Brian

This appears to be one of the standard officer's type knives taken to war, and often fancifully called kamikaze dirks etc. In fact, they are just personal knives carried by soldiers. Not traditionally made, and this one does appear to be oil quenched. I bet you will see it has the rough tang typical of these. With that blade shape, I don't think it is earlier than WW2. You see these at around $250-400 usually. Brian

Yep. eBay is paranoid, and ultra leftist bunny hugging feel-good hippy morons. They won't allow any swords, because maybe one slips through the cracks. They really don't care about what is legal and what isn't. They can't police it, so easier for them to just ban them all. We have seen this is other items such as empty brass cartridge cases. Just a lump of brass, but because there may be a single country out there somewhere that doesn't allow them, all are banned. Don't bother trying to explain the laws to them, they won't care. This is what you get in a paranoid politically-correct world. Over regulation and attempts to think on your behalf. It's only going to get worse. How did the UK even get this far? From a proud and strong empire to someone that quivers at the thought of someone owning a long steak knife? Rest of the world is headed there fast too. Sorry for the rant, but we are all affected by this. UK law means i can't even list my Parker Hale target sights anymore. Brian

Thanks Paul, I have a few of those, but will have to complete the gaps. I also have THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMOUR & HELMETS IN 16th CENTURY Japan but don't know where that fits in, and whether it is considered a decent book or not. Brian

Paul, Never mind Japanese, looks like I need to brush up on my English I (and many others) would be very interested in a full English translation I am sure. Btw..since you are one of the armour guys here and I have been asked this recently...what would you consider as the most important books on Japanese armour to have in your library? (mainly in English) Brian

Paul, Thanks for the info. Looks like a worthwhile book to own. Just wanted to clarify something. The English download is just a part of the book? If a part..then will there ever be a full English translation available? Btw..not to nitpick, but shouldn't those be extracts and not abstracts? Or they could be termed introductions I think. Regards, Brian

Just uploaded for comparisson Some differences, but it is close enough to warrant more research imho. You need to go into hamon, yasurime, nakago jiri etc and see how they compare. Brian

Found this today while browsing. I have no idea if this is of any use to anyone at all, but just in case. You have seen that eBay now uses those anonymous bidder names such as s***s etc. Sometimes an item has ended, and you would like to know who won it, even though it won't show the name. Well..here is a way. Only works if the auction was successfully ended with a sale, if it was less than 31 days ago, and not on BIN items. It is a German site. Go to http://www.wortfilter.de/Tools/highbidd ... bidder.php Paste in the auction number and hit the box. When the next page comes up, click on the bidder name (such as s***s) In the window that opens next, you can change the .de to .com if you want English and you will load the winner's page. Strange the things that you find online :lol: Just in case anyone wanted to check an auction. You can only find the winner's id..not any of the other bidders. Brian

Mark, I could be wrong, but what I think Reinhard was asking is where do you think you are in this collection of Bungo Tomoyuki swords? In other words...are you specialising in this group..trying to get one of each smith in the line.. trying for a daisho... trying to get a few of one maker etc etc? There were quite a few Bungo Tomoyuki smiths, and identifying exactly which these are just from the mei won't be easy. Are they papered to be sure? Are you going after more? I guess with Milt away at undisclosed location...someone has to fill the Bungo gap..although it wouldn't be most collector's choice Brian

Sorry Steve, but I have to add: You said, what better way to study a blade... I would say...what worse way to study a blade...? All you are doing is studying a mei, and not a blade in this way. And then you still have no way of knowing the answer for sure unless it has papers. If you want to learn how to translate mei, grab Grey's flashcards. Best way to learn. Also..browse the dealer sites listed above. Save the pics...and then try the mei. Then you can go back and check the answers. Anything is better than using ebay to try and learn about Nihonto. Brian

Steve, There are easier ways to research, trust me. Especially when eBay swords have nothing to offer in the way of study from pics besides mei to translate (and there is no shortage of mei to translate) Sellers should also be doing their own research before listing. I would hate to tell someone what a mei is, and then the sword is returned to them as gimei and they come back to you. Plus you will never know for sure if it is gimei or not, and never be able to study the blade itself from an auction. So it's not really an option worth pursuing. Better to get Nihonto Koza etc, and study those, or look at swords on the dealer's pages and try the mei before reading the answers. As stated, asking for eBay translations causes a problem for most who are spending time doing them, so let's respect them and mention it at least, or post in the eBay section. End of topic. Brian Edit to add: I deleted some replies to bring this to a conclusion.

Henry, Utsuri seems such a complicated and variable thing, that I doubt it can easily be summed up..or even properly explained without seeing it in front of you. Sometimes described as a "ghost hamon" but can follow the hamon or not. Can be whitish or not. In some blades, whitish (shirrake) is not a good thing, but in others it is. I have seen what was thought to be utsuri but was actually just the outer skin steel almost worn though, showing rougher core steel (not utsuri) Decent visual examples: http://www.nihontocraft.com/nihonto_jig ... araki.html and the best is probably http://www.ksky.ne.jp./~sumie99/utsuri.html Brian

I think that sign indicates Auctiva hosting (used on auctions) If so...I just want to politely mention that using the translation section for every item that someone is looking at on eBay and interested in purchasing, is abusing this system a bit. Even posting them in the eBay section is taking advantage. This forum can't translate every item that people are looking at purchasing, and would lead to people being unwilling to assist in translations. Not saying it is the case here, but please use this section within reason. It is mainly for items you own, or have a serious personal need of a translation for. If it IS for an ongoing auction, then at least post that fact so that people can decide if they have the time and inclination to do the research. Thanks, Brian

Nice looking set, although in this late type Edo work, I am hesitant if schools can be given very often and clearly. Sometimes best to just enjoy them for what they are. Unless those coral/stone insets point to some distinctive school. I wonder if replacing the lost ones would cross the boundary of minimal and necessary restoration and into something too far? Any thoughts from the kodogu collectors on this? Brian

Think you can skip looking for Kanemoto..it does appear to be Kanehisa. (Sorry Stephen) An oshigata isn't going to tell you much, not enough detail to compare with and way too many smiths signing Kanehisa, but Mino Koto/early Shinto sounds about right. Brian

That doesn't come as a huge surprise. Scammers have been harvesting emails for years now from every possible source. Robots scan forums for emails, and fraudsters join lists primarily for them too. Pawel Nowak has taken emails from at least 12 different forums too. Just use the usual caution and know that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Brian

This is a recognised pattern, and I have seen similar ones in high end auction catalogs. I think it is exactly what it says it is. I bet if someone has the catalog for this auction or the time to look it up online, they will see the same tsuba pictured. That statement was rash and liable for serious comeback from the seller. Please take this as an official warning. I am not verifying the tsuba...but there is no real reason to make that previous claim at all..especially with the clear provenance that the seller gave. Brian

Thanks for the heads-up Carlo. As stated, just be cautious about any unsolicited offers like this, unless it can be 100% verified with references etc. Brian

Henk-Jan, I think you had better clarify that statement pretty fast. As far as I know, this is a reputable dealer and I don't see any reason to think it is anything else besides what it says it is. If you are going to make that statement, please clarify it in detail and without doubt. Brian

Sorry..not going down this road right now. Brian

Andrey, You mean this one? (mine) Yeah..I'm guessing this design was popular. This one is small...tanto or small wakizashi size. I have thought it to be Nara, mid to late Edo. Brian

Don't make me moderate the moderators..especially when even I am scared of your evil twin :lol: Lee, please don't take any of this personally. You have to understand that this is a forum where the primary concern above all else is conservation of Japanese swords. Everything else is secondary. In a forum where the majority are martial arts practicioners, opinions ay differ. However even the martial artists here know that our focus is on the study and preservation, and they understand that we are rabidly persistant about that. After 4 repies about not using the pole, you posted a new idea of leather that you were investigating..indicating that you still had the idea to use it. Hence the concerned replies. I think it is admirable that you have decided not to use it. Understand too that we cannot advocate using sharp objects for sport here. It is a public forum, and read by many beginners, and any encouragement would be counter productive. I think your decision not to use it is a great one and we would be happy to asisst with advice on the naginata itself or any other aspect of the blade itself. I'll consider the issue itself closed now. Regards, Brian

Interesting tsuba Reinhard. Seems to be a geese and mountain/temple scene? Just a very quick observation while at work...has that whole iron mimi been added later? Brian

Lee, I read this post with interest, and to honest, I don't think there is a Nihonto collector or practisioner in the world that would advocate using the original pole in this case. There is absolutely nothing that you could do that would 100% guarantee no loss of MOP inlay. In fact, I can guarantee that the condition is going to deteriorate. No matter what you cover it with, it is going to lose pieces, and will eventually end up on the scrap heap years from now. Asking for a way to use this on a Nihonto forum is just asking for the inevitable replies. I can also find not a single good reason not to have a new pole made, and use that for your kata. It has all of the advantages, and none of the disadvantages. It can be made in the same style/weight, with the benefit of matching up the mekugi ana and being safer. Personally...I don't see any advantage to using an original blade either, but that is my personal feeling. It is only going to take one small mistake out of 1000's to chip or damage the blade. I am in agreement with Carlo, and can't see any loss of any respect of whatever in using a modern blade. Anyways, all we can do is advise. I hope you will think it through a bit before taking the risk. Brian

I have just been sent these pics, which are the papers for this yari. Can anyone shed some light on the basics here? Brian

Piers, Maybe it is your friend who owes us all a cider As far as I know, ategane is correct. Sekigane are the spacers in the nakago ana. Not sure about umegane..used more frequently on blade inserts to cover flaws. Anyone shed more light on whether these are all interchangeable? Brian