md02geist

Yep already mentioned this. Thanks for pointing it out again though I'm sure not everyone saw my post but there are a lot of people who could use this book!

Certainly nothing wrong with appreciating all different varieties. I have a soft spot for tobiyaki!

It's funny you mention seeing papered swords swapped from Mihara to Aoe or back and forth; I've actually seen several examples of that just in my shopping. For instance a sayagaki will say Aoe but the NBTHK will call it Mihara etc. Seen at least one knowledgeable vendor openly question the attribution as well stating they felt it was the other etc. By the way you are right about the Mihara sugata; I too have never seen a Mihara with a poor sugata (of course my experience in looking and searching I'm sure is not as extensive as yours). I have my eye on one or two other Mihara blades as well, they seem to draw me in each time I see them. Like I said they have a lot of that functional elegance to them generally without super flashy hamons, etc. I don't mind the flashy stuff but to me true beauty lies in simple elegance. At least at this point in my journey! lol.

Thank you very much. Interesting choice of decoration; I looked up the symbolism on it and it seems to refer to fertility, child birth, etc. They seem popular enough that several of you were able to reference it without any issue; any idea why these might be used on a sword? What would they represent to a warrior? Praying for many sons etc fertile lineage or something? Just mulling over it. Maybe someone just really likes pomegranates lol.

Good for them! I hope it works out for them. I really like Aoi, they have had fantastic customer service in my limited experience with them.

That seems to be a really good direction to go.

Anyone have a guess as to what the heck the menuki are? https://www.aoijapan.com/img/sword/2016/16683koshirae.jpg

As I understand it the two were neighboring schools too, and share some similarities.

I noticed that as well. There seems to be some back and forth as to *exactly* what the years are where something would be considered Ko or Chu, and I found at least one reference that simply notes only "old" and "new" rather than any Chu or mid type Mihara.

I did as well. Was interesting to know there was such a discerning mark and different name for such a relatively short period.

Thanks all I appreciate the compliments! Can't ask for a whole lot more at that price range that's for sure.

Beautiful sword Ray. I haven't seen the one I've purchased in person but I imagine yours is in better shape. Nice hada on that one, it really pops. The same sort of purposeful elegance about it that swords like Naminohira etc exhibit; made for use! I find absolute beauty in functional elegance.

Picking up a nice Chu-Mihara blade from Aoi. I realize it has a large fukure in the nakago and some rough hada etc etc and the various wear but it seems to be a great sword (with marginal koshirae, and a nice shirasaya) for the price. Chu-Mihara are supposedly relatively rare to find and this one seems like a nice, if well loved, blade. I'm always fascinated imagining the history of a piece. I think this one has a lot of study potential and with the current Yen:USD rate wasn't a bad deal. I understand it will never be a high dollar juyo type blade so please keep the "oh wow bottom feeder blah blah" comments to yourselves. I love the simplistic, functional elegance of it (one of the reasons I like things like Naminohira) and Chu-Mihara supposedly are VERY close in quality generally to Ko-Mihara. The hamon reminds me of clouds creating a second, opposing horizon across the sky on an open winter morning. Sidenote: I always love Aoi pictures. I feel like they do a great job of showing you different things about the blade.

I'm certainly no pro on fighting from horseback by *any* means but I imagine against the more than likely lightly armored footsoldiers (or no armor, at the time a lot of the conscripts didn't really wear armor other than whatever junk they could salvage this was really before the time of regimented ashigaru) the warrior didn't need to do much more than hold it out and ride by aiming the edge at your soft target (and holding on tight lol). The horse momentum probably would have done all the work for you. Now fighting on foot with that bad boy would have been different altogether! Of course this is just idle speculation.

Beautiful blade.

Often the case (not being so clear cut).

Depends on who you ask lol. But i'd say generally yeah most people here think they are the good guys. I'd hope!

I saw that today too and was a little taken aback. It's fairly non-malicious I think but like...what in the world. Of all the people to target you target a Japan-based Nihonto dealer? lol.

Yeah he's got it down for right now b/c they're redoing it or something. He made a brief post about it on Facebook if I recall.

Thank you for clarifying that I appreciate it!

Nothing koto period for 300 is going to be worth the cost to ship, it will be one hunk of nasty rust or broken all to hell....your best bet is to save up some more like a grand or so and then go for a shinto or shinshinto wakizashi or tanto or something if you want a cheaper something to begin studying on.

The money wouldn't have been stolen because I utilized PayPal. But yes I agree people have suffered worse. However "it could have been worse" doesn't excuse the incident. "At least you didn't lose your leg" doesn't stop a broken bone etc. I've said what I had to say here and that's basically all I got. I'm moving on and will never deal with him again, and dependable people will get my money in deals instead. With all the statements of "alternative facts" I'd be happy to provide chat logs. I keep paper trails of *every* deal I do.

I did homework. He had many good reviews including from NMB members.

Meaning what, exactly? That people have been saying the same thing about him since then? I don't catch your meaning.

Nothing wrong with that it still looks awesome.