tokashikibob

Thank you Gents, I figured that would be the outcome.

Gents, Doing some homework this morning during a break, a Gunto koshirae blade with some very light rust and blemishes may be offered for sale in the future. I'm wondering what you think about the Gimei possiblities considering the chisling style is off via the pictures, and the reference thread below. How common was it to change styles? I was taught here that my last purchase (the Kasama Shigetsugu) changed his signature. Best Regards, Bob http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2742&p=19440&hilit=shoji+jiro#p19440

Wow, that is quite a looker! I bet you can spend quite a lot of time in study on that tanto. Congrats, Bob

Thanks fellas, that was a poor stamping just wanted to make sure I wasn't letting something walk that was worth saving.

Gentlemen, An odd piece here that has been chromed, looks like a cut down older blade but has a arsenal stamp of some kind. Why? Also, Would a togishi be able to put this right if warrented? Have not got it yet but thinking about it for the right price. Best Regards, Bob

Thank you John, that makes sense. Not a fatal flaw I would think, but not good news. I'll have to see what it looks like in hand. Best regards, Bob

Gentlemen, Have not gone to see this one yet, but the picture(s) show weird spots on the hamon, shingane? Looks to be recently polished. Does the mei look legit? Best Regards, Bob

Thanks for the tips Barry, they should clean up nice!

Gentlemen, I won these dragon menuki on ebay recently and would like to use them on either a Kabun Wakazashi or katana that need fittings and tsuka repair. Is there a proper way to clean the menuki? Dish soap and toothbrush? Best Regards, Bob

Thanks for the info Mark, and by the way tremendous job on the Chicago show! I really enjoyed it and cannot wait for next years event. I did not get to spend as much time at the show as I wanted to but was one of the collectors doing tsuka wrapping for a fee? Best Regards, Bob http://www.okinawarelics.com

Fellas, Looking at this sword tomorrow along with a couple Arisaka rifles. What do you think? Meiji era? There was a exact comp on the Sword forum that R. Stein said was probably Showa. Looks too old for that, but hey I am no expert. Did they make machine made blades back before 1900? Best regards, Bob

Any ideas Gentlemen on why it was defaced? Did the Japanese Officer snatch the sword somehow and did not want the "made for" inscription? I can't see any other reason why. Best Regards, Bob

Chris, Here are a couple of better shots of the date side. Hopefully it makes some sense. Best Regards, Bob

Thanks for all the feedback on the flea market find! 2014 has to be my lucky year on the Chinese calender as my 3 swords for the year have all been remarkable finds for a novice. My improving skillset in being able to spot these art swords at various auctions and ads are due in large part to you men of this board as you can earn a online master's degree in Nihonto right here! Writing down the name after Chris translated it, I didn't get to look up information until late at night when I pulled Clive Sinclaire's Nihonto for novices book and saw 3 or 4 entries in the index. Wow, hard to believe the same hands that made this sword made presentation blades for Yamamoto and even Hitler! In regards to the Nakano, I don't see any numbers on date side, as the characters look complex but hard to read, and faint, almost like something you see on a koto blade that is worn, it also looks to be chiseled by a different hand (assistant?). A couple other points where that the habaki / handle was stuck shut by old goo which was all around it and under it. I hope it was not blood but that is what it seemed like....I do not need another ghost problem which was a terrible ordeal in the past but seems to have abated. The handle is in solid shape, only thing there is that it is heavily soiled, so maybe this sword saw many front line campaigns or it was passed around the motor pool in 1945. After I talk to Grandpa those questions should be answered. As far as the blade goes it is free of any defects, and just needs easy polish. Best Regards, Bob

As always, Thanks Chris! I'll start doing some reading in my books then the net!

Not your typical flea market find; I set up at the Raleigh this past weekend selling all the estate sale/auction finds I could not sell locally doing my picking, plus garage debris, toys, and even beanie babies. Fortunately, at the last minute I decided to make up a couple of flyers "I buy war relics". Under the hot sun as I stand baking a nice young man with 2 young children who states he may want to sell his Grandfathers WW2 trophy. He says that his Grandpa had this sword surrendered to him. Very interested, I tell him to bring it by as I'll be here all weekend and sure enough he does return. " Wow, love the chain....., you say you've never had the handle off?", I tell him if there is no arsenal mark it's a nice WW2 sword for any collector. He also tells me that Grandpa is still alive and coming back from Florida next week, I pose a question about this flea market deal, to make sure that Grandpa won't get upset, and if not do you think he'd do an interview for my website. He assures me affirmative in both aspects, then we work on the stuck handle in the back of my van. I get it off with a little persuading and see no arsenal mark and hand drilled hole. I make a fair deal for the both of us as a blade with a living storyboard are relics I cannot pass on, and hopefully Grandpa has an interesting story to share here soon. Came back with less than a half full van so that was a success too! Of course I can't read kanji, so how did I do? Best regards, Bob http://www.okinawarelics.com P.S. Even Super Collector Mr. Ed Hicks stopped by and introduced himself and bought a big Asian pot I had for 20 clams (probably priceless), Ed, In case your reading this I still have the Nippon vase!

Gentlemen, I hope you are all enjoying a splendid weekend! Taking a break from posting/selling common antiques on the bay. I was able to pick up a set of tsuba from I believe the Edo period. One looks to have been in a museum at one time. I looked around the web and saw on Grey's site a similar piece which he stated was inlaid brass on the colorful one. Another Nihonto e-seller had the statement inlaid gold on his. Is there a way to tell for the novice without a acid test? Another question is would the proper labeling be Ko-Kinko? Shoami? I've got two Nihonto that need menuki as part of the restoration process, the recent wak-rescue blade, and this one from a few years back. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14622 When I'm searching for a set of menuki for either blade can I pick out what I like or do I have to find a certain style or metallurgy to make it correct? In your opinion would I be able to trade either of these tsuba at a show like Chicago for a set of quality menuki(s) needed for the resto blades? Best Regards, Bob

Gents, Some close up's of the hada of what it would seem to be one of Kanetada's better efforts compared to other examples on the internet. In regards to the unusual sword strike on a seemingly showa period made sword, could it be supposed that they trained in Iaido with their personal sword vice a training sword sometimes? Thank you in advance for any comments. Semper Fi, Bob

Joe, The bad part of this auction house was the 18% premium. I guess that Kantada isn't in the hall of fame, but he put some effort into this particular piece. I'll keep it around and sell off a nondescript gunto to keep my numbers down and $ up. Hell, I may bring it to Chicago so the pro's can give it a emperor's thumbs up or down. Best Regards, Bob

Fellas, Headed out early Sat morning to a well healed auction house, suit and tie crowd.. I'm a jeans and flannel guy, as a sexy looking gunto was being offered a couple hours away. I really liked the koshirae look and as always wanted to see it in person vice online bidding. The description was very poor... i.e. WW2 blade, nice temper line, that was about it. So, after getting lost a bit, I finally got to pick up the blade and focusing my poor eyesight, I'm shocked to see combo mokume/itame all the way to the mune. Gunome hamon with sungashi. The poor description shut down the phones and internet after a grand, it was just me and one guy bidding it up in 100 dollar increments until he dropped. It was nice to get a nice blade not in need of rescue! I think the mei is Kanetada correct? If so, I do not think it is Kanetada of showa period as a clue is the only kizu on the blade is a small distinct sword strike on the mune. Is there a earlier Kanetada or is the translation off? Koshirae - I really liked the Koshirae, especially the three part tsuba. Is there any significance to this hardware? High ranking officer? I'll try post some better hada pictures when I get my good camera back tonight. Best Regards, Bob

Gentlemen, Tampa Kantei arrived today. I want to thank Mr. Chris Bowen for his superb services rendered! I hope to use his service again for next Shinsa. Best Regards, Bob P.S. Fellas, you may be interested in checking out some interesting pics of Marine goofballs and their foreign lady friends from 1904-09 Asiatic scrapbook I'm working with. http://www.okinawarelics.com/john_turner.html

Update: Wakizashi packed up and brought to USPS during a ice storm, tomorrow is supposed to be worse.... Hopefully it makes it down there by Tuesday as Mr. Bowen has a showing with it on Thursday. Maybe Chris will log in from Tampa and put a final word on it's history. Gentlemen, Packing up the Wakizashi for Tampa. I took a few more pictures of the wild hamon for your perusal. The kissaki has too much patina to see what may be there. Hopefully the sword merits some positive discussion there and is recommended for restoration. Semper Fi, Bob http://www.okinawarelics.com

Gents, In regards to the wak rescue, I have been conversing with Mr. Bowen and will use his services for next months Shinsa in Tampa. Hopefully, there will be some exciting news in the future! Best Regards, Bob http://www.okinawarelics.com

Gentlemen, Thank you all very much for all the expert information. I tried to take a few more pictures but they are not worth posting. Looking at the hamon in detail after reading thru the messages, there are a few more crab claws formations on the blade in addition to the ones pointed out before that are quite "crabby". I'll look thru the forum for polisher information and make it a priority to get this task started on the wak rescue. Best Regards, Bob

Gents, A unloved wakizashi was on the auction table the last weekend, no action on it so I picked it up for $200. Very nice hamon with kisses to the shinogi. Is that unusual? Wiping it down revealed polisher marks on the mune and under the habaki. Habaki is think silver over copper and seppa's gold over copper, kashira and fuchi nicely detailed and solid silver. I'm guessing the menuki's were pretty nice since somebody cut them out, same looks salvageable but quite old. Since I am ignorant, any ideas on the type of Tsuba? Blade has no kizu except one ding in the Ha-saki. Masame hada. One day I'd like to see this one polished and kashira restored. Best regards, Bob http://www.okinawarelics.com