Brian

Yep, but shouldn't be a problem to deregister as you would any sword, wait the required amount of time and have it shipped. I know they use the same torokusho as the swords. Saw some nice ones for sale in Kyoto, but prices were as expected, and probably worth it. Still swords remain my focus, but they did play such a huge part in Japanese history and the Samurai. Go nicely together for display and study. Brian

Thanks for the link Piers, some lovely examples there. I haven't seen too much in English on the Japanese matchlocks except for brief articles and small chapters in "The hand canons of Japan" and a few other books. What is the definitive book in English on the subject? There is only one privately owned rifle here in SA that I have seen, and haven't found the right trade item yet I'll keep my eyes open in Japan. No license required here for these. I like those without a trigger guard, smaller calibers. Anyone on the forum own any to show off? Brian

Rick, Here is the Connoisseur's page: http://books.google.co.za/books?id=zPys ... #PPA257,M1 In this case, it is papered to the school I think, and not specifically Nobukuni the smith (or would they have added den if they meant the school?) Well done, not a bad result, and it still looks like a nice sword indeed. Hard to kantei this school I think, so I'm not surprised we didn't get too many guesses Brian

Stunning stuff! I would LOVE one of those, however I find my taste in teppo/tanegashima leans towards the small handheld matchlocks (basically handguns instead of rifles if I can use that analogy) I suppose the rifles are more sought after, so maybe there is hope of finding a deal somewhere. Wouldn't say no to a nice rifle though. Brian

Wow! We have posted that one before I think, but it never fails to blow my mind. Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks very much for that write-up Keith, you have a good way with words, and I enjoyed your summary. Had a smile on my face reading about the "sword saints" :D I wonder if they read the forum? Funny how ppl still insist on trying to improve a 1000 year old tradition. A great read, and sounds like a fantastic event. Maybe oneday they will film the lectures and publish a dvd for those "locationally-disadvantaged" guys like me. :lol: Brian

I also got to the Bishu Osafune xx saku part, but see if you can get a clearer shot of those 2 indistinct kanji? Perhaps play with the light a bit, or try a scanner. Don't worry about the other kanji, just the 3rd and 2nd last ones. Brian

New pics look a lot better. Haven't loaded them all yet (damn dial up) but the nakago looks better. Will look a bit closer when I get home later. Brian

http://www.aoi-art.com/kantei/kantei10.html Nanbokuchu Aoe has it. I wonder if they are refering to early Nanbokucho, or are they pointing to sue-Aoe? Most of the bids went to sue-Aoe, and would be interesting if this is seen as later, to know what points pushed it over into sue. I know at the beginning of sue-Aoe, there was quite a bit of crossover work and varied styles with no definite defining characterists, so this must have a lot of elements of chu- in it. Brian

Very educational, thanks folks. Have to bear in mind that we are talking about probably 2 of the 3 best iron tsuba makers (along with Umetada Myoju?) and pics don't tell the whole story. I will look forward to seeing some of their work in Japan..maybe you guys will give me some lessons. Please keep the info and comments comming. Regards, Brian

I would like to see a pic of the nakago before I could comment more.At first glance I would aslo say WW2 era, remounted by someone who wanted something a but better than the normal dagger. Would help if hada and hamon were visible, but failing that, nakago shots will tell a lot. Whenever I see a shinogi on a tanto, I look for more info. It was done sometimes, but far from the norm. Brian Edit to add: Missed the pics posted after. Hmm. hard to tell for sure. It doesn't have the typical WW2 dagger nakago, but still not up to the usual tanto standards either. The ana is quite far down the nakago too. If I had to go with gut instinct, i would say a shortened wakizashi remounted and reshaped at some stage. Other comments?

Stunning tsuba Pete, yours? You can see how well the surface has been worked. Can you give us some kantei points on it? Brian

Yep, agree. Just loaded the pics now, and it doesn't look good at all. Amateur carving, and the ana are completely wrong. If the lower one is supposed to be the original, then can you imagine where the "mei" would have been originally? No signs of yasurime at all...doesn't even look like a bad cleaning job. I would be very suspicious about the sword. Let's see a pic of the kissaki and that will likely tell the story. Can't be 100% sure yet, but it doesn't look good. Sorry. Brian

The (very) little that I know about Kaneie tsuba would back up what Curran said..and I do get the impression that a lot of the Kaneie workmanship is best seen in hand and from the actual working and composition of the steel..hard to see in pics. I will be looking out in Japan to expand my knowlege on them. There is something about the shape of the tops of the mountains.. Brian

What is the length of the cutting edge now? Judging by how much it has been shortened, it must have been a heck of a long blade originally. This one is very interesting, especially with the horimono (carved designs) Definitely older than WW2, but jusging by the patina it wasn't shortened hundreds of years ago. Not sure how much info you can get on it in this state though. It's not like anyone can look at it and say how old it is and who made it. I think if it were mine, I would definitely consider getting a window polished to see what turns up. It could be worth a polish, definitely worth finding out more about. Brian

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill One mountain climber at a time folks...step right up...queue here.... :D Brian

Don't know the answer for sure, but if you separate it into hamaguri and 'ha'..hamaguri is a clam and ha is of course the cutting edge. So that would tell me that the ha is clam shell shaped, and I would assume does mean it has niku. Brian

All I can tell you is that the theme is the carp swimming up the waterfall. When he goes throigh Dragon Gate, he turns into a Dragon. Associated with valor and perservance. Brian

Jacques, Anytime local settings block you from viewing a webpage, use an anonymous proxy browser. There are lots, but an example is http://www.youhide.com/ Just put in the url and hit go. Brian

Thanks Morita san, I see that quite a few of the bidders are telling him the same. So probably Masaie then. Something rings a bell here though. A while back, wasn't there another kinpunmei sword on eBay that everyone jumped on and thought was Masamune, and then there were also people saying it looks like Masaie or similar? This story just sounds very familiar to me. I have tried searching, but can't find the post. Anyone else remember a similar story? Brian

Milt, Obviously I know next to nothing about tsuba and am trying to change that, but in my novice opinion at first glance it does look Akasaka to me. Hopefully the "old iron" guys will chip in and give more info. Brian

Great work Steve, thanks. I'll add it to the useful articles list for download. Brian

If you wait, the right sword will come along. Just give it a week or 2. Btw..you might want to look at that horimono sword again. In a chat with Ford, it was pointed out that while the horimono might be later than the sword, it isn't too terribly done, (judging by how the kani are carved) and might be not as bad as it looked. It does take some skill to carve kanji into a blade. Not saying it is a brilliant sword, but if it goes around $600 or so, and it does have NTHK papers..might be a good deal. In a reasonable polish, can see everything. Kissaki maybe slightly reshaped at some point to get rid of a chip? but you could do a lot worse if you get it for $600 or so. That is the price of the shirasaya and papering. Brian

Joakim, Genuine sword. However I think I see quite a bit of leftover pitting on the blade in places? That combined with the amateur polish and chips that aren't fatal but not great..hmm. You aren't going to ever get an answer here saying for sure "buy it' or "don't buy it" as that isn't what we are about. You need to look at it, decide if it does it for you, and make a decision. It needs work, and you aren't going to spend the money on restoration ever. So I guess you need to decide if you want to wait, or get that bug out of your system now. It's a project blade, and you aren't going to make much money passing it on later. Not a bad price for a katana, but not a bargain if that is pitting I see. Btw..can you see the boshi? (temper line going into and around the tip) You already have a good idea it is gimei, and that it is likely from the Kanbun period, late 1600's. You aren't going to find out more info than that. Tough choice and one you need to make. My advice is still a good wakizashi over a mediocre katana. Brian

Wow..for the gun fans like me, that must have been an awesome day. I know that getting an original is high on my list. I assume that they are registered and deregistered on the same torokusho as the swords are, with the same procedures? Or is it a different procedure? Funny...I have seen lots of swords in old shops and markets, but never a teppo/tanegashima except at the dedicated sword shows or shops. Brian

Never heard of it. maybe just a brand name. Just use regular light (sewing) machine oil, or search the forum for oiling blade. There are lots of threads about oiling blades. Brian