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Great question, Peter, I've enjoyed reading everyone's story! Mine was simple as my goal in collecting was specific - I set out to collect a fair representation of the major WWII sword types: Army officer & NCO, Navy, and the pre-war kyugunto and Type 32s. In the process, I got 1 kaigunto with a Koto era blade, and 1 RJT gendaito, so I wound up with a sample of traditionally made blades, too. So, my "hunger" was satiated. I got hooked on collecting data on blade stamps, after that, which has run it's course, mostly. So now, it's mostly the social enjoyment of hanging out with all you guys, occasionally finding something new for the files, or helping a new guy.

I believe the book you have is a copy of Shūko Jisshu (集古十種) and yours is the sword portion of the book set.

Hi, Seki ju NIWA Kunihide.

Sure, I have this one: 8.75 X 8.1 .88 thick 252 grams

This is a great question Peter. As someone who is probably one of the youngest collectors here, in my 30s. Its just begun. But. I've sold my collection of replica Chinese made katanas which were for martial arts. And I started collecting those when I was in my early 20s. And that ended when I satisfied my desire for the high end blade of that category. Eventually these swords just sat on shelves and were seldom viewed ,maybe once a year. I always wanted the real thing, and when I got one my interest boomed. The part I enjoyed is research and books, I got two blades from the era I wanted. And view them twice weekly. For me it's finding out the mystery of who owned the blade and what it's seen. For me it will end when I buy at least one more or two. Or maybe it already has. As unfortunately money, and accessibility prevent me from taking this hobby any further. What I realized is important, is community. As within the community you can buy and sell, learn. I only recently had the honor of viewing a great blade from a member of this community for example. Regards

In a German forum a collector of German Militaria posted of an estate he had purchased. He had to buy all of the estate, so he ended up with three Tanto, which he originally did not want to have. Since his English isn't the best he had approached me if I on his behalf can post them in here to get additional opinions on the blades. The deceased owner seems to have purchased all three in Japan from the nowadays still existing dealer Japan Sword Co. Ltd. One blade was purchased in 1966 whereas the other two were purchased in 1968. All three come with "appraisal sheets", stating by who they were made and from which period they are. Since neither though comes with NBTHK certificate and the "appraisal sheets" only mention the inscription and not go into detail if gimei or not I'd appreciate any opinions on authenticity of them. They all appear to be out of polish and seems they were stored in their fittings ever since purchased. For the size of the files (and the huge amount of pictures he had provided me) I uploaded them to Google Drive. Please therefore follow these links: Tanto (quite long at 30cm) attributed to Kanetomi: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QKPIjkgnkCafNMSB4edjEzsQFOWzo90E Tanto attributed to Soshu ju Yasutsugu: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DhaYeIoleRFVyyog9by1ynwI-mJZIUoJ Tanto attributed to Rai Kunitoshi: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AZCmYe3AGzIfeJvN77X26bfVV1e73dz9 Thanks in advance (on his behalf)!

Indeed, should have a mimi and been like my Kyo Sukashi.

If im being honest, if i was extremely wealthy, there would not be an end. Even now, not in buying mode but still look around the same old sites. Occasionally, maybe once or twice a year i see something that i really like, something that you seldom see for sale. The last one was a late Edo Tanto, lovely blade by a good smith, but it was the inscription that was rare! Nearly, but had an holiday pay for so had to be sensible. For anyone keen, there is no getting away from the odd temptation now and again. Saying that though, something would have had to go Maybe thats the right way to go about it, if not a lottery winner.

It will vary I imagine. I know some folks with 100-300 swords. Never ends for them. I am about at end for my sword collection. I know what I like most and when I complete a set I have in mind, that will be it as far as purchasing. I still love to study and learn, so that never ends. Fittings on the other hand........

I can’t but agree with you on that 🙂 One thing that often surprises me is how Japanese sellers often ignore to mention characters present on boxes etc. I suspect that many of them can’t translate old-style Japanese. To me added characters adds a lot of historical value. Jan

At what point does the owner still own their collection? At what point does the collection begin to own the owner?

When you realize that you dont actually need to acquire any more swords. A big awakening, sometimes caused by issues out of your control, job loss, house purchase, divorce etc etc etc. Some have owned all they feel they need to own and no point putting any more money into acquiring more swords. For a lot of folk, that interest never goes away though. Just a few points.

Hello Peter, By letting go. By learning to be satisfied, content. By not surrendering to desire. Look, appreciate, without possessing. Find without accumulating. So hard to do! Taming the unruly mind that is.

Hello Together! After a very long absence, I would like to turn to you once again with a question. I have here an old Japanese book of handmade paper that acts like a sales catalog of a dealer or a manufacturer of samurai swords and related accessories. Am I correct in my assumption? Unfortunately, the book is very poorly preserved! Greetings Calimero

Folks, I am keen to sell this complete RJT sword by Hizen Masatsugu, so reduced to US$1850. Thanks.

NTHK has their magazine 刀剣と歴史 Tōken to Rekishi. Unfortunately I don't have these magazines and this is not accessible online at NDL but the 611 issue is 3rd number in 1996. Articles are listed at NDL and the article in question is - 山城守国重百国入道系譜 / 森義隆/p25～30 You can see magazine articles in here: https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/7901305?tocOpened=1

the NTHK had/has a monthly journal or magazine. guess check June 2011, or next issu/vol 611 (i forget if they were numbered) page 27 you will have to find someone with one

Good morning, I recently aquired this tsuba. Apart for the really good dark patina, the generous plate, and what it seems to be a Mito Dragon, I've no other information. What do you think? Do you have other Mito tsuba representing Dragons?

I think "collecting" stops when you've amassed all of the knowledge available about that which you are collecting and it becomes sort of "Ho-Hum". That said, in the case of Nihonto and all that goes along, you can NEVER amass all of the knowledge available in a lifetime... And THAT is exactly what attracted me to Nihonto in the first place.

This is very unlikely do be anything to do with sales or a catalog. More likely just a book about Japanese swords and the parts etc. They have been printing books like this for centuries. Never seen anything from way back that had anything to do with a shop or selling.

薩伯耆守平朝臣正幸 – Satsu (=Satsuma) Hoki no kami Taira no Ason Masayuki The same katana? Ref. 日本刀 刀　薩伯耆守平朝臣正幸 寛政四子年｜日本刀 刀剣販売 e-sword

Hi Jean, Kansei four (1792) nezumidoshi - year of the rat: 寛政 四子年.

Yeah, I think just about everyone needs parts. Usually pan covers, trigger guards and what you need. I think it would be easier for you to have a gunsmith make one. It's not too complicated. Can be patinated fairly easily.

大巳正晴 Its a name. Ōmi Masaharu. (could also be read as Daimi Masaharu). Its a super rare name in Japan. According to this site there are only 10 people in Japan with this last name. https://myoji-yurai.net/searchResult.htm?myojiKanji=大巳

Just sorting through some old katana-bako and decided to take a couple of shots. I realized again that boxes with characters on them attract me. Left. Has a date on the bottom and is tied shut with cords through slits in the base. Right. Says 刀箱 katana-bako on the top, and is dated under the lid. Middle. Narrower one covered with oiled paper(?), has a 3-shaku+ (100cm) sliding drawer inside with an iron lockwork drawer face.

I had gotten most of the basic texts up to Nagayama's Connoisseur's Book and was considering "getting serious", which for me meant purchasing Fujishiro’s two volume set of Nihon Toko Jiten as well as Harry AFU Watson's translations. Waiting for good deals at the time would have run about $800 total for the four books. This is where I ran out of gas, both due to intellectual lethargy and being downsized into (very!) early retirement that severely limited discretionary spending. And so I shook my accumulation lust and became content with my existing motley low end collection. I appreciate the good stuff vicariously such as by visiting this site. I am now more concerned with eventually offloading my swords as opposed to acquiring more. Such is the nihonto wheel of life, I guess. It's been fun and rewarding, no regrets.

For me I have found this search for the origin of Okan's tsuba has lead me to an area of study that would seem to have never been explored before. I have to amend my earlier statement of because I have more than I at first thought. I would love other members of the forum to have a close look at their own collections and see if they have other candidates for 'cut down' guards. These are two more of my examples. For anyone interested in the tsuba display stands [which I highly recommend] you might like to give [Steves87] a PM. he can give you information on them as he prints them in a number of colours and styles.

Pretty sure this is signed 'Kanenori'

Hi Everyone, Hope this finds the membership healthy and doing well during these crazy times. As some of you know, I have recently launched a new website www.tosoguya.com, which is now listed in Commercial 2 tab in the Links page of NMB. This new website replaces my old Yamabushi Antiques site. It will take time to make it's way up through Google search, so I wanted to post an update here. Please take the time to check it out, and follow the site as it evolves. Thanks all! PS - if anyone spots errors, issues or has suggestions, kindly let me know. The bugs are still being worked out... Best Regards, Boris.

The results are in. Tokubetsu Hozon. Umetada. Well happy with the Tokubetsu Hozon result and the Umetada attribution was always at the top of the possibilities. The disappointment is that I think they should be Ko-Umetada. Oh well....we move on. Mark

@Spartancrest is a NMB National Treasure

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.

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.

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.

Hi all! I'm just sharing to you this blade signed "Aihanshi Izumi no Kami Kanesada". Thanks to Ray for helping translating this, the date iscription should be "Keio Gan Ushi-doshi hachi gatsu kichijitsu", A lucky day of August, Keio Gan-nen (1865), in the year of the Ox (I took also, as a reference for the date, the blade shown at page 47 in the Izumi no Kami Kanesada part 1 book by Noboru Toyama). What are your thoughts? I have been comparing this with the various works shown in that book but I can't really say if is an authentic mei or a gimei so any help is really appreciated! I apologize in advance for the bad quality of the photos and thank you all for any feedbacks Best Michele

Hello to everyone on this thread. I am Darcy's younger brother and on behalf of our family thank you all for all of your comments about my brother. This is a tough time for our family especially after dealing with the recent loss of our father and comments such as these help us heal. With respect to preserving his nihonto web content, there is nothing that we would like more than to have his content preserved and remain available for those that share his passion. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like more information. Regards, -joel

Jeremiah wrote: > I know some folks with 100-300 swords. Never ends for them. I call these folk "Estates-in-Waiting"!! BaZZa.

Quite often they overlook the fact that the artifact comes with a date. On several occations I bought items labeled as 20th century by the seller. You have helped me with countless of these boxes. I’ve got a tabacco bon dated to 1840 and a Bamboo vase from 1811. I’ve bought these items for close to nothing. Something tells me that the seller would have upt his price if he knew that they carried that beautiful label ”Edo period”. Not that I complain 🙂🙂🙂 Jan

This rather bizarre tsuba has just been listed - https://www.jauce.com/auction/b1053959631 - I cannot believe the guard was made in this manner and it must have been altered to this now very flimsy form. 70 mm x 68 mm x 7mm Wt. 55g

Or when your wife serves you the divorce papers .. 🤷‍♂️🤪😜😁 J.

Possibly at death? Haven't tried that yet though.