Ganko

Fantastic job!

Nakago shape says Shimada, Odawara, or maybe Sengo? Kesho is so heavy the hamon details are pretty much obscured. Muromachi, 1500's? It is a real serious chopper.

Nice sword, but the kesho is too heavy.

Well done!

The pen may be mightier than the sword in the UK.

Information can be gleaned from many sources. Some people are satisfied with just a superficial spoonful, while others would like to acquire as much in depth information as possible. The NMB fulfills much of the needs of both types. Japanese sword knowledge is like a bottomless pit, those that are willing to put in the time required will benefit from their efforts. It is such a wide field that most experts are only knowledgeable in one narrow area. We cannot live long enough to know everything about Japanese Swords. A friend once said, "The definition of an expert is a guy from the next town with a briefcase". Japanese Sword knowledge is so esoteric to most whom have acquired grandpa's sword, that this is one of the few resources that will give them honest opinions.

Best to have return privileges, but still "buyer beware". Sometimes, you have to take a chance and go with your gut feeling.

It sure has similar characteristics.

Thinking about the stone anvils, if one considers the different thermal conductivities of granite(k=1.7-4) and steel (k=40-50), this might explain some of the differences in the older swords properties that can no longer be duplicated? They also used stone hammers. Does anyone know when they quit using stone anvils and hammers?

Looks like Washida Shonai to me?

Hard to read due to rust. I think it says, Bungo ju Fujiwara Kuniyuki.

Good looking sword.

It reminds me of a Brown & Sharpe wire gauge.

Bummer!

I recall having read somewhere that Wakasa Nuri is called idiots lacquer, due to the fact that you would have to be crazy to spend as much time as it takes to make it.

Washington's Birthday design.

Not much left of the mei, but looks like "Tai-ei" and "Bishu Osafune"

Physics in action, if you don't have enough speed add some weight. I never realized they added lead tsuba to increase the energy. I guess I should pick up Markus's book.

The bell curve has quite a range to it.

There were no laws against cross fertilization regarding tsuba manufacturing.

Thank you Guido for clarification on the material. This shuroge-togidashi-nuri has been called horse hair in the US forever. I have told people it was plant fibre but it seems they prefer to call it horse hair. I once did a small restoration and used fibers from a sisal mat which were quite similar in appearance. The saya work in the OP may be one of a kind, as I suspect it took one god awful amount of time. The maker probably never wanted to do it again.

Very interesting .

The OP shows a sahikomi polish not hadori or kesho. .

Welcome Mike.

Good looking sword.