gtstcactus

I wonder if the smith Muneyoshi (Hawley MUN 653) who used the shimosa (no) kami fujiwara had any relation to the Yoshimune who signed this sword... :lol:

I'm looking (without much success) for any & all images of leather tsuba (preferably with their lacquer mostly intact)... I want to get an old leather tsuba I've got re-lacquered and am a little uncertain if it should be done in plain black lacquer or if some sort of design/border/mon should be incorporated. I'd like for it to be authentic... Most of the lacquer is gone from my tsuba so not a lot can be told about it's original finishing... I've only been able to find images of 1 leather tsuba on the net so far... Here's my tsuba (not pretty)... Some might remember it (tho it's not incredibly memorable at the moment) as I think I posted about it once before. It's in good shape structurally but about 80%-90% of the lacquer is gone.... Here's the only leather tsuba I've found pics of online... (currently for sale somewhere).. It has a finish that makes it look a bit like iron... Mine has a much more glossy finish (what's left of it).

Hi Chris, I know of, have met and occasionally deal with Phillip.... I actually have some pictures of a Tanto I purchased off him to put up here tho I'm hesitant too as it isn't in fine polish and don't want to upset everyone again. I was told it is quite likely a Koto period tanto (Hira-Zukuri), which could be worth a polish... Jason

I forgot to add sometime back, this is now my sword.....

Yes, good one Chris, ok then I wondered if perhaps he was mentioned in someones literature and the said material happened to mention what he made...

I realise pictures would be more helpful, I was just wondering if anyone knew if this smith in general only produced one or the other or if he was known for doing this or that....

Perhaps the smith was doing a little extra work on the side for an "enemy samurai or daimyo" and didn't want it discovered that he had collaborated with the enemy... A long shot but you never know

Thanks to a kind board member my request for a translation was answered.... The sword was signed Mishina Masahiro, Mishina is the surname in this case not the school. I was wondering if anyone could tell me if this smith made traditional Nihonto or if he made showato...??? The original post with the mei is here -> http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=12160 I'm sorry for starting a 2nd thread about this smith but thought my question might get more attention and chance of an answer in this new thread. Jas

Is it likely Mishina is this smiths last name only and he had nothing to do with Mishina school?

Thank you both for your time and help. As it turns out I did actually get the 1st character I had Mi or San written down but disregarded Mi, shows my lack of experience I guess. Masahiro looks much better than Masanari like I had come up with. Did this Masahiro of Mishina School make Gendaito or Showato? Was he an average smith, good smith, or not so good? Any information appreciated. There are no stamps on the nakago or any other marking apart from the mei. I am searching for any info I can find on this smith at the moment so if anyone has any info be it ratings or anything else... Thanks again Jas

Hi, I viewed a Katana in Shirasaya today the seller said it was made somewhere from 1830-1945 which was not greatly helpful... My cellphone camera couldn't get a good photo so a helpful Chinese man copied the mei down for me, attatched is a scan of the said mei. He wrote the one in ballpoint pen. My girlfriend the copy in black marker. I've posted both as the 2nd character looked more like 3 E's with a line thru them not so much like 3 squares as the gentleman wrote. He said that's how he reads them tho. So I've put both up in hope of an answer. When he wrote it down for me he said the 3rd character contained 9 strokes and the 4th 6 Strokes. The 3rd looks to contain 8 but may just be the way it was copied. I'm just trying to give as much info as possible because I don't have a photo of the actual mei which would have been much better! So far I have come up with (It's most likely I'm wrong as I'm not really certain about my effort) 1st character - 3 2nd character - ? 3rd character - Masa 4th Character - Nari The database here contains no smith by that name, there is 1 smith by that name in John Yumoto's book but different character were used. If someone could help I would be most greatful

Sorry to drag up an old topic... Has anyone tried using a water based rust remover? (I'm sure it's been done and there's a good reason why not but I'd love to know why) I recently got a koshirae set, which was kept together with a broken blade which was rather rusty... Lots of black and red rust on the blade and red rust on the nakago... Being a broken and unimportant bit of a carbon steel I thought I'd try using a water based rust remover on it... (I wish I'd taken before photos) So the stuff says to immerse the steel in the liquid, I poured enough to cover the bottom of a plastic chinese takeaway container and popped the broken blade in it and left it. I had a few things to do so left it for about 8 hours. When i got home I used a combination of an old toothbrush and kithen scourer (green abrasive cloth but not too abrasive) and the rust just washed away. There was a little black tarnishing left underneath the rust which could have been left but being broken I decided to clean it up with brasso (ammonia and hydrocarbons). As best I can tell the rust remover did nothing to the "good steel" as it says on the bottle it won't harm unrusted steel and it seems not to have. It says it will leave a black film on the steel and it did a little but this just wipes off. I'm not suggesting anyone go and do this to a nihonto but I'd be curious if anyone actually has and the end result There was a little pitting caused by the rust but all the pits have cleaned up nicely, and I figure better the rust gone than further wrecking it..... The product is called evapo-rust the bottle doesn't say what ingredients are in the stuff.....

This is just something I was wondering about..... I am not looking to find a hidden treasure in a NCO Gunto! Did on the odd occasion an NCO (perhaps with a well off family) or an old sword about the house have it mounted in the NCO gunto style IE metal / aluminium handle and all??? Jas

That looks great!

No it is not my sword..... however I'm hoping the current owner will be so kind as to let me purchase it.

Thomas, Thanks for your help. I would have posted photos in the initial post but was worried about the upsetting everyone again with a piece not in brand new polish...

Keith, it is Han Bing Siong who is crying previously unheard of smith in this case, I'm just going with that thoery. Anyhow it'd probably be best if you do keep out of threads I start as you bring nothing to them but give me grief. So now I'm just going to ignore you. You don't know jack about me, assume what you like. More photos I can do..... It's not in mint condition.... The photos do make it look in worse condition than it is. The kissaki is a bit scratched up to see the boshi (polish would fix it) so probably no point wasting bandwidth with a scratched up shot... Nice hamon IMO. Here is Han Bin Siong notes: This sword is Nr. 284 in the series. Signature : Shimosa (no) Kami Fujiwara Yoshimune Nagasa : 52.7cm Sugata : Shinogi tsukuri, ihori mune, tori sori, chu kissaki Kitae : Given the current state of polish hard to discern. Hamon : Gunome choji midare, togari, ashi, tobiyaki, nie deki, yakidashi, nioi-guchi shimaru Boshi : Midare komi, ko maru, kaeri Nakago : Ubu, machi okuri, saki ha agari kuri jiri, yasuri me katte sagari, 2 mekugi ana, Signature on sashi omote. "Homma Junji Sensei and Ishii Masakuni Sensei's Nihonto Meikan lists all smiths that were given titles. However, no reference is made to a Yoshimune. Perhaps the sword at hand is by a smith unknown until now."

Keith, I accept your not having a go just stating facts as you see them, and thats fine. This isn't some treasure quest, nor am I trying to justify anything.... I was shown this sword and the notes from Mr Siong. Now all that he says is "Homma Junji Sensei and Ishii Masakuni Sensei's Nihonto Meikan lists all smiths that were given titles. However, no reference is made to a Yoshimune. Perhaps the sword at hand is by a smith unknown until now." What I asked is is there anything in any other books or information which they didn't have handy or available..... Hardly questioning them? Mr Siong states that perhaps this smith was unheard of til now (when he wrote the notes). So based on that theory I wondered if perhaps something else had come to light about the smith since the notes were written, granted that would have to be in the last few years but not impossible however unlikely. I think it may have been in the kantei post one of the members said you've got to check all the references you have available to you when attempting to research something. Yes perhaps it is gimei..... Perhaps not, how do we know, Mr Siong, didn't feel the need to proclaim it gimei in the notes he wrote about it... So perhaps it is you who is questioning Mr Siong and not I... Perhaps I should refrain from attempts at humour here, Keith you seem rather uptight sometimes, relax.... I wasn't serious about him "proclaiming himself Lord of the Realm"... Excuse my sense of humour but I get more laughs out of your rections than the original statement... I'm not having a go.... Just how it seems. Anyway enough off topic.. Here's a pic of the mei.

Great information guys, thanks very much. If anyone has any photos or further info please keep it coming. Does anyone have any good pics of the Kitsunegasaki sword, or the kogarasu-maru tachi in the imperial collection. There is a picture in my book by Kanzan Sato but the Kogarasu is the blade only, the Kitsunegasaki sword is a side on shot so you can't really see the tsuba. Or any photos of the oni maru, shishi maru..... Interested in pics with the koshirae on as well as just the blades. Google just got me a heap of manga pictures and chinese made swords... Also wondered if the tsuba in the OP is "restoreable"? Or would one just keep it as is? They look fantastic with all the laquer etc, I'd love to have one in mint condition... I'm suspecting to be told it's not worth it.... Is that the case?

Was looking at a blade signed "Shimosa (no) Kami Fujiwara Yoshimune" The notes that the owner has with them written by Han Bin Siong from the series of blades in dutch collections he cataloged said " Homma Junji Sensei and Ishii Masakuni Sensei's Nihonto Meikan lists all smiths that were given titles. However, no reference is made to a Yoshimune. Perhaps the sword at hand is by a smith unknown until now." What are peoples thoughts on this? I'm not questioning Mr Siong, just wondering if there are other references that he did not have handy at time of inspection or if any new information / discoveries have been made since the time he looked at the sword. So to conclude I'm really trying to find out about this smith (if he existed)? Could the title have been granted near death and only put on a few swords and was never recorded? Would it be a self proclaimed title? LOL, I was thinking if it were gimei, who exactly is he copying if no one else called yoshimune was awarded said title... I can get a pic of the mei if that would help... Kami means lord? Shimosa being the place name.... So aside from fujiwara unless it's part of his name I get Yoshimune Lord of Shimosa.... Is Fujiwara just part of his name, as I thought i read somewhere it could be a title also... One must have a big ego to proclaim oneself Lord of a Realm! Perhaps I've misunderstood!

I saw a wakizashi today that had a pretty worn and beat up leather tsuba. The tsuba is pretty had it in terms of the laquer coating but is still in pretty good shape...... How common are / were leather tsuba? Has anyone got one in good condition that they would care to share a photo of? I've searched through the board and not found much on leather tsuba. I've attatched a photo of the one I saw.... I know it's not pretty! Would it be appropriate to replace such a Tsuba? or would this be a "crime"?

I'm not sure if you're serious or not but you're actually right. I've got no intention of purchasing this piece of crap, perhaps why I didn't ask for opinions..... I often go thru stuff on ebay and many other websites, as well as photos in books and try to translate the mei. I'm not the best at it and can use all the practice I can get, this mei had me totally screwed, perhaps it's because it's cheap, fraud or whatever I don't know... Perhaps I should have explained better. Damn I just wanted a little help with a translation, never did I say who made this, it looks cool, I think I'll purchase it... Even some of the best artists had dodgy hand writing... This guy obviously wasn't the best artist, lol. Less assumptions would be good people, and perhaps just focus on the task/question/issue at hand. Brian, I'm sorry for trying to improve at reading mei.

Does it say something like 2 fried rice and a sweet & sour pork?

Does the yokote look right to everyone else?

TRANSLATION PLEASE NOT OPINIONS Really your no better adding an unhelpful reply to the thread..