing they will accept as evidence etc. I just want to make sure everything goes through ok before I write it all. But since you ask. Simply the previous import being seized led to the second seizure from what I gather. An npsu officer told me once you have one seizure most likely all your packages will be checked and under much stricter scrutiny. I've not received communication about the second seizure over the initial letter. I contacted them today to enquire about it and they have an internal deadline to get back to me mid June......
    1 point
  37. Hello David, My personal opinion here, but if the maedate is original to this Kabuto, I would recommend to keep the original design. As Piers mentioned,maedate are expendable items, can be broken, lost, collected etc. But if original to the helmet, they tells a lot about the Kabuto, or the original owner, it’s crest or it’s clan,etc. Everything on a armor is designed for a purpose, and not just to look good. Maedate too have a meaning. Actually, armor with their original maedate are not easy to find , and quite rare. if you really feel the need to put an extraordinary creature maedate on your helmet, you should keep the original one and store it with the helmet mentioning that it was original to the helmet. Later owners will be able to remove the creature to give it back it’s original aspect. Again, just my opinion. Hope it helps Have a great day
    1 point
  38. Akinobu Today I would like to show a new addition to my modest collection. Gunsui-hagane wo motte Akinobu kore wo tsukuru, 皇紀二千六百三年六月吉日 A lucky day in June, 1943. (Written using the Imperial Calendar system, so the year in the inscription is 2603.) ( SteveM you are the best, Thank for translation) Aluminum saya, full silver habaki, silver seppa, all parts number 1.
    1 point
  39. 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
    1 point
  40. This fragility also contributes to their rarity, since so many did not survive. As both Thomas and Piers have said, good period maedate are like the proverbial hen's teeth. Since they rarely appear, there really is no dealer that would "specialize" in them. Kino is your best bet, but even then, you have to be there when one arrives because it's often immediately sold to one of their regular customers. On each trip to Japan, I scour the dealers (including Kino) and antique shops and manage to score the occasional piece. Good luck in your quest!
    1 point
  41. Regarding this, Kinokuniya will generally be aware of the age of a Maedate, as you can see in their catalog(ue)s. Some are so cleverly made though, that it's anyone's guess. With those they will avoid claiming any age or period. You have to remember too that Maedate were liable to getting struck or knocked or caught on things, and breakages were commonplace, meaning that to some degree they were and are considered expendables.
    1 point
  42. Try getting in contact with Kinokuniya, but be aware that the vast majority of Maedate on the market are post Edo and authentic examples can cost as much as a kabuto. http://www.kinokuniya.tv/
    1 point
  43. Quick rule of thumb. 3-D Maédaté are generally Edo or younger.
    1 point
  44. I don't buy often to say the least but this year I bought a 26 inches TSUKAMOTO MASAKAZU (TSUKAMOTO OKIMASA's brother). Private order and I guess never mounted in Gunto koshirae.
    1 point
  45. I have encountered this Diagramm several times in the last years expanding his reach from wikipedia to many chinese katana seller sites, but never found the things shown there in reputable books or documentation. For me (and if someone want to correct me i would be happy) i think most of the shown things are not valid information. Maru and Kobuse are ok. Makuri was called the method that was used at yasukuni for example but it is just another way to create a kobuse construction. "Wariha Tetsu" i would call it a 2 piece costruction that is sometimes encountered in Tanto. The other things are in my opinion very unlikely to be really used to make Nihonto.
    1 point
×
×
  • Create New...