Moley

Thanks Jean, It is indeed a Wakizashi then, also I'll get stuck in with the de-cyphering. I think the easiest thing is to print out a copy of the Hozon paper and write my translation efforts on top ? Thanks John, It is indeed a "lovely little blade" BTW it's Gwyn NOT Gwen .... Gwen is the female form of the name. Steve typed the wrong form, as he realises below :-) Thanks Steve, :-) :-) :-)

Thanks Steve, I can see that SWMBO is correct. Also it is rather large, so could indeed be a Wakizashi. From Mark's post, I have deduced that the paper is a Hozon, and that Hozon means worthy of preservation. Otherwise I have no clue as to what any of the Kanji says. What I would like is a page by page, word for word translation for my records. Regards Gwyn.

Ooops sorry - Image 2 is upside down, just realised. (My wife scanned it :-) ) Oh no it's not (Wifey)

Greetings fellow members, First of all may I state how grateful I am for being allowed to be a member of this forum and how useful it has been in furthering my knowledge about Nihonto. Please help if you can with the translation of these papers. I received these with my latest purchase of a Tanto which I believe is Yamato- den attributed to the Monju school. As I am trying to build up a profile for my own records, I would really like a page by page translation including envelope. Thanking you all in advance and in awe of your superior skills. Regards Gwyn (North Wales) Image 1 = Envelope (with pencilled in Kanji) Image 2 = Back of envelope Image 3 = Right side of paper Image 4 = Left side of paper Image 5 = Back of paper

Hi Peter, I notice it is now SOLD. Did you buy it ? I was tempted, but ..... the "BOSS" said one in = one out. Gwyn

Aaaaaaaaaaaarghhhhhhhhhhhh

Hi James, Tsuba arrived a few minutes ago. I am very very pleased with it. Don't know why, but I really like the Tembo Hot Stamp tsubas. Thank you very much for an easy and pleasant purchase. Regards Gwyn

Thanks James...

Aha - Eureka! Fantastic... Well Done. Getting the hang of it all now. Much easier to read on the eyes as well.

Hi Everybody, so far, so good. Working my way around the new Forum. But one feature I miss is the "Mark all Forums Read" button on the homepage. This way I can clear it without having to visit the Forums I am not interested in.

Here we go fella's:

Hi Jean, Thank you "SO" much for this. I shared with the "boss" that the cranes were "Husband and wife" and that he was being told off for spending all his pension on Nihonto. Hilarious.response Thanks Guys Gwyn (P.S. send me more stuff to spend my pension on... )

LOVING all this.. Learning every new post... Learned so much new terms already. Will post new measurements in the morning. Thanks

Hi David, Thanks so much for your input. I knew that it wasn't in good condition or of any great value. I just wanted some info about it, theme, what style/school is it copied from etc. Tsuba is 8cm x 7.5cm in diameter and it's thickness is 4mm. It weighs 100gms. regards Gwyn

Hi Guy's, I got this tsuba on a recent purchase. I usually go for the solid Tembo type tsuba, so any help with this is greatly appreciated. Thanks Gwyn

Thanks Jean, You guys are great. This is what I've managed to comply so far; (any more help GREATLY appreciated) Katana Blade: Period: Mei: Mumei Sugata: Shinogi Zukuri Nagasa: (Length from Mune Machi to Kissagi) 28.5 inches (71.5 cm) Nakago: Ubu, (Unsigned) 7.75 inches (19.5 cm), Nakago Jiri (Tip of tang shape ) is Iriyamagata Jiri, One mekugi-ana. The yasurime (File marks) are Katte Sagari Kissaki: O - Kissaki Moto-haba (Blade width near Habaki: 1.25 inches (3.2 cm). Moto-kasane: (Blade thickness at the Hamachi) 0.35 inches (0.9cm). Saki-haba (Blade width at the Yokote): 1 inches (2.5cm). Saki-Kasane: (Blade thickness at the Yokote) 0.25 inches (4 mm). Sori (Curvature) : Torii Sori (near centre) 0.78 inches (2cm) Hamon: Yahazu midare (uneven arrow notch, or fishtail) Mino were known for this Hada: Masame Blade condition: Excellent. In good polish with only minor pin head openings. Mounts: Higo mounts. Fuchi fine gold details of leaves, Menuki are of Dragons on a Ken (sword) The tsuka is fully wrapped in samekawa and has a black silk tsumami-maki binding. The tsuba is of Twin Cranes entwined.

Hi Guy's, Don't know if these are good enough? Really difficult to photo at night. Gwyn

Thanks Chris, Nakago just felt a bit small for the balance. Not too bad with tsuka on. It’s a fairly big blade at 72 cm and 31.5 at the hamachi.

Hi Ken, All this got me thinking. Whilst putting it all back together last night, the Nakago did indeed feel "a bit small" for the chunky blade's balance. So it might be suriage after all. If that is the case, then the blade would have had yaki-dashi? (Also click on "blade" attachment and you can see what I mean)

Hi Chris, Thanks for the input. The hamon continues under the Hamaki and also for about 1cm (Half the wave) after the Hamachi before flatlining. I don't think the nakago is Suriage either.

Another of the hamon

Kissaki

Here's another shot. Thanks

Hi there friends, It looks like I have a lot of research to do on a new Nihonto. Can anyone help me on my way by identifying this type of hamon (or point me to an useful reference site) Thanks in advance Guys. Gwyn

Hi Ray, Roy doesn't know about it's history. (Did you polish it by any chance?)