Drago

Look's like a tsuba perfect (if extremely creepy) for a cutting test sword... :?

X大 外方 But I have no idea what the third symbol is...

Interesting. So... What is a daimyo sword? If it is just one that once belonged to a damiyo('s family), then probably half the swords out there are displayed the wrong way around...

Hmm... The seller advertises it as a Meiji era shop sign. But this makes no sense. Nanzanji - at least makes a bit of sense because there is a Nanshan Shrine (China)... But still. Very odd.

Hi, I've been raking my brain, but I just can't figure it out. Could you help me please? I now I've seen these kanji before, but I just can't find them in my book! Well, me middle one is easy... :D

Hi guys, it's my questions-asking-day. :lol: I've often seen this menuki-style on tachi: http://www.ebay.com/itm/171533152835 - mon in the middle and "open-work" arms. I'd like to know: 1. Does this style have a name? 2. Why is it used on tachi? 3. Do the arms represent something? I've seen nihonto with similarly-shaped open-work nakago... The reason for my asking is that lately I've taken a fancy to this stlye. And when I'll have my custom-menuki made, I might use this stlye. But I'm not sure how it would look on a katana...

Hi, I have two swords - a katana and a wakizashi. On both I noticed, the saya is quite a bit longer than the blade - somewhere around 10cm. Is there a particular reason for this? Is this to be able to strike with the saya tip? On European swords, the sheath is just so much longer than the blade to cover the tip - but the sheath isn't used for fighting... Thanks!

bump...

Yeah, I tend to think so too. So, what about the mei and the shape?

Yeah, I bought it because of its unusual shape. Polish isn't that good - it's "shiny" but the hamon is only visible with a lot of counter-lighting and on the kissaki it only came out in the photo (it's basically invisible to the naked eye). I guess someone used it, true. But some scratches come from the saya - the metal cover is dented near where the kissaki is and the sword slides in with some difficulty for the last 5cm there. But the sword is pretty good and healthy (only a few polishes judging from the hamachi and thickness). And if shoshin, it was made by a jo-saku smith... So gentlemen, what do you think about my questions? and I'd like to add: 4. How to undent a dentend saya cover? EDIT: I measured the yokote - as well as that is possible with paper, pencil and a plastic ruler and not using my metal tools - they are identical, it really only looks like that because of the different ko-shinogi.

Okay... Here's ther full view. I took 100 photos with my camera and none turned out good, then I took my phone and took these. It's far from perfect, but I hope this helps.

Morning guys. Here are the pictures I promised. This was the first time I photographed Nihonto, so the pics aren't perfect... Please bear with me. First of, some clopseups and the kissaki. A note about the kissaki however: I was slightly wrong. The yokote are in the same place, but the ura one is slightly tilted. But the ko-shinogi is NOT in the same place. I'd guess the tip was reshaped slightly. (the boshi/kaeri can be seen near the ko-shinogi in blade-kissaki2.jpg) Overall pics of the blade come in the next post, I didn't manage to get good photos yet. EDIT: Sorry, so far, no pics of the full blade. There is no good sun at the moment and I have to figure out how to get good lighing in a different way.

Hi, I recently bought my second sword, a Wakizashi supposedly by Sukesada. It was more of an impulse buy (it wasn't that expensive), but oh well... (-> http://www.ebay.com/itm/131306822043) Wakizsahi signed (omote) 横山上野大掾藤原祐定 (ura) 備前國長船住, so probably 6th generation Sukesada (SUK893) in higher quality Type 98 fittings (but no pierced tsuba) with an aluminum saya cover and a nagasa of 50,25cm. I'd like to discuss the following questions in particular: 1. Shoshin of gimei? 2. It's unusual shape. 3. Value/worth. My thoughts so far on the questions: 1. I'd tend to say shoshin comparing it to the double-pic posted by Markus here (http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/ ... 78c9bf8309) 2. I'll post pictures of the blade later, but from the one attached and the eBay pics: Does this count as moro-kiriha-zukuri??? AND the yokote and ko-shinogi are not parallel on both sides, the kissaki is "longer" by 1cm on one side, but the height of the shinogi line on both sides is the same. 3. I know that it is only worth as much as people are willing to pay for it, but what would be a reasonable price should I want to sell it? There are som ships in the fron 3rd of the blade, again, I'll post pictures later.

I've been using that for a long time now - though only a few times for Nihonto. The problem is, that you have to be very close to the original kanji for it to work properly. I guess it work's better with a touchscreen and pen, but drawing with your cursor is pretty difficult.

Thank you very much. However, I'd like to suggest adding a few more identifying features - like Hawley's ID number.

Henk-Jan, I know that. Of course, I'd only be interested in something legal!

Thanks John. Yeas, I know. These things are available everywhere. I mean antique/ancient ones.

It's been a year since I asked this. Does anyone know if you can buy one of those? Thanks.

That one is mine too. I've had my eyes on this one for years, but my pocket money is severely lacking...

Very nice. What's that written on the habaki and mekugi?

Nice, but one the small handle, there should also be a kozuka and on that an even smaller kozuka and so on... :D Anyway, is the "blade" signed? Wonder if that is the maker's signature or just a decorative signature.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261546655423 Doesn't look half bad. Shinshinto?

From what I understand is that sword offered to shrines sometimes are done without a mekugi ana - so that the sword remains pure and cannot be used. Good for an offering, but a bit unpractical for practical use...

I was thinking about bidding too... When I saw the hamon on this picture - together with the specific Type 3 gunto fittings... I immediately thought: Ichihara Nagamitsu Chris, when you have the sword and remove the tsuka, please upload some pcis of the inscription(s). Would be great.

Hm... True.