Shugyosha

To be honest Jeff, that's a bit technical for me. The logical bit of my brain would say that you would only get shinae on the side of the blade that has been compressed rather than stretched but that might be wrong as this is a flaw that isn't that common and that I've only ever seen in pictures. I don't recall seeing them on both sides of the blade but that isn't conclusive. I understand that, if minor, they can be ground out but it is a flaw so again, using what passes for my reasoning, they would be removed if possible - I've just seen Rohan's post which probably sums it up pretty well. Some more information on flaws in this thread and the third post has a picture from an old book which might interest you.

Hi Jeff, They may be caused by a bent blade having been straightened and are called shinae. https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/kizu.htm

Tom, you’re too generous - the guy didn’t even say “please”.

No.

So, a genuine question, to which I don’t know the answer is “what amounts to a kinzogan mei”? Should it be carved like a normal mei and then inlaid or just “keyed” like nunome zogan and then painted on? I think the former and as soon as I see the latter that arouses suspicion for me. Don’t know anything about how genuine Hon’ami attributions are executed though.

This. I'm not sure I can see any inlay at all: it looks like it has been painted on rather than carved and then inlaid with gold.

Hi Greg, If it helps any, the one on the left in the photo looks like it might be a Masonic sword: I think I can see the Star of David on the pommel.

大和守口口作 - Yamato kami blank blank saku. Looking down the list of smiths with the title "Yamato Kami" in Sesko's Compendium to try to fill in the blanks, a plausible option might be Ujinaga (氏命) based on the shapes I imagine I'm seeing but it's a bit of a guess. Do you have a better photo Peter or can you do anything to highlight the strokes in these kanji to make them a little clearer?

Is that actually seki gane though? From the photo above it doesn't look like metal inserted into the nakago ana but rather colour added to the metal to create the impression of seki gane. Perhaps a photo on the angle showing inside the nakago ana might clear it up?

That is a truly lovely piece - thanks or posting the pictures.

The British Museum had a big chunk of their collection polished by Kenji Mishina some years ago and it formed the basis of an exhibition then. If anyone is interested, the book cataloguing the items that formed the exhibition is still available and is entitled "cutting edge: Japanese swords in the British Museum". https://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Edge-Japanese-Swords-British/dp/0804847347

Hi Grey, The second picture is the theme: Kanzan and Jitoku - 寒山拾得

That's what it says, then oite Osaka (於大坂). "At Osaka". If it helps your research the date is to a day in June in the first year of Keio (1865) 慶應元年六月日 - Keio gan'en roku gatsu hi.

And for the tsuba Issando Joi: 一賛堂乗意 https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/25731

Hi John, For the menuki 横谷英精 - Yokoya Eisei

Hi Peter, I think kitau - 鍛 "forged".

Hi Mark, I'm not saying it isn't, but a long time ago I had a gunto signed (Sho stamp) Yoshida Kaneyoshi - just a four kanji signature: 吉田兼吉 Sorry, I don't have any pictures. If I remember correctly the "da" kanji was quite stylised - more of a circle with an X within it - so quite a different signature to this one, but that mean something or nothing...

Nothing to do with what looks like a momumental crack in the ha then?

Steven, If that’s you with the confused face emoji, go ahead and spend your money. I know you’re confused, but please read a round a bit.

Hi Steven, I’m going to take the plunge if no one else will: the mei is as described in the description, but it’s done very badly. I wouldn’t be spending serious money on this sword as it has no papers to back up the big name signature and, even without hitting the books, I doubt it’s the real deal. For swords with big names, NBTHK papers are the gold standard. That’s it, all you need to know.

Hi John, It does look similar to this kanji: 重 It’s normally read “shige” in the context of Japanese art names but is normally used with at least one other character to make a name. Here’s a link to an on line dictionary for its meaning and other readings: https://jisho.org/search/重 %23kanji

My pleasure.

Good morning Gwyn, Here's the remainder: 六段に列する - Rokudan retsu suru - Achieved the rank of 6th dan 令和七年二月二十三日 - This is the date, Reiwa seventh year, second month 23rd day The names of the Chairman and Chief Instructor follow: 会長 - Kaichō - Chairman 草原克豪 - This is the chairman's name so the reading may be different to this but I'll try Kusahara Katsuhide 首席師範 - Shuseki Shihan - Chief Instructor 大石武士 - Again a name but I'll try Ooishi Takeshi 第一三二五号 - Dai ichi san ni go go - number of the certificate, Number 1325

Hi Ed, I'm not sure about the "kuni" as whatever is inside the enclosure in this kanji is obscured, with the name I've gone for "Sada" but it might be "Sane" (真) and also the number of the month (I think I can see eight) so I have: 大国住貞改文久二年八月日鍛之 - Okuni (or Daikoku) ju Sadamasa Bunkyuu ni nen hachi getsu hi kitau kore At Okuni, Sadamasa forged this [on] a day in the eighth month, second year of Bunkyuu (1862)