Richmond

Being a retired LEO and speaking from experience go around the Pawn Shops and have a yarn to them. Make it clear to them that the sword are easily identifiable(a small lie) and to hot for them to even think about buying, and perhaps offer a finders fee. Cheers Steve

Cheers Steven L

Isn't it called a Jitte? Cheers Steven L

Great! thanks Stephen for the help. My computer skills suck of late for some reason. It came in a scruffy leather cover saya, its a nice old relic just have. Cheers Steve L

Hi guys, I have recently purchased this Katana in a rough gunto mount which was brought to Australia in 1953 from Singapore. My resources are very limited and I have not the faintest idea of what it saids. Sorry I couldn't add the images for some reason.......... Thanks in advance. Thanks Steve L

Yes indeed it would be great to have a polisher in the Land down under. Does anyone know who does in restoration work at all, in particular handle wrapping? Steven L

Respect and honour.

Bruno I thought the menuki looked right to me but I have nothing to base this on apart from its look. Cheers Steven L

Hey Stephen, as a novice what are the keys points that tell you that the fittings are all fake. Cheers Steven L

Mate that is beautiful, I will be in Kyoto next month and will try and see your cannons brother. Steve L

I enquired into the same thing the other day. I spoke to Australian customs and was then referred onto the firearms registry in NSW. The firearms registry said that they field many calls from customs about importing swords to australia. They told me that if the blade is over 40cm there is no problem as it is classed as a sword. But they also said that if it was under that (tanto length) you would have a hard time go figure. Mind you this is only for NSW. Steve L

Good tips guys thanx, Ichi I will being going to Kyoto thanks for the heads up you too george. Now Sake how much can I drink and still speak I will let you know. The trip is primarily for a break from the real world, and to look at some nihonto if I can, nothing serious this time.. Cheers Steve L

Thanx everyone, some good spots to checkout and I just can't wait. In regards to swords manners(Grey) yes I have been doing a fair bit of reading about that and do not wish to be considered a ham fisted Aussie. I have promised myself not to buy any more swords whilst in Japan(Kinda) maybe some nice fittings/tsuba's though, even some sake but I will have to drink that. Cheers Steve L

Hi guys, well I am lucky enough to be on my way to Japan next month for a look around. Being a total novice to swords, I don't want to walk into an unfriendly swords shop and look like a total gumpy. Can anyone suggest a friendly sword shop for a novice to respectful have a look about. I will be in Tokyo then Shizouka and travelling about where my wandering nature takes me. Cheers Steve L

Hey george what a great story about your Bougainville days the canal and sword. Shame about the sword. Bougainville in 1977 would have been one interesting place.....One of my close relatives spent some time there doing stuff. The blade of my wakizashi is in good condition however it needs a polish. Its a hard one as when to leave something as a relic or over capitalise and restore. I agree that it is a naval relic as per the naval shrine markings I just love the history and story behind things. Cheers Steven L

Thanks George, it is a very interesting piece with the devine wind kanji and the mark of the minatogawa shrine mark. It is a wakizashi length sword and truly came from a crashed aircraft in New Guinea.(not all aircraft burst into flames like the movies) People will go yeah sure it did nice story..But it did, it was brought back by a solider in northern queensland and I can trace its life from there. It remained in another elderly gentlemans care until it came to me. I wish it could talk. Steven L

Hi guys, I have recently come across this shirsaya and blade which was recovered from New Guinea during WW11. Thanks to a fellow member here, he identified the blase to be bishu osafune sukesada. The markings on the shirasaya just confuse me which is fairly easy to do. Any theories or ideas on this would be appreciated. I have a better picture of the mei but couldn't post it up. Steven L

Learn me, I have no idea about tsuba's, the second one shown looks very busy to me.

Thanx for the welcome David and Stephen. I thought long and hard before I purchased my first sword. Alot of the credit must go to the dealer whose advise was invaluable and informative thanks John. The only problem is my appreciation of swords is like a virus! the more I learn the more I want to learn. I suppose thats not a bad thing. Thanks guys Steven L Dubbo

I am humbled, exactly right. I spoke to dealer and yes you are spot on. The waki is labelled correctly as a toshishige it is mumie and it was a typo with the labelling of the images toshi-hiro. I can now just study and enjoy my beautiful new friend, thanks so much. Steven L

Yeah Stephen, thats it. It is beautiful to me which is all that matters. I am just trying to find out more about the smith but being a novice my resourses are limited. Any info on the smith would be great! steven L

More information, I purchased the nihonto from nihonto Australia it is still there listed under Wakizashi Toshishige(sold) about 3/4 of the way down......... Steven L

You guys are the best! it is so difficult especially in Country Australia to find anyone with an interest in nihonto. Sheep and wheat yes, even tractor's. I feel very welcome here thanks guys. I will checkout the mentioned links. Steven L

Hi all, like many others I am new to this site and in fact collecting Japanese swords. I have purchased what I believe a nice representation of a Wakizashi. I have been told it comes from a swordsmith by the name of Toshishige there was also a reference to Toshi-Hiro. I think it is the same smith but am getting confused as I cannot find a reference to this smith. Any info would be helpful. Cheers Steven L