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Pat, (Please edit, the rule about first names is well known) There are few stupid questions. But apparently stupid answers are a thing. That was uncalled for and rude. Take a short break.

What he is asking about is not called Yasurime! Yasurime is the file marks on the nakago!!! Maybe you should research more before passing judgment to others.. and always in such demeaning manner. Shame. J.

Sorry to disagree with most of the 'analysis' - it appears to be a cut down of a larger guard, likely with rim damage that was removed. There are several examples where this has been done. The cut down was done much further back in time than the 'recent' drill damage. The patchy patina is also pretty common from an over clean in the past.

丹波守藤原照門 = Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado

Possibly?

Hi everyone - I have a tanto for sale. ***Please click on pictures for full resolution*** It is Tokubetsu Hozon, with a 20.6CM nagasa, and signed by Bizen Omiya Morishige. $8500 (shipping in USA included) The hakogaki adds intrigue to the package by stating that this has been "handed down" ("den rai") within the Sanada family. Yes, that one. Full clarity: I've already checked with the Sanada museum, and am happy to provide the results of that exchange with you; long story short, their records do not have a Bizen Omiya Morishige tanto- however- their records are not complete, and this is something that the museum itself conveyed to me in our correspondence. Further research would be needed to attempt to verify the hakogaki stating that this is den rai Sanada. I will say however, that the hakogaki is from a time when Kanzan was interviewing Daimyo families and checking out their collections (1960s). It also has an earlier torokusho. The koshirae features the Rokumonsen and Karigane (Wild Goose) of the Sanada. The blade is elegant, with a bright nioi-based hamon in gently undulating, nearly symmetrical gunome-midare; what one would expect of the Soshu-influenced Bizen style of this period. The sayagaki states that this is the elusive Nanbokucho Morishige. Not many oshigata exist of his signature. The NBTHK did not state "Nanbokucho" on the kanteisho, however there is a daito with this designation on a 2016 Tokubetsu Hozon kanteisho that has a similar hamon. I can provide pictures of this for you to reference. My research indicates that later generations of Morishige in this tradition gravitated toward choji and togari in their hamon. This does not have that. Feel free to message me if you have any questions or would like more specific pictures Thanks for looking Jake

I noticed Yuhindo website was down, and I was thinking, hmm that's not like Darcy. So I came here, very sorry to hear about this. While I never met Darcy in person I had alot of email conversations with him regarding all kinds of Nihonto related stuff. Darcy we miss you! Darcy, Odin makes ready the benches for a feast! You will be drinking ale from curved horns! The Valkyries summoned you home!

@Spartancrest is a NMB National Treasure

Dale, thank you, that makes sense!

Sometimes you have to be very careful there is a fine line between re-shaped and trashed guards. Like this one - https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1051664170 it says Tachi tsuba but in reality it was probably an O-seppa that has been broken and 'evened up'. [and not that well either!] Or this obvious cast sukashi that is just the remains of the seppa-dai This one is to be found in the Toledo Museum of Art from the Edward Drummond Libbey collection - obviously cut down from a very common form. [No colour image available] number 1912.720 it is amazing how the removal of two lines can change the look.

Sometimes it's helpful to be nice to our new members and answer their questions.

The lines are put on by a polisher. It may identify his work to other polishers or collectors who know what a specific polisher uses. You can also sometimes find such line on the kissaki area mune. The lines are made with a burnishing tool.

Shingunto signed Hizen no Kuni Masatsugu 肥前國正次 with Rikugun Jumei Tosho star stamp plus “ko” and “ho” stamps on nakago mune. Traditionally made water quenched, nagasa 64.2 cm, hamon is suguha based ko-midare with nie deki, boshi is jizo shape with kaen (flames); appears to be muji hada. Blades is dated at June 1943: Koki ni sen roku hiaku san nen roku gatsu kichi jitsu 皇紀二千六百三年六月吉日 “lucky day 6th month 2603 years Japanese Empire” (June 1943). Nakago is ubu with kiri yasurime. Blade in very good condition, in original polish, no bends or rust, but some fine stratches. There is one small fukure blister (1 mm) on edge of hamon. Shingunto koshirae is all original and good condition (one minor dent on saya). Tsuka is all original, ito binding very good, quality same rayskin with large nodules. Brass gunto tsuba with 3 pairs of seppa (no stamped numbers). Locking clip complete and working; brass sarute has sakura pattern. Copper habaki with silver wash. Masatsugu originally from Saga, Hizen, trained in Tokyo at Denshu Jo at Akasaka. He received high ranking at all wartime exhibitions, and returned to Saga around 1942. He was appointed Rikugun Jumei Tosho. Post-war he continued to make swords from 1958 receiving numerous awards. See Article in NMB Downloads for details of Masatsugu and examples. Described in Slough as "medium to high grade gendaito" pages 106-107. Price US$2000 (plus shipping & Ppal).. Blade is in Australia. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/files/file/51-taguchi-kiichi-masatsugu-hakuryushi-tadataka/

I have read several articles on robert soanes, and he seems to be doing a very good job indeed.

Many thanks Jonathan and Steve! The link Steve posted is facinating. To my old friend, he feels that he has a treasure, with a name. Not sure where he got it or how, but whatever makes him happy. Thanks again guys!

Its 貞 (sada) which, in its abbreviated or simplified form looks like 贞. Minamoto Sadamichi. But yeah, looks like someone who doesn't know kanji carved this. https://glyphwiki.org/wiki/u8c9e

Perhaps it is a very simplified 貞 and so remains SADAMICHI?

For the second character I'm seeing 贞 not 完.

The Navy blades SEEM to follow the same pattern as the Army numbered blades. The problem is that ALL of the observed Navy blades with numbers are undated. I've arranged them in numerical order, but this may be a fiction. Without dates it is impossible to be conclusive about the matter. Chart with discussion attached. Numbered Blades - Navy.docx

The one above seems to have wings rather than fins. Great face on this one.

https://wikijp.org/hashtags/seiryuken - sorry no information with this one - I love the colour!

Okan, I think it is termed 'O-suriage' at least that is what a 'shortened blade' is called. They are more common than you may think - they must be because I have three at least myself, including this 'pair' - the central area of both tsuba are identical in size and the smaller one shows clear chisel marks at each separation. Not a true Daisho.

Wow @Spartancrest!! This is some academic level work. I guess someone drilled it to see what's inside or tried to make a necklace I'm not sure. So this is a suriage tsuba.. from a wakizashi to a tanto Thank you very much for your hard work!

I downloaded a picture from online to ask a question. The picture below is NOT my sword. I'm just using it to ask...What is this feature called and what is the significance? (The stripes) My Google-fu is lacking.

School of tsuba is Playskool. Of the Hasbro region.

Torokusho

Looks a bit like the DIY school, late 20th century, with some paint embellishment, but I may be completely off.

I think about 200 years. But quality is way more important than age!

@Baba Yaga You clearly didn't even read the question. He's asking about Nagashi lines and you are talking about yasurime. Lets imagine the question was Yasurime...How could he able to search it without knowing the word? On top of that, what's wrong with helping out a new member?

I wish there was something to keep up with 😆 You clearly are an idiot - period. J.

There are no stupid questions John..

Hi John, Most of them are in shirasaya. Ronnie

Apologies re the box. I think there may be an extra stroke covered over by the kusazuri. Although not with the cuirass, it’s probably 毛利 Mōri.

John, see below. https://www.google.com/search?q=nagashi+lines+nihonto+site:www.militaria.co.za&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS954US954&sxsrf=ALiCzsaCtFoMeOepSK2FLmV0Qdm4I6EoPg:1654098993504&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiPirn3zoz4AhUYmIQIHS1YAW0QrQIoBHoECA8QBQ&biw=1536&bih=849&dpr=2.5

better try Robert Soanes , UK

A sad loss to the world of Nihonto. It reminds us that we are but mortal caretakers to Samurai art and history that will be around for a long time, if, and only if, we share our knowledge as Darcy did.

Most likely - yes, don't know about specifically Meio. I can see shirakke utsuri in this case its basically about 1cm wide, vague white band a bit above the habuchi. In most sue-mihara one hopes for a more active jigane, with mokume and such, here its not the case, and its not an exception in any case. It can be Bizen, the style is not overly distinctive.

A user on Reddit bought an abandoned house in Nagano and found some magazines while cleaning out. He found 70 of them but scanned 6 so I though I should share it. https://issuu.com/ww2japan edit: sorry if I posted on the wrong section.

Appeal 1 has been Successful and the items will be restored to me. second set of items has been refused by Borderforce and has now gone to appeal as well. Hopefully this will also be succesful on my part.

Try to keep up kid, I'm on to the marrow of the bone.

It's only a stupid question when not using the search "Yasuri-me" http://meiboku.info/guide/form/yasurime/index.htm In todays society>>>???