shingen

This topic was definitely worth learning from for a "not even at newbie level" person as me. The first and only thing that struck me when I saw it was "this nakago looks strange" but as I read this does not always mean something. Thanks!

Hello Tobias, do you perhaps have photo's of the Tsuba and Wakizashi?

Hi Corey and welcome to the NMB forum!

Welcome!

Mr. Sinclaire, When I get my copy may I sent it to you to sign it as well? Appreciate it you helped me with my question about transporting a Katana from the UK to the Netherlands. Kind regards, Rick

Ordered a copy last week, looking forward to read it!

Sorry to read you bought it as a original, as said I hope you didn't pay to much. I am afraid Grey is right iMichas I to am a beginner and the only thing a beginner needs is books and helpfull people like on this forum. Buying a sword is for later on. Am I right when I say that the production number normally should not be on the Habaki and the Nakago but on the blade itself and on the top of the saya? Just trying to learn something from this.

Hope you didn't pay to much for it.

Hello Darcy, As a beginner I can't really contribute, but appreciate the hard work and would like to contribute the best way I can and in this case it would be to order a patron copy. So you can put me down for a Patron copy as well. Cheers, Rick

This would be affordable for me and does look like a great starter piece indeed. I do really think what Lee mentioned does work very good. It is very hard as a beginner to make a start with learning etc. but with something like this it does keep you motivated. While studying having something like this at hand I do think will help as you can then see for yourself how it looks when you read about something. Learning and being able to do some research is a good way I think and fun as well.

It does look like a blade Lee mentioned in his post.

Someone asked me if this Wakizashi was still available but it is sold. And I am happy I did not buy it. I got good advice from all of you and the coming few years it will be studying/reading for me in stead of thinking about buying a blade. I am not reading with the idea that this will make me a expert, far from that. I do however hope it will learn me the basics and that it will learn me how to really appreciate Nihonto. From there on we will see how things go. I will not be able to buy a Nihonto for a few years anyway as I just don't have that kind of money laying around and that I guess is a good thing. Thanks to all for the advice and taking part in this topic!

I to am new to Nihonto and just started reading The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords a few weeks ago. Also ordered a few other books that were recommended here. I do not expect in any way to turn into a expert by reading these books but I do hope they can teach me (together with the help from this forum and perhaps shows) how I can appreciate Nihonto and learn as much as possible. I hope to at least acquire the basics by reading these books. How the rest will go I don't know but we will see how that goes while reading. I have tons of questions and things I would like to research but I know for now I will just have to stick to the books. Don't want to hi-jack this topic sorry

Interesting indeed.

What about this one: The top of the saber seems to look a bit the same.

I do not at all posses the knowledge needed yet to make real judgements but to me it looks like a Kyu-Gunto. But a Kyu-Gunto that lost almost all it's shine. The blade is in a horrible rusted state. The price might be cheap but I don't think it's worth buying, well at least not to display it. But then again there is only 1 photo and it is hard to judge from just one photo. But this one looks like a "I'll pass" one to me. Even if it is a Kyu-Gunto you can still buy them for not bad prices. Just my opinion Cheers, Rick

Could this not be a Kyu-Gunto? A Japanese WWII police sword. Please correct me if I am wrong

Very useful information indeed, thanks as well!

Sounds familiar

Looks promising

Thanks Jamie, that is very useful info indeed!

Forgot to mention that I know it is not just learning trying to distinguish real from fake. It's learning about a great art, markmanship and superb and beautiful weapon. That should be the base, that later on you learn how you can distinguish real from fake is a necessity for buying a true Nihonto sword.

Thanks for your advice Eric, That is true, as for now even if I do compare them without the real knowledge it is useless. I can understand that I first have to learn at all about the true Nihonto sword, it's features, beauty etc. But while learning I do think it is nice to get some practice online as well in the future. In the short time I am on NMB I learned (thanks to all the advice I got here) that books are the backbone, the rest comes later. So that's where I will start.

Thanks Charlie, will do my best.

Thanks Eric, I of course don't want to bother you all to much as I know I have to learn myself in stead of asking all the time. But it is nice to know I can ask questions if I need advice or need help. I am looking forward to learn as much as I can. And together with the info from the forum and it's members, I know that eventually I will find a nice true Nihonto sword for a fair price. Looking forward to get my books and start studying. I like to check out the sites and compare but I know the backbone of it all are the books. So I will first start reading and from there on we will see. Thanks!