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Gents, Steven wanted to take a peek at the Yukinaga I picked up the other day. Gunshow walk in it was. As always correct me if I am wrong on anything here, but I translated it as a Takada school Yukinaga (which gen I don't know). It is in solid shape for a easy restoration. No openings, nicks or dings. Hamon looks good. Mune looks meaty, a few patches in the hada patina show interesting itame. The menuki look outstanding, highly detailed shakudo with gold inlay/highlights of water dragons. I may have to part with this in the future so watch the For Sale section if a few things don't brake my way. Best regards, Bob

Not to derail this threat. But i'm gonna go with you and/or a very groovy barber with a very aesthetically pleasing way of representing himself. On topic though, its really a shame someone thought it was a good idea to carve roman numerals on the blade.. Thanks to everybody for the information on this tanto - Kraken, I agree with Stephen it's a dead ringer according to wiki. Pretty cool theme I guess the artist was a Godzilla or Gamera buff. Shinshinto Muji - Yep, that it! Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! I'm guessing the serial number must be something a soldier thought was a good idea due to the U.S. Army / MacArthur order.

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Gents, I picked up this wonderful Otanto over the weekend. I really like the feel of this one in hand, much better than a Ka-Bar. The octopus (s) are really first rate work. Super dense hada, is there a name for this? Two hole mumei nakago, How do you like the inventory system? No more gummy sticky residue with tags! Any informational comments are most appreciated as always! Best Regards, Bob

Darcy, As always, thank you so much for all the tips and hints! I'll start looking at those men. What do you think of the possibility of it ending up a work of Kaneuji? The ladies have a pic of the narrow flat top utsuri on their site which matches in multiple places on this blade. Also the characteristics match in regards to Jigane makeup of his work from other sources. I wish the kissaki had it's clues visable. I'll start looking at the mei, but that seems like a never ending source of debate depending on what hand tool he used that day, and so on. I am in the process in trying to track down who the lady was who brought the sword back with her when she married the Marine right after the war. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some pictures of her, in what was said to be royal garb. I'll do my best to build a legit story for prosperity. Best Regards, Bob

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Gents, After 3 weeks of work, I finally have the "Right down the street" Nihonto in hand. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20004 It is very nice looking at the quality of workmanship here in the morning sun. I've taken the liberty of taking a few additional photos. I wish I could get the only kissaki cleaned up as that is the only restoration work needed. Blade is very nice and must be quite old as it has been polished quite a bit throughout history, I say this as the hamon is quite thin as it heads to the yokote. Other than that it is quite the blade. Best Regards, Bob

Thanks Veli!

Gents, Any idea on smith's name on this Takada Bungo wak? Unfortunatly I am not skilled enough to read some kanji. My guess is Takada Bungo XXXXChiku - Saku A possible future rescue piece if there is any excitement when I see it in hand. Best Regards, Bob

Bob, Thanks for the ballpark, 2k is what I offered yesterday which I thought was fair seeing that Nihontocraft has some choice Kane Mino under 3k polished with papers, I'll post some detailed stuff if he decides to sell. No flaws except some large grain, and would need a finish polish. Nice piece hope he deals. Best regards, Bob

Japanese goverment Nihonto card

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Gents, Got a message and a grainy photo from a fella saying he's got a sword and some misc gear. Crazy thing is that he's less than a half mile away. Living in a the largest Marine town in the good old U.S.A there are always good leads to track down and this was one of them. Just found in closet Family sword from SgtMaj's Japanese wife who was part of a aristocracy in Japan. The son just started to work the mother's polish into it and was laying on some nice fingerprints. The tsuka has some odd yarn like material under itomaki, what type/meaning is that? Cut down blade with one kanji left, Blade is very nice with only some discoloration on the yokote area. Hamon gets thin there and it is hard to see around the yokote/kissaki but I don't think it runs off. I'd like to make a fair offer, he does not need to sell, and I don't need to steal anything, what do you think would be a fair price? Best Regards, Bob

Thought I share this in case someone's interested, auction company can sure write a Rah-Rah description. Auction is tomorrow, you can google Estate Auction Company 848 East Chocolate Avenue Hershey , Pennsylvania if this is anyone's interest. Best regards, Bob Estimated Price: $25,000 - $150,000 Description: Folks up for auction now is a, extremely rare, museum quality, miniature samurai sword, from the 1500s.... "Signed" (refer to pictures to see signature). This exceptional sword, measures approximately 16 inches long, however, it is made exactly like a mature males full-length temple sword. We had this sword professionally authenticated! Whereupon, we were told, they had never seen a samurai sword like this, and that this sword was made for the son of royalty, the son of a Emperor. This exceptional sword, has a full shark skin scabbard, completely solid silver mounted, silver TSuba, and a fine solid silver, signed punch knife, mounted on the side of the scabbard. This exceptionally fine samurai sword was brought back from World War II, by a vet. Along with the pictures, which will be included with the sword. This sword is signed beautifully on the tang, by a renowned maker. Please refer to photos to see the signed Tang. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy the only known miniature "signed samurai sword" in the world. This sword has never before been offered for sale!

If anyone is interested in a Iron Kunihiro I got one up at no reserve. Best Regards, Bob http://www.ebay.com/itm/301279765137?ss ... 1555.l2649

I'm thinking Nihonto is at least a Master's program or Doctorate, just to be able to give 2 cents worth of advice! I wish I would have spent more of my time in Japan (over 5 years) checking out Castle sword collections vice chasing women.

No shirasaya on this one, yard sale find in New Jersey area. I got a quick look at it a couple minutes at most, while looking at a large militaria collection and did not see any openings or anything. I will take a good look at the hamon run off next time as Big John pointed out if the guy decides to get serious and let me throw a offer. I'm excited about the polish too if I can get it cheap enough! Best Regards, Bob

Gentlemen, On #2, am I way out in left field with Hirata Hikozo? There are some similarities here especially the comment "copper plate will have yamagane fukurin" which is what this has in my amateur opinion. From Shibuiswords Basic Shape: Round, oval, nadekakugata, and mokko, a shape which is very common and is similar to nadekakugata, but is slightly wider and more rounded at the sides. Seppa-dai: Most are a wide oval shape with a tendancy toward roundness. It is thick in appearance, very stable and firm; powerful as are all parts of the Hikozo tsuba. Hitsu-ana: Most are common style and design. The very large size hitsu ana commonly associated with the first Hikozo are much rarer in his work than was previously thought, and seem to be used on the work of later generations for the most part. Size & Thickness: Average size in most cases. Average thickness (4.5 millimeters). Edge: Round edge, but many will have a fukurin attached. There are several types of fukurin used by Hikozo: plain, rope design, and others, but the most common is the odawara fukurin. The soldered joint of the Hikozo rim cover is so skillfully joined it can rarely be detected. Inlay: Gold and silver nunome, horikomi, and hirazogan plus splashed or drops of silver that seem to float on the surface. Plate Metal: Shakudo, shinchu, pure copper, and yamagane are the most common. Iron plate is very rare. The color of the plate is very rich and illustrates the many patinations and coloring processes Hikozo devised for the many plate metals and combinations he used with such facility. Web: The surface of the web is a wonder to behold. It may be treated in many ways but each shows a mastery of the tools, techniques, and feeling for the plate metal very rarely seen in the work of any other artist. The carving may be shishiai, katakiri, or horiage. In yasuri, shigure-yasuri, and particularly okina-yasuri were so perfectly executed that no other artist ever equaled their quality. The yakite kusarashi technique was used to form natural designs as well as surface finishes, both styles were handled with consummate skill. Comments: The most splendid point of the Hikozo tsuba is the control and treatment of the plate metal and the aesthetic combinations used to achieve harmony of plate and fukurin. Copper plate will have yamagane fukurin; yamagane plate will have shakudo fukurin; iron plate will have silver fukurin; and other combinations that blend metal color, textures, and values, to derive the most from their aesthetic beauty. It must be remembered that Hikozo chose kawarigane plate for aesthetic as well as utilitarian beauty and his tsuba served both areas admirably. Even though the origins of his designs and techniques will be found in the tachikanagushi tsuba of the Muromachi age, he carried these techniques to a perfection never again to be equaled in the kawarigane tsuba. http://www.shibuiswords.com/hikozoschool.html

Fellas, Thank you very much for all the input on both Tsuba. Tsuba study is just about as difficult and diverse as the study of blades enough to make the eyes water in front of the computer or waking up with a black and white referance book next to you in the sack. If I find some time at home I'll do a Jim Gilbert on the stove to try and get rid of the old tag mark. The Coppery one I think looks nice held in hand, and does not seem to be a fake, but what do I know. Hopefully I can get to CHicago next year and trade some tsuba's for a decent gunto. Best Regards, Bob

Gentlemen, I have gotten a hold of a few tsuba recently two of the more interesting are these. My question is am I way off base thinking that the samurai themed piece can be labeled Ko-Nara? Very detailed piece, unfortunately the samurai's face has been rubbed. Is this something that may be repaired? The brassy one I could not find anything as a comparable in my few books or on any of tsuba sale/reference sites. Copper rim with gold wash, but the tsuba is a odd metal brassy mix I guess. Great detail, but also bird's breast has been rubbed a bit. Thanks in advance for any comments and additional information of these tsuba. Best Regards, Bob P.S Any ideas on how to get the ancient label goo off? It's on there.

Gentlemen, Thank you everyone for the supporting words. I bought these swords breaking one of my rules of seeing the item beforehand. But they looked good in the low res photo's I saw. When I got them they were just blades no koshirae, there were some clues to being fakes when held in hand but they were well made fakes artifically aged and easy to create illusions to a amateur. They were a excellent learning tool, but I sent them back to the antique shop with the link from this board for a refund, out some shipping $. Since I am a little gunshy, well.... nihonto shy nowdays, I handled this mumei tanto recently, blade looks solid and defect free, no describable hada to mention, has scratches and a sandpaper swipe. I like it as it's complete piece with no major issues. Best Regards, Bob

Gentlemen, As always thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and information. It was dissappointing and sobering. Lesson(s) learned. Same old story much like Nazi helmets, duck decoys, art glass, etc. Best Regards, Bob

Mumei Hada pics

Gentlemen, Acquired a couple of neglected blades recently. One is a mumei short katana with some neat hada but also some forging issues. The other which I thought was in all probability a showto or Iaido piece, may be something else. What do you think? Is it Kansei era? I read Yuki Yama Da but don't know the last two. It's a massive piece 47 inches total with 38 inch cutting length. As always thanks for taking the time! Best Regards, Bob