Brian

And here I was thinging that Al Gore invented the internet Kidding. Trust me, I know about speeds and downloading. I run this site on dial-up because broadband is too expensive in SA, and they want to cap us at 3 gigs per month or make us pay a fortune for more. Nowdays, half the forums don't even bother saying anything, just point you to a youtube video or facebook entry. You are right, 90% of it is all junk, and large sized junk at that. I still do my nut when I see 800k pics that could be 200k easily. Especially when it takes me an hour to download an email with 4 huge pics. :? I'll make enquiries into a custom script that will show the spoilers if javascript is disabled. Regards, Brian

I was under the impression that without java on, the "spoilers" show without being hidden. What do you see without java? There are not that many that surf without javascript. I know Rich S is one. Brian

That you can't tell from the nakago, only by closely examining the blade and its characteristics. Do you own these, or are you thinking of buying them? I think most of what he made was medium to average quality Showato. Brian

Well done Moriyama san. I wonder what brings about all this confusion regarding this particular smith? Brian

Don't have the book either, but this is the only one I could find online right now. It's not verified either, but close I believe and should illustrate what Doc L. is referring to. From: http://www.ricecracker.com/japanese_swo ... apage3.htm Brian

Persimmons. Permissions are what we need to get from our wives before we buy anything. Brian

Just a few points to make. No-one was suggesting that good wakizashi don't take skill. It was clearly pointed out I think that we are talking about "all things being equal" so in other words given a katana and a wakizashi of equal quality..the katana is harder to make. I don't think a tosho would argue that point. Getting hamon, hada and sori right on a long sword can't be the same as a shorter blade. Once again, all things being equal means we are not talking about all katana, and no-one said that all katana have good quality. 1000 Mediocre katana have nothing to do with whether wakizashi are easier to make. I am sure it was a workshop or group that worked on that project anyways, since one smith couldn't possibly make 10 katana a day for 100 days. However mass production of swords doesn't contribute to why longer swords are worth more. And since we are talking about similar quality in swords, a practical katana has no relevance to a stunning wakizashi. Take the same smith, using the same techniques, I am sure it takes quite a bit longer to finish the katana than the wakizashi and keep the quality level superior. Let's not put words in people's mouths. Brian

I notice in the subject on Rich's forum, Paul Gill has posted a pic of his Omori Teruhide. Now without papers, I can't definitively say the mei is shoshin, but for the benefit of those with examples, I would expect that this is the kind of workmanship we should be looking for in his work. Very nice work, and the mei looks good to me from what I can see. So as not to steal from the good thread there, I will rather direct you to the post, and only link one pic here. The thread is here: http://www.nihontokanjipages.com/forum/ ... php?id=218 with 2 more pics. Brian

Not that I can read the name, but if indeed it does read closer to Antoni than Anton, then might I suggest he may have been Anthony? (would be pronounced Antoni?) Brian Edit to add: I found online examples of people called Anton, Antoni and Anthony Szabo. Not that it's important, but anyways.... :D

Just a guess... Many wakizashi are not ubu, being shortened daito. That would affect the value. The ones that are, well you have to consider that they were not primary weapons. Being sort of a backup to the katana probably doesn't help. Where a katana wasn't allowed to be worn, a tanto could be discreetly hidden. The wakizashi was favored also by non-samurai such as merchants and others, so it doesn't have that same romance that the katana has, and the tanto being a battle knife and also used for ritual suicide. I guess it has just become fashion now to want something as long as possible..or if it has to be shorter, then might as well go for something that was designed to be short and compact like a tanto. Feeble reasons maybe..it's all I can come up with for now. Brian

Paul, Yes, wakizashi are the bottom of the food chain all other things being equal. Even a relative value puts wakizashi after katana and tanto. Given the same workmanship, a wakizashi fetches roughly half the price of a katana, with a tanto being roughly 2/3 the value of the katana. Nothing against wakizashi...they are recommended for this reason to beginners as you can study and learn everything at a relatively lower price. But these are the facts based on supply and demand. Which means there are a lot of bargain wakizashi out there. Brian

Great idea. I was the one who used Stephen to get a parcel of collectible knives, and he repacked them and shipped them superbly. It might also be a convenient way to get items from ppl who decide they won't ship internationally. Of course you would need to check with the seller that he doesn't mind shipping to someone in the USA instead, but once that is done, it is a great alternative. It also ensures that your items are packed as Nihonto should be packed if that is what you are ordering. Not all sellers know anything about shipping blades. Thumbs up from me, bearing in mind this is a private thing and not a NMB service. Brian

The only WW2 Masatsune I could come up with right now is Amachi masatsune, however he was a Seki smith making Showato, so I don't think he is the same one. From Dr Stein's site: and here: http://www.swordsmanandarcher.com/Japan ... #131093978 Since yours signed Bishu, that makes me wonder if it couldn't be an earlier blade, maybe the Shinto smith MAS1672 around 1716? Or is the nakago way too new looking to be that early? What does the hamon look like? Did he sign with the 政 Masa or the 正? Brian Edit to add: Also found Ikkansai Masatsune who made Gendaito. He was a Tokyo tosho called Ikegami Kazuto and is page 120 in the Gendai Toko Meikan. http://www.nihonto.com.au/html/ikkansai ... gunto.html http://www.samuraisword.com.au/html/ikk ... nto_8.html

Here's my own (supposed) collaboration wakizashi. Tanba (no) kami Yoshimichi and Yamato (no) kami Yoshimichi. Blade isn't in a good enough polish to verify the details, but my research leads me to believe that it is gimei on both counts. Maybe someone has some further info. I guess a double gimei is much harder, but obviously the temptation is greater to pass it off as a work by both smiths. The look of the nakago leads me to believe that if gimei, it isn't a modern gimei though. Some of the strokes, particularly in the michi kanji, seem to go the wrong way too? Brian

James, The base can be shinogi zukuri or hira zukuri. See here: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/styles.html for great examples. Brian

Guido, Unless I have my tsuba ura and omote switched again (entirely possible :lol: ) this may be the "trailing stem" that I was refering to (and possibly Dr L.) I find it charming and very life-like. Regards, Brian

I agree with Jacques, the first one does look late Mino to me and agree with the unokubi zukuri call. We see it more on tanto, but it can be seen on wakizashi. Brian

What Jean said, plus Ken's is missing a stroke on the second kanji, and there is hesitation in some of the strokes. The genuine mei is quite compacted and neat, whereas Martin's seems too bold and a bit over confident. The hooks on Ken's are also too bold and prominent. Brian

Hi Barry, I love that style of tsukamaki. Usually seen on tanto small waki from the few that I have seen. I am not sure who to ask about doing it. Thomas Buck is the obvious choice in the West, but he has just posted that he isn't taking on new tsukamaki work until September, and laquer work until Feb or March. What about David McDonald? http://www.montanairon.com/restorations.html Otherwise you might have to send it to Japan. (Edit, just saw Guido's post, and that might be your best bet, but they might need the blade depending on the person who does the work?) Regards, Brian

I meant Moriyamita san :lol: Sorry....I was temporarily confused between some of our resident experts here Blame it on a rough Friday at work I meant of course Morita san, but Moriyama san or anyone else familiar with these swords and the laws there should be able to clarify. Thanks for the correction Carlo. Brian

That's our US-resident Chinese university student, NMB member, pleasemx. Strange character...with odd posts. Looks like he is now a dedicated seller. Ran those charity auctions. But the feedback has been good (one negative which I think he was right about anyways) so he should be ok..if not a little strange :D Brian

Dr L. It is precisely that trailing stem that has me captivated by it. I think because it is so unexpected and breaks the perfection of the subject matter, gives it a natural feel to me. I am sure the artist was saying something with it, but won't get too philosophical The whole tsuba certainly is striking though, isn't it? Nice purchase Guido..I'm jealous again Brian

Hi Sarah, As Stephen said, please feel free to post a few more pics of the blade and mounts. This is a wartime blade, and may be in the standard shin-gunto mounts. Pics of the blade will help us to verify if it is indeed handmade or mass produced, as most of these with this type of "chippy" signature were arsenal blades. But only the pics will tell for sure. Regards, Brian

I really like that tsuba very much too. Please post if you do get any further info on it. Brian

Moriyama san, Would that blade be illegal in Japan, even with the sword being rare and unusual? I guess it isn't from tamahagane so it wouldn't be allowed in Japan? Brian