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  1. My first Nihonto. It’s nothing special but I’m proud to be its custodian. I purchased it from Aoi Art in Japan. Im just a baby in the world of Nihonto and thought I’d jump in and buy early in my journey to learn from a blade in hand. Open to comments and opinions.
    18 points
  2. This sword could live just as happily live in the Nihonto section as well as the Military. A May 1941 (Takahashi) YOSHIMUNE, in the less common aluminium saya, All the fittings are matching numbered "1538", indicating an original complete sword. His lineage as a swordsmith is without question, his brother SADATSUGU was a "Living National Treasure". This BIZEN tradition sword has a nice hamon and hada, the photos do it no justice. The MEI translates to "The God of war, Minamoto YOSHIMUNE made this". I share this sword because I spent years trying to find a top example of his work as I think he was one of the top Gendai sword makers. I acknowledge using pages from Slough.
    18 points
  3. Hi folks, after the regular semi-annual oiling session (of my nihonto), i decided to invest some time on my day off and revisit every piece of my collection. After observing them using different lightsources (sunlight, LED) i also tried to shoot some good pictures. Which went okay with the tsuba... and horrible with the blades. Especially the photographing part was interesting, because i was able to see a lot of activities in the blades and texture details of the tsuba. I learned a lot of new things about my own collection, even from pieces i owned for over 10 years and my passion for the hobby got quite a boost again. So the morale of the story is, take your time appreciating what interests you, even when life gets in the way a lot. Here are some of the pictures that came out okay:
    11 points
  4. I pulled a few swords from the cupboard tonight to inspect and enjoy. This KANETOSHI (Murayama) Star Stamp, July 1944 in late war RS mounts always demands attention. In WW2 polish, the hada and hamon in Ichimonji style JUKA CHOJI, is like viewing a nice piece of art, something new always catches your eye. For Bruce's benefit, I tried to do my best on the MUNE stamps. I have probably posted photos before, but my new phone camera and LED lights show much more detail. If I had the time and money, this sword would be a prime candidate for a touch up polish.
    11 points
  5. Nambokucho O-Suriage Tachi NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon to Shikkake school One of the 5 schools of the Yamato Den 71.2 cm with a 23 cm Nakago. This would have been a massive Tachi before O-Suriage . Solid gold Habaki Sayagaki by Mr. Tanobe : This sword is O-Suriage museum.The omote shows an itame mixed with Nagare and Madame. The ura side features some ji-nie.The hardening in suguha is nie- laden and is interwoven with uchinoke and got sure, and the hakikake in the Boshi. We reorganize the characteristic features of the Yamato tradition the connected gunome that appear in places resemble doe-yakiba ,with that this masterwork can be attributed to the Shikkake school. 2021
    10 points
  6. I don't think you're being a dick. It's a post from someone who wanted info, and he got a ton of info. He didn't reveal any personal information, there isn't anything libelous, there isn't even anything really embarrassing or cringe-inducing. The only reason he might want it deleted is that it now pops up on an internet search for Suishinshi Masahide, and its somehow inconvenient. I suppose I feel slightly vested in the thread because I took time out to search for a sword with this exact date, just as others used their time to search and link and comment. So the poster came here and said he just wanted to learn about the sword, and in return he got a bunch of volunteers to help him learn about his sword. So far, so good. Now he wants to disappear and delete the whole thread, along with the efforts of the guys who helped him out. Well, lock the thread and let it sink to the bottom of search results if you like. But he shouldn't get to decide to "disappear" everyone's efforts.
    9 points
  7. Hi! I found some nice tigers that I think work well together. The F/K is signed Yanagawa Naokatsu. Do anyone have an idea what school the tsuba could belong to? Anthony
    8 points
  8. OK, got some advice from a sword buddy, a quick setup and progress being made.
    8 points
  9. I am a fairly longtime member of NBTHK and I am supporting the organization as I believe they are doing many good things. However I have never sent anything to shinsa and for the forseeable future I wont at least in few upcoming years. This is bit astray from the original topic but as I feel the discussion is quite interesting. While I do believe the system that Japanese shinsa provide, however I believe for all of the organizations it is business. And while various organizations of course work as well as they can, there are several factors that affect their full capability. Here it should be noted that I have never been even close to a shinsa session and do not really know how they work. For NBTHK time seems to be a limiting factor. As some may know NBTHK has now put a maximum number of 1,600 blades for Hozon / Tokubetsu Hozon tōken shinsa. I do think the submission numbers were higher than that recently so they had to put a limit in order to manage deadlines. I am not priviledged enough to know how they process the swords and evaluate them but when you process 1,600 swords within a limited time, you cannot actually spend huge amount of time per one blade. I remember few years ago I discussed this a bit with Darcy and perhaps we tried to crank some numbers. I am not mathematically that good but I know that big number of items with limited time equals little time per each item. Here are some numbers for recent Jūyō shinsa that are of course previously already passed Tokubetsu Hozon, so items are already verified. Session 69 - Application period 2.10. - 4.10. and 828 blades were sent in. Final judging for swords 1.11. and 56 blades passed. Session 68 - Application period 3.10. - 5.10. and 817 blades were sent in. Final judging for swords 2.11. and 66 blades passed. Session 67 - Application period 4.10. - 6.10. and 852 blades were sent in. Final judging for swords 29.10. and 111 blades passed. I do believe NBTHK probably might have one of the largest reference collections. Plus I believe they do keep a record of all issued certificates but I believe they would classify them by number as that will make it easiest to search specific certificate numbers. As that is the most logical way to keep them. I would also believe that access to NBTHK certificate data is to staff only. However with the reference materials I can focus on the second issue time vs. reference materials. As we all know there are some common references where we usually check the signatures. However in order to make a reference book effective you can only feature X number of items per specific smith. When working with time restraints there is a limit how much research you can do. When you have to go through hundreds of signatures within one month it gets bit limited compared to researching one specific signature for multiple months. I take Bizen Nagamitsu (長光) here as an example. Fujishiro - 8 reference mei Sesko Meikan - 11 reference mei In my personal references I have 207 different (verified by experts) signed items by Nagamitsu The reference books will create a good general base for signatures but there are possibilities not featured in common references. Of course in general you don't have to dig up all the possible reference signatures of the smith but sometimes few in common references might not be enough. And the final thought on my mind that must be considered is expert knowledge. I have never attended NBTHK meeting in Japan but the times in Europe I have been around senior NBTHK-EB members I have been astonished by their kantei skill and knowledge when quickly viewing items. The kantei sessions in both years at Utrecht were really nice to see how much details people pick up in extremely short viewing. I will always remember taking my own tachi to NBTHK Scandinavia meeting where a senior member told me fine details after a minute or so viewing the sword that I did not know about my own sword I had owned for quite a while... I think that my point is to encourage doing research and having fun doing it but at the same time there is a reason why NTHK or NBTHK shinsa team would have certain members, they are experts.
    8 points
  10. Dear all yes - this thread is about a signed Ishiguro school masterpiece with recent NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon papers and it is a pair of fuchi kashira! The mei reads Ishiguro Masachika [Kao] (石黒政近[花押]). I will not comment on the piece but rather go into the process of taking pictures of it. When I decided to sell this set, I knew that taking pictures would be a huge challenge. As you all know, the Ishiguro school is famous for its fine and beautiful nanako. And there is nothing as difficult as taking reasonable pictures of a black shakudo nanako. I decided to wait for the morning sun on a clear spring day and what my camera caught almost looks like small black diamonds sparkling in the sun light. This set has a deep beauty to it which is unique in the range of fine class tosogu. The ten omodaka themed kamon are delicately carved and gilded in a superior way of craftmanship. I hope you will enjoy the pictures as much as I do. I got this set from Soryu Antiques (https://soryu.pl/pro...kubetsu-hozon-tosogu) and will sell with at a huge discount for EUR 2,800.00 plus actual shipping costs. No need to hesitate as I will not consider further discounts. The only thing to mention regarding condition are small scratches on the kamon. Dimensions are: Dai: Fuchi: 38 mm x 20 mm x 12 mm Kashira: 35 mm x 16 mm x 8 mm Sho: Fuchi: 39 mm x 20 mm x 11 mm Kashira: 34 mm x 15 mm x 8 mm Best Chris
    8 points
  11. Here is an early one I think, I have submitted for NBTHK shinsa this year. The surface has a nice layer of black lacquer applied to it. The design is a plain textured surface with copper and lead inlays. The plate construction is made up of three layers with rim clover holding everything together very tightly.
    8 points
  12. When you find a naked barrel. Tempted to either a) copy the real base of another cannon... or b) just make it like other simpler ones I've seen.(?) a) Preliminary no-brainer idea: b) One I made several years ago.
    8 points
  13. Off-season but surprisingly busy for March. 1. Went to Fukuyama as I mentioned to see the Masamune exhibition. 2. Big tsuba exhibition now on at Osafune Sword Museum, which I want to see. 3. Related to that, at the NBTHK local sword meeting on Saturday we were encouraged to bring along some of our own tsuba, which I did. The sensei went through them all pointing out their salient features. (After years of feeling 'tsuba' ignored, I was pleasantly surprised to garner some positive comments and to learn a little more about my own tsuba too.) Photos may follow... 4. I have a small blade to give to the Togi-Shi but our paths have not yet crossed. 5. Was offered some rare 'objects' which cleaned out my bank account, but for some strange reason I am not crying. 6. The phone rang and a dealer offered me a super deal on a matchlock pistol. I told him my finances right now would not allow it, but he would not take no for an answer, so I may have to stand on the street corner for a month or so to supplement my meagre pension. 7. Our first public full-armo(u)r blackpowder demonstration of Reiwa 6 will be held on the 31st of March at Tsuyama Castle. Will need to drag out the moldy, rusty armour, get some air into it, clean the guns, and otherwise plan ahead for that. (Oh, and I am just starting to create a base for a small cannon.)
    8 points
  14. This is a quite spectacular and healthy koto daito with Tokubetsu Hozon papers to the late Nanbokucho / Oei smith Hokke Ichijo. The blade just received an exemplary restoration in Japan, with high quality polish, shirasaya and gold foil habaki. The blade has a bright suguha based hamon with lots of fine activities along the edge. The jihada is a beautifully formed itame with a few areas of flowing itame and masame. In shirasaya with WWII era shingunto koshirae with leather cover. A good choice of someone is looking for an example of the highest quality of blade that can be found in koshirae carried to war. ICHIJŌ (一乗), 1st gen., Ōei (応永, 1394-1428), Bingo – “Bingo no Kuni-jū Ichijō saku” (備後国住一乗作), “Hokke Ichijō” (法華一乗), “Bingo no Kuni-jū Ichijō” (備後国住一乗), “Ichijō” (一乗), “Ichi” (一), he lived in Kusado (草戸) in the Ashida district (芦田) of Bingo province, because of that local connection, this lineage is also referred to as Ashida-Mihara (芦田三原) or due to the supplement “Hokke” also to as Hokke-Mihara (法華三原), some sources see him as son of Mihara Masaie (正家), others as student of Kokubunji Sukekuni (国分寺助国), beautifully and finely forged ko-itame, suguha mixed with gunome-midare or chōji-midare, jō-saku $10,500 + shipping
    8 points
  15. Hi David, Your Shigekuni signed blade is identical to mine...signature matches exactly. It is written in the style of some of the signatures done by the c.1655 2nd Gen. NANKI SHIGEKUNI of KII province (now Wakayama). However, this is in fact a WWII gendaito smith and now that you have provided a second example, it seems he made these for military officers, but signed in the style of 2nd Gen Shigekuni. Although modern WWII made, this smith is not recorded in any book I have seen, so other than discuss the quality and date of his (now 2) blades, I have no history of him. Here are a few photos of mine and his signature and a comparison with the way the 2nd Gen Nanki Shigekuni signed some of his tangs - look especially at the way the 'kuni' is written. I think this WWII Shigekuni deliberately "copied" the writing style of the 2nd Gen. Hope this helps. I'd like to see some pics of your blade and fittings...any info on where/who surrendered your blade? Mine was owned by a 2nd Lt. Kume of the 32nd (Kaeda) Division on Morotai Island in August 1945. This Div. consisted of the 210, 211, 212 Regiments drawn from Tokyo and the adjoining Chiba and Yamanashi Prefs. It was raised and trained in Feb 1939 - May 1939 (so the officer probably came from one of these three areas and as they all trained in Tokyo, this is probably where he engaged the smith Shigekuni to make his sword). Lt Kume surrendered to the Americans and Australians on Morotai in two separate ceremonies...he was obviously part of the units that surrendered to the Australians as it ended up here after the war. Be great to know more about this Shigekuni....look forward to your pics of blade/tang/fittings etc. On the handle wood (under the Fuchi) is a ink stamp "3 in a circle" mon (prob. the mounting/polishing/artisan logo, and also the kanji numbers '199' (prob the job number) and the name 'Oshima' (prob the name of the mounter guy?). Maybe check yours and see if yours went through the same "system". My officer's silver mon was torn off before its surrender.
    8 points
  16. Was needing some cash so I sold a Kishū Wakayama long gun about two weeks ago. Then on Friday someone offers me a Sendai long gun. Well, I’ve been looking for a Sendai gun for many a long year. It was expensive, more than I got for the Kishū, but there are times when a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do…
    8 points
  17. Wild guess: 豊後住藤原實行 = Bungo-jū Fujiwara Saneyuki Compare to this example from the Aoi Art website:
    8 points
  18. Here you can just see the tents where artefacts are sorted. From partway up the shrine steps.
    8 points
  19. The Hon'ami are a family of sword polishers and appraisers. "Family" is used very loosely here, because as with most hereditary lineages in Japan there was a lot of adoption and marriages of convenience and branch lines. The Hon'ami were the official sword appraisers/caretakers to the Shogunate. Since swords were highly valued as gifts among the military aristocracy, the Hon'ami family had quite an important position in attributing or validating the value of these gifts. Swords were in constant circulation, going to and from the Tokyo central government, and back out to branch families of the Tokugawa, or to daimyo who provided a favor or service to the government, etc. When the shogunal government finally fell, and Japan starting modernizing in the late 1800s, the Hon'ami were cut loose from steady government employment, and drifted around for a bit. One of those drifters was Hon'ami Kōga. You can read about him here in Markus Sesko's article https://markussesko..../05/02/honami-koson/ Your sayagaki looks to be from the early 1900s. It doesn't look to me like its from the 1800s. So this puts it at odds with the time Hon'ami Kōga was alive. (It also doesn't look very much like Hon'ami Koga's normal signature). It could be a forgery, i.e. someone trying to make the sword look more important than it is. Or, it could be from Hon'ami Kōson (1879-1955), who was "adopted" into the Hon'ami family and married off to one of Kōga's relatives. The monogram written below the signature looks kind of like one used by Hon'ami Kōson. So maybe before he took the name "Hon'ami Kōson" he used the name of Kōga, to whom he was related through marriage. It is also very possible I have the name wrong,or the age of the sayagaki wrong, but to me the name looks like Kōga (written in calligraphic form). There are a lot of possibilities, and I'm just throwing all of these out there so you know the margin of error is pretty wide. Actually, there were two different Hon'ami appraisers who used the name Kōga, but the other one is from an even older time, so I've rejected him as even a remote possibility. The sayagaki doesn't mention anything about polishing, so who knows when it was last polished. Kan is a monetary unit equal to a string of 1000 copper "mon" coins. The values written on any sayagaki in modern times shouldn't be taken literally as a price for the sword inside. It should be considered a relative valuation, and its just a way for the Hon'ami to say "this sword is worth a lot of money". So you'll never find an amount on a Hon'ami sayagaki that doesn't represent a lot of money. Hard to say how much 1000 "kan" would be in today's money because of the huge fluctuation in exchange rates - let's say 1000 kan is about $100,000. Note, the "kan" as a unit of money wasn't in use at the time this sayagaki was written. As I said, its just a way of saying "you have a very valuable sword", which is what the customer wanted to hear when they approached a Hon'ami appraiser. I just read very recently (probably another Markus Sesko article) where the Hon'ami started using "kan" because it allowed them to use higher numbers; 1000 kan looks more impressive than "3 gold pieces", especially when people aren't really using "kan" anymore so they have no internalized concept of how much 1000 kan would be in real life. It just sounds like a lot. https://en.wikipedia...anese_mon_(currency)
    8 points
  20. Thanks Brian, I post the occasional sword to share my enjoyment whilst I have it in my care, until the next generation can acquire and preserve it. I know iPhone photos are not always the best way to show off a sword's attributes, but I do my best. If I have ever had a question about a sword, I do it by PM, in a polite way. There are many folk out there that have an interest in Japanese military swords and GENDAI, and not a day passes that I am not on the phone, email or SMS to one. And thanks to "whatsapp" many overseas (hi Bruce!). For many collectors on this forum, the Military section is their first go-to area. Keep it positive, polite and constructive.
    7 points
  21. I hope he comes back. He asked for info and we gave him a torrent of info and links and opinions... Even the guys who suggested the signature was gimei did it with qualifications, and almost always followed it with, "send it to an expert to be sure". I feel bad that, for whatever reason, he felt he had to leave and slam the door behind him. Now he's on Reddit asking the same questions. If Matt is still out there, I'd say come back to NMB and keep us updated and continue to ask questions and don't be offended if some people doubt the signature on the blade. Learning to see the blade and not the signature is a tough, tough thing to do.
    7 points
  22. This sword was made by Masahide in 1785. It was made 21 years before your Masahide was made. Ref. 刀 銘 水心子正秀 天明五年二月日彫同作/ホームメイト (touken-world.jp)
    7 points
  23. I like sanmai tsuba, and I've just realized I got more than I remember. Here below some more examples papered as ko-kinkō:
    7 points
  24. Step 2. Fingers aching. Thumb bandaged. Enough for one day. Drilling the mekugi holes will be an all-or-nothing excitement.
    7 points
  25. Hello Andrew, I've got good news and bad news: The bad news: I'm afraid this isn't a WW2 sword. The good news: It dates from several centuries before WW2, potentially from the 1600s. The inscription is 近江守藤原継 (cut off) Ōmi-no-kami Fujiwara Tsugu... (cut off, but probably Tsuguhiro) It means 近江守藤原継廣 Ōmi-no-kami = Lord of Omi Province (Omi province is present-day Shiga Prefecture in Japan. Fujiwara = this is a clan name. Not really to be taken as a literal name of the swordsmith. Its the swordsmith declaring he has a lineage to an ancient aristocratic clan. Tsuguhiro = is the swordsmith's name. Not his real, given name, but more or less a professional name. Your sword was originally longer by a few inches, but it was cut down at some point. Shortening the sword is very common. It was always shortened from the tang. So the tang was shortened, and the notches where the brass collar sits were moved up. Could have been done a couple of hundred years ago, or a hundred years ago. There are many swords with fake signatures, and yours too could have a fake signature. Faking signatures was (and still is) very common. Regardless, the sword itself is still a genuine Japanese antique, and could still be several hundred years old even if the signature turns out to be fake. So what I'm saying is, the sword should be preserved, shouldn't be subject to any amateur restoration efforts, and is probably worth showing to someone who knows a lot about swords. It will be hard to authenticate it just by looking at photos. And, the condition probably precludes anyone from making an accurate assessment. But, as I said, the sword is a genuine antique regardless of the authenticity of the signature.
    7 points
  26. this is what fine cloisonne should look like.
    7 points
  27. Today a bunch of us went to see the Masamune exhibition at the Fukuyama Museum of Art. It was a collection of swords in three general sections, those who influenced him, those swords that Masamune made, and those swords made by his disciples or by smiths strongly influenced by him. And unveiled in the castle museum park today!
    7 points
  28. Your understanding of Konuka is rather rice husks. Konuka (rice bran) looks more like powder.
    7 points
  29. It is indeed a fake, but unlike most of them that just have arbitrary Japanese-sounding names inscribed, this one does not seem to be entirely random: 小笠原信夫 = Ogasawara Nobuo He was a student of Satō Kanzan, for many years curator at the Tokyo National Museum and author of a whole bunch of nihontō-related books. So perhaps the Chinese smith who made this wanted to give a little nod to the author of his study resources?
    7 points
  30. Akasaka or Owari tsuba $425 + shipping This is a very famous Akasaka design, though supposedly of Owari origin. Published in many many books, and it is very rare to find an example for sale. My opinion: the geometry on this one is more Owari than Akasaka. It is thick and the sukashi is more Owari drop edged. I believe this to be a kodai example, and I am pricing it as such. Not a $4250 shodai ko-Akasaka, but fairly $425 as a kodai-Akasaka or kodai Owari. The patina is a flat brown and a bit thin in 2 spots. See pics. I think it would be a great one for mounting. Size: 79.5mm x 79mm x 5.8mm thick. Please ask all questions. PM me if interested. I will leave it up here for 24 hours before letting the Facebook groups have a grab at it. Curran
    6 points
  31. Here is my latest Tsuba, purchased at the Poitiers arms exchange. Muromachi period, a very large tsuba, this is what I was looking for for the assembly of my Hizen katana. I would like to have your different enlightened opinions. Thank you. Dimitri
    6 points
  32. The Fuchi signature says: right: Yoshiaki(嘉章) left: Masanaga (雅永) 
    6 points
  33. Don't think there is any need for that, bit harsh? Looks like a lovely sword to me, with excellent fittings from a very good smith that is highly rated. I'd be happy to own it.
    6 points
  34. Trip down memory lane ……this tiny little book was the first book that I managed to discover way back in the dark ages. A local book dealer tracked it down for me. There was no internet back then (1978) and I can still remember feeling that I had discovered the answer to all my prayers. Knowledge from Japan! A couple of years later I found Robinson. The excitement was immense🙂 (I was living in the middle of nowhere back then as well) Compare that to what we have at our fingertips today Anyone else got this one in their library? Or interesting recollections of early enlightenment?
    6 points
  35. Oh well, Matt requested his account be deleted, and this thread. Thread stays, this is an educational forum and this is an educational post. I hope @Andrew Ickeringill is maybe able to update us oneday with good news. But a reminder that collectors need a thick skin, and a good eye, and that looking at good swords in polish is vital to understanding this hobby.
    6 points
  36. The Northern California Japanese Sword Club and the NBTHK/American Branch have entered into a a reciprocal membership relationship – If you join the NBTHK/AB now in addition to their great magazine and other member benefits, you will also be enrolled in the NCJSC. You will receive the NCJSC newsletter, have access to our online kantei classes and of course all the other benefits of NCJSC membership. You need only only pay dues once to the NBTHK/AB, and let them know you also want NCJSC membership and your dues will cover both memberships. We encourage all students of the Japanese Sword to consider support of these two fine organizations.
    6 points
  37. 鴛鴦図鐔 - oshidori no zu tsuba from https://blog.goo.ne....1d33ed38de37dc7ff5ed
    6 points
  38. Today I made steady progress and hope to be able to report very soon. Daimyō lords in the Edo Period were always looking for something different. A miniature cannon capable of being fired could be an instrument of amusement or even used for instruction. And now we face the most difficult part, the lacquering etc. Manyana! Getting prepared for the metal reinforcing band. Pinned on…
    6 points
  39. Well I made another one for my Type98 This one was tough, and ended up a bit more crude than my first. I used a harder wood. The shinogi-zukuri shape was considerably more challenging… and I would say I failed at establishing it That being said, it fits great, and holds the koshirae together nicely! Here’s some photos I took along the way. I followed the same method described in my comment above (while being constricted to the tools that I have at hand. Better/more tools would have made it much easier)
    6 points
  40. http://www.nihontocr...hinshi_Masahide.html https://www.nihontoc...tameshi_Nihonto.html
    6 points
  41. Eddy - If a sword smith was a "Retained Smith" (Kakae-kaji) then you can reasonably assume that he worked exclusively for his samurai lord and his retainers. Of course you could have had one-offs, special order gifts and such and there was nothing stopping a merchant from purchasing a sword by a well-known smith in the secondary market... -t
    6 points
  42. Left: 龍雲堂造  made by Ryū-un dō Right: 龍分堂造 made by Ryū-bun dō
    6 points
  43. It looks like a nice iron tsuba with an appealing design. A nice addition to any Japanese sword in your collection thanks for sharing. I would estimate the age ranging from mid to late Edo Period circa the 18th to mid 19th Century. From my own experience and study, it is likely an unsigned work of the prolific Shōami Ryū-ha (正阿弥流派) school after they had branched out from Kyōto (京都) into the different provinces after the Muromachi and Azuchi-Momoyama Periods. I have seen similar signed examples made by artist of Aizu Shōami Ryū-ha (会津正阿弥流派).
    5 points
  44. A month or two late, but I was getting out the kit for our first blackpowder display this morning and seeing the tachi, remembered the promise above. Jingo still in service!
    5 points
  45. Stumbled across this blade, think its cool. Vaguely remember seeing circles within the choji before but never so intentional, 2 near the kissaki and 2 further down on opposite sides of the blade. Sometimes you just come across something different, interesting, nice blade. For those interested. Japanese sword Touken Komachi, Tanto, Shirasaya Hakushu ju Yoshinaga
    5 points
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