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

While it's a new term for me, this is the only one I found online. Note that I am just giving their description, can't verify it. NOTE: This one doesn't have any rust, but apparently it does have some lust :lol:

Hi Justin (please sign all posts with a name as per the rules, thanks) I think the reason you haven't been able to find such info online is that there is no such thing as maximum or minimum weights. These are personal items made for personal tastes, and no doubt whatever weight you wanted, someone would make it for you. It's like asking what is the minimum and maximum weight for a kitchen knife...there isn't one. Regards, Brian

I was wondering about that. Some of those blades continued to cut hard items for a while after getting one or a few hagire. I would have thought they would have snapped soon after a hagire. I was wondering if there is a Japanese word for a chip that goes through the hamon? I assume by hagire they meant a hairline crack, although I would have expected deep chips in some of those cases instead of hagire. Just wondering if what we call a hagire could be in this case a deep chip or nick that is fatal..or am I mistaken completely? They didn't mention any chips at all in those tests? Brian

Dr B, I daresay there is a world of difference between them once compared. This should demonstrate closer. Pay attention to the "flame" and scales. As Ford said, it isn't terrible metalwork, just not up to the level of expected quality on a blade of this caliber or of a decent horimono. Brian

He isn't a fraud or anything..he is a decent seller afaik. The thing to remember is that Japanese sellers nowdays are well aware of how we Westerners are buying low to medium class stuff, and they are all taking full advantage of that. The stuff we see on eBay is mostly the stuff that isn't easy to flog in Japan. Items that are mediocre to fair, items that are gimei (they know we all believe that maybe, just maybe, one shoshinmei slips through the cracks) and items that have done the rounds there and aren't easy to sell. There is tons of low to medium class swords and fittings in Japan. They don't sell easily because it is so easy to verify there, and there are so many others items that are better. But it is easy to sell these to the West, and with the internet, it is a simple process. Make no mistake...we are a great market for this stuff. It doesn't make them bad sellers at all (some of them are very nice to deal with indeed) but we are feeding this phenomenon and it isn't at all surprising that there are more and more Japanese sellers online. It's not like here in the West where a sleeper can sit on a table untouched since the war. In Japan these guys know the market and list the items that would sit forever on a dealer's table. Note that I am indeed generalizing, and not every dealer is like this, but it is what we see predominantly. Brian

I read that thread as it unfolded, and it is an amazing find. Also a brilliant observation by Morita san. The story is fascinating and I hope the sword will be preserved and be researched. While not for the strict Nihonto fans, for the Japanese militaria guys and Japanese researchers, it is a great story..especially watching it unfold. Thanks for sharing it here Carlo. Brian

Hi Ford, You are refering to these "carving marks" that have been left? They do appear very rough and close-ups don't do the horimono any justice in this case. Would this be by an amateur horimono carver, or by a metalworker that doesn't have experience with Nihonto, or just a total faker? Brian

Name please As you said. A dealer in Japan with every chance and opportunity to submit something for papers is not going to list a Kotetsu on eBay, or even sell it if there is even the slightest chance it is shoshin. Brian

Stephen, It's purely due to the fact that these are swords. Therefore they need to be able to be used as swords. A sword with a hagire will break in battle. With kizu, it is a bit ugly, but still a sword. Even though these are now art, they must still retain their original function or they are just pretty pieces of metal. With really rare and top class stuff, for the reasons that they are simply that important and are representative examples, fatal flaws are overlooked. But for anything less, there's Mastercard :D (Sorry, could't resist...but it does show that for anything less than the top works, you can go out and buy a better example, so lesser condition ones aren't as important and flaws aren't tolerated. But for the very best, fatal flaws will have to do, as there isn't much chance of buying something better as an example) Brian

I am sure Jacques is looking for the rest of the text on the right too? This looks like a very interesting and early "analysis" of sugata? Any info on the source? Brian

Hi (Please sign with a name) This thread might be quite relevant, especially the last 2 pages: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3341 Regards, Brian

I agree with the choices so far, bearing in mind that you need to choose a sword that you like, and not that we pick for you. Art is a very personal thing, and you want to buy what attracts you. We don't want to advise you "go for this one" and you don't like it later. However you are doing the recommended thing by asking before buying, so I guess opinions count. Always spend a little more than you wanted to. You don't want to think back in a year and say "I wish I had spent the extra $250 or so" I still like that Yasutsuna wakizashi a lot. But I like the Ichimonjo style, and it has a lot going for it. Tsuruta san has guaranteed the condition and integrity of the sword, but not sure if he is guaranteeing the signature? I would check on that if you decide on this blade. The upside of the e-sword Kunihide is the koshirae, which adds a good $500 or so. I think it is a good deal and has a good polish with thick and wide nioi-guchi as Jean stated, and looks very healthy. I don't think you would go wrong with either. As Stephen mentioned, Aoi might be prepared to deal on the price. Their Yen price I am sure takes into account that it is sold locally and doesn't include overseas shipping, paperwork etc. But you can try and work a deal with them. The e-sword one still needs shipping added? Overall, one of these 2 sounds good to me. Maybe others have a different opinion? Regards, Brian

Brian

Hi John, Surprised there weren't more answers posted. I guess there are more of us sword guys than fittings guys here. Hopefully some of the tosogu guys can chip in and convert...umm...enlighten us :D I did find a good article from Ted Tenold here that says: Regards, Brian

I hope I am not overstepping my bounds here, but looking at thse pics just makes me want to dust everything. I find it sad that there are amazing collections out there that are packed away in storage rooms and with the "laws" will probably remain there forever. There are some great items there, that receive next to no attention. These "benefactors" didn't have the knowledge to consign these items to a future of degradation and they belong elsewhere where they can be appreciated properly and cared for. (Yes..I would volunteer gladly :D ) It is my (personal) experience that whenever items like this are packed away for storage, every year a few items "go missing" out the back door. Even here, the military museum has a greater number of fine items packed away in closets than on display, and a lot has gone missing and into private collections never to be seen again. Brian

I think you may have it Moriyama san, that does resemble it down to the laquered-looking leather, and improvised grip. Brian

Frank, Same one Nigel is talking about here? viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3354 I have no idea what that sword is from the pics. Might be some or other chokuto, but the mounts aren't right. Hmm. Brian

Nigel, I would contact the Uk Token Societies, see if they can get involved. Particularly a call to Clive Sinclair? Maybe Ian B. here can assist? I have a good idea that this might be the same collection in the pics in this thread: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3347 Some lovely looking stuff...but not well displayed. The yari all look to have the same poles too...wonder if they were redone at some time to match? Some of those swords look intriguing too...and I have no idea what that middle one is that Frank was asking about. Brian

Thank you for clarifying that Nakamura san, good to know. I must add that website and yours to the links list this weekend. Anyone have any other links that need to be added? Brian