Ed

MUMEI WAKIZASHI MEI: MUMEI DATE: NONE NAGASA: 47.301cm (18.625") OVERALL: 59.69cm (23.5") MIHABA: 3.02cm (1.1875") KASANE: 0.63cm (0.25") SORI: 1.27cm (0.5") NAKAGO: UBU MEKUGI ANA: ONE YASURIME: KIRI MUNE: IORI HADA: KO-ITAME HAMON: NOTARE BOSHI: KO-MARU HORIMONO OMOTE: NONE HORIMONO URA: NONE HABAKI: 1 PIECE SILVER SHIRASAYA This wakizashi has a very elegant shape overall with considerable sori for the nagasa length. The chu-kissaki adds to its overall elegance. The nakago may be slightly machi-okuri as evidenced by the hamon extending beyond the ha-machi further than I would expect. Yet, the nakago retains one mekugi ana and the nakago jiri is Kiri. There are a couple of small ware which are barely noticeable. Polish is excellent. The hada is itame with masame in the shinogi-ji. The hamon is a gentle notare in nioi with lots of beautifu hataraki such as chikei, sunagashi, nie kozure, etc. There is hakikake in the boshi. Price: $2750 plus S/H Marked down for Christmas: $1200 plus s/h and any additional fees (Paypal, wire, etc)

TERUKADO, TANBA NO KAMI OWARI SHINTO MEI: TANBA NO KAMI FUJIWARA TERUKADO DATE: NONE c. KANBUN 1661 MINO RATED: CHUJO-SAKU by FUJISHIRO NAGASA: 52.387cm (20.625") OVERALL: 67.31cm (26.5") MIHABA: 2.857cm (1.125") KASANE: 0.63cm (0.25") SORI: 1.27cm (0.5") NAKAGO: UBU MEKUGI ANA: ONE YASURIME: SUJIKAI MUNE: IORI HADA: ITAME HAMON: KO-GUNOME BOSHI: KO-MARU HORIMONO OMOTE: NONE HORIMONO URA: NONE HABAKI: 1 PC. COPPER SHIRASAYA Courtesy of Sesko’s Index of Japanese Swordsmiths , 2015 TERUKADO (照門), Manji (万治, 1658-1661), Mino – “Kanekado” (兼門), “Zenjō Fujiwara Kanekado” (善定藤原兼門), “Tanba no Daijō Fujiwara Terukado” (丹波大掾藤原照門), “Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado” (丹波守藤原照門), “Tanba no Kami Terukado” (丹波守照門), “Nōshū Seki no jū Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado saku” (濃州関之住濃州丹波守藤原照門作), “Nōshū Tanba no Kami Fujiwara Terukado” (濃州丹波守藤原照門), real name Mitsui Sō ́emon (三井惣右衛門), he is also listed with the first name Sōkurō (宗九郎), Zenjō school, he signed first with Kanekado (兼門), after receiving the honorary title Tanba no Kami (丹波守) in the second year of Manji (1659) he changed his name to Terukado (照門), when the Ujifusa lineage (氏房) moved to Nagoya (名古屋) in Owari province, the local honorary title Seki-kaji-tōryō (関鍛冶頭領, lit. “master of all Seki smiths”) was transferred to the lineage of Kanekado, his successors did not continue the name Terukado but returned to Kanekado, dense ko-itame with fine ji-nie mixed with masame and masame along the shinogi-ji, suguha-hotsure or ō-gunome-midare mixed with angular hako- midare in nie-deki with a wide nioiguchi, interpretations in midare begin with a sugu-yakidashi, during his early years – i.e. around Manji – he applied thick and prominent sujikai-yasurime, they become finer over the years and appear as katte-sagari in his later years, first he applied a distinctive iriyamagata-jiri which becomes later a ha-agari kurijiri, he also worked in Ise ́s Kuwana (桑名) and in Edo and also worked with nanban-tetsu. His work is rated chūjō-saku. Shodai Kaneyoshi, a Yamato Tegai smith with the Buddhist name Zenjo founded the Zenjo kei in Oei period (1394-1428). Terukado a descendent of the Kaneyoshi kei worked mid-Edo. *Note: Terukado was awarded the local honorary title Seki-kaji-tōryō (関鍛冶頭領), lit. “master of all Seki smiths”. $1625 plus s/h and any additional fees (PayPal, wire Xfer, etc.)

Missed it first time and I stand corrected on this point. Happy to see this example, it is a first for me. I do still stand by my comments regarding the torokusho.

I regret this deteriorated into a back and forth over a simple thing. I have 30+ years experience, co-owned a small shop in Fukuoaka, been a member of this board since 2006. My point is that I do not claim to be an expert and I make mistakes. Now we have seen photo of modern papers showing a blade with over 1 shaku nagasa and papered as a tanto, Glad to see an example for my own knowledge. I had not seen one and I wondered if some of the old ones wren't mistakes or typos. ??

Well, it surely came across as being a smart ass reply. All you had to do was look at my name and see I am in the US. Oh, I did understand what you said, "The mei will be recorded as written, even if obviously gimei, and the physical measurements are taken too. These are superficial details." This were you are wrong, these are NOT superficial details. The are very important details and must be accurate on the torokusho. Outside Japan, in the US, UK, or wherever is the torokusho as important, no. Firstly, torokusho should not be outside Japan. It is illegal to export swords without going through the export process which includes submitting the torokusho to the government for their records. Does it happen, of course, but it is generally tourists who do not adhere to this rule. If a dealer is caught ignoring this law, they can get in big trouble, possibly lose their dealer license. In Japan, the torokusho must be kept with the sword, in simple terms think of it like a Concealed Carry Permit. If your permit says Joe, and your Drivers license says Bob do you think the police will say oh, that is a superficial detail, let him go. If you get checked by the Japanese police and the torokusho does not match the details of the sword, you are in trouble. Especially if the sword being checked is mumei. The only way to identify it is by the measurements on the torokusho, they must be identical to the sword. The shubetsu, nagasa, sori, ana, all become vitally important in preventing confiscation of the sword and possibly seeing the inside of a Japanese jail. If you wish to consider that superficial, fine. I do not! I clearly stated. "there are Juyo Tanto with nagasa slightly over 1 shaku that were papered some years ago. Honestly, not sure if that is still the case today". I posted an example of one. If you have evidence of modern papers which state "Tanto" with nagasa over 1 shaku, I would like to see them. The example you provided supports my claim that if over 1 shaku it is not papered as a tanto, but as a wakizashi. Still waiting on an an example of a blade over 1 shaku being papered as a tanto. Modern papers are after the NBTHK changed from Nintesho to Kanteisho in 1982 (Showa 57) related to corruption and a government takeover. Papers were never issued by the NBTHK prior to 1948 (Showa 23) therefore old and new terminology is clear. At any rate I am am done arguing, believe what you will. Merry Christmas

I do speak English. Perhaps you struggle with comprehension. You are putting words in my mouth. I never used the word inaccurate. Superficial: appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely. concerned only with the obvious or apparent : not thorough or complete. The measurements must be more than a superficial, they must be accurate as I stated previously.

I think the confusion boils down to semantics and/or context. Were there Tanto over 1 shaku? Yes, Sunnobi Tanto were blades with a nagasa greater than 1 shaku and mounted as a tanto. In todays world of Japanese swords, the regulations which govern entities such as the NBTHK have set the criteria at three basic designations, tanto, wakizashi, and katana with some rare exceptions. If you submit a sword today mounted as a tanto, sunnobi or whatever, and the nagasa is over 1 shaku, it will be papered as a wakizashi. Yes and no. They actually call the entry process shinsa. While not in the context we commonly think of as shinsa which is much more detailed, they do have to address topics like measurements and mei for the torokusho. There is no research regarding the authenticity of the mei, but the measurements have to be correct, not superficial by law. It you are checked by the Japanese police and the measurements do not match the torokusho, the trouble you will incur will be far from superficial. As in the case of the torokusho in question, it clearly states "Wakizashi". Yes, there are Juyo Tanto with nagasa slightly over 1 shaku that were papered some years ago. Honestly, not sure if that is still the case today. If you have evidence of modern papers which state "Tanto" with nagasa over 1 shaku, I would like to see them. @Jussi Ekholm would probably know. Here is one example from the Juyo Zufu: Hoshu ju Fujiwara Tomoyuki, Bungo, Joji 1362-1368, Sa school. Tanto, Nagasa: 1.07 shaku 1 sun, 2 bu.

Wow! I hated to hear this. Known Richard for years and have been in fairly close contact for the last year or more as we were both dealing with health issues. He told a little over a month ago that the new treatments for his myloma looked promising and that he was looking forward to start shooting fittings again. He was a phenomenal photographer. RIP my friend.

First, in order to assess your sword, we (or anyone) must see the sword. The photos you have provided have the handle intact, that won't do. For identifying the sword, you must remove the tsuka (handle) and ALL fittings including the habaki. The photos should be of nothing but the naked blade. Then take full length photos and clear close ups of the Nakago (tang) and any inscriptions which may be there. *Note: Be sure the nakago is oriented correctly, tip up, tang down. The photos must be in focus and legible. Do not rub chalk in the inscriptions if there are any.

Ah, yes, sorry I misunderstood. Thanks for clearing that up. Ed

I was only replying to the statement, "US customs forced our national post agency to have the sender pay the tariff". Perhaps I misunderstood your meaning of having the sender pay tariff. ?

Had a couple of shipments recently from Japan. Not swords, but I did pay UPS the tariff before they would ship.

I have a sword shipped from the US currently in customs in the Netherlands. Haven't received any notification regarding tariff payment.......yet.

Looking for some Crepe Chirimen fabric in both green and purple for restoration of some Tosogu boxes. If you have any you would sell contact via PM or email shown below. Thanks, Ed

Bruce, Can't say about any other NMB members. I can tell you that Douglas Louie and Wayne Shijo the two main guys, are as nice as you will ever meet. Tell them I said hello. Ed