Ganko

Signed "Sano Naoyoshi with Kao". The no character is not the one that is shown in the Meikan and the kao is a bit off. Only three examples in the Meikan. The work is very good though. He is rated joko in the Meikan. As Tanto54 has said the kashira appears to have had some damage repaired. Shoki's face may have been banged in at sometime?

As Brian has said, there is no question about the star stamped blades. They are 100% gendaito made from tamahagane that was provided to the RJT smiths. Most of them signed with their normal signature and many were top rated smiths such as Sadakatsu, and Akihira(Shohei). Some signed with a pseudo name like Shibata Ka who used Mitsuoki as his RJT signature.

Paul will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. Having known him for about four decades, I must say he was always a real gentleman. RIP Paul.

These types of atrocities are best suited to stirring the excrement in the bottom of a chamber pot.

Looks like "Norimitsu"

Frankie was a true connoisseur of Nihonto and a true gentleman. He will be missed by all who knew him. RIP Frankie

It is signed Choshu Hagi Ju Tomomitsu. The flowerlike indentations are from a punch which is used to displace the copper kuchibeni, which will then tighten the tsuba on the sword. It is a more decorative version of a round or square punch typically used for the purpose.

I know of a full length gendai katana that was taken from a submarine captains bunk.

I was finally able to log in today with new password. Didn't realize how much I missed it until I couldn't log in.

I suspect those stains are iron oxide transferred from the blade to the wood rather than the other way around. As Dave says Honoki can not do that.

Other members can probably read the first two characters and perhaps supply more info.

It is not cut too well, somewhat abbreviated. I don't know the first two characters but the maker is Ujifusa

Bruce, It's like a neighbor used to tell me "There's no rest for the wicked" :-)

Signature is "Izumi no Kami Fujiwara Kunisada". Pretty well thought of swordsmith, high probability of false signature.

The good thing about these removable liners is you can clean them out so that you may reinsert a polished blade back in it's own koshirae.