Geraint

Dear Steve. Confusing, isn't it? Hannin is one of three levels of official in the colonial administration that Japan set up in territories that it acquired in the early 20th century. In common with many such colonial powers these were quasi military in that they had swords assigned to them. Hanin is a junior rank, Sonin is Emperor approved and Chokunin is an Imperial appointment, so the suggestion is that yours is the lowest of these ranks. The pattern is very similar to the Navy dress sabre of around the same time, hence the comment, but Navy swords have different scabbard mounts, yours does look like a colonial type. European style is because post Meiji restoration Japan modelled its armed forces on what were seen to be successful European militaries and this included uniform and sword styles. Early years is because these European styles were essentially in use up to the 1930s when more traditionally Japanese style swords were introduced. Hope that helps. Yours does not have any of the usual decorations on the ears of the hilt strap. All the best.

Dear Joseph. If the crack is sharply defined, almost geometric then be concerned. If it meanders then it might well be a forging lamination that you are seeing and no cause for concern. All the best.

Dear Colin and Dan. Well thank you for the enthusiasm, not much else to see but here goes. The tsuba is hardwood, the remainder fairly light. At least you can see some hada and the groove down the ridge is quite good. All the best.

Realy like the koshirae on that one Dan. Here's mine, nagasa 415mms and mumei. The koshirae is carved and stained wood. A late tourist piece I'm sure but I couldn't resist it. All the best.

Dear Hannah. I love this assignment, it opens so many doors! Here is a link to a well known collection of tsuba which might be of interest, http://jameelcentre....ection/7/10237/10373 There are many others available but this is a good start. I would not say that family mon were very common as tsuba or tsuba decoration, as you will see if you browse the collection in the link. The mon on your tsuba is of the Tokugawa family, (I see that Piers has done that bit of research for you), a name you will quickly recognise as you study Japanese history, however it is also widely dotted around on all sorts of goods made at the end of the Edo period, and indeed later, for export so you should not place too much emphasis on this. There is one other possibility which I will try to find for you. In a collection, I believe in Germany, is a complete mount for a sword that is European but made in the style of an enameled short sword. This is a very long shot but I will see if I can find the photograph. All the best.

Dear Jesse. Have fun with this thread if you don't already know it. All the best.

Dear Paz. Not papers as such, though I like Dan's idea. Like most collectors I do keep some records and add to them as I come across other information. Here is one example of the sheet I use if it's of any interest. Photographs go with this and sometimes an oshigata. Oei Bizen wkizashi.docx All the best.

Dear Yves. Usually the kogatana/kozuka fits into the saya on the opposite side to the kurigata, the kogai, when present is the one that fits underneath the kurigata. And there are usually two fittings, one sliver of horn or other materials just underneath the saya opening so that the back of the kodzuka does not rub and a horn or sometimes metal fitting across the saya at the mouth, Have a look here, https://www.rockisla...th-saya-and-kogatana I see that Matsunoki has beaten me to it. All the best.

Dear David. I'm sure you know this already but on the off chance that you have not come across it, https://www.shibuisw...com/nobu----iye.html All the best.

Yes indeed, well done! All the best.

Dear Dan. Do a search for tsuru tsuba. One here, All the best

Perhaps Moto for the first kanji? All the best.

Dear Henry. The indentation near the kashira is quite common on daggers that are intended to be worn tucked inside the kimono, apparently so that when you reach in to grasp the tsuka you can tell which side the edge will be. It may be relatively recent as Piers suggests but nothing wrong with it. All the best.

So do many others which is why gimei is such a strong possibility. Options: Would you be happy with something that you can tell yourself is Nambokucho Soshu but deep down you know that everyone you share it with will give you that sympathetic glance? If so then this is the one! Would you rather put in the hard hours so that you recognise Soshu and don't need to ask ? Then this is not the one. Would you like to spend the money and buy into Nambokucho Soshu with certainty by buying a polished and papered example? Then this is not the one. Do your studies tell you that this is a Nambokucho period tanto? Is it coming from Japan and if so why does it not have papers when the simplest thing to do would be to submit and confirm? Enjoy the journey! All the best.

Dear Jason. As always there will be several opinions but I have seen one or two of this type of koshirae and they are what I would call late Meiji export work, in other words made specifically for Western consumers. Your example has a nice sageo and a kurikata which makes it a little unusual so perhaps a closer image of the saya would show more. All the best.

Sorry Ron, I get nothing when I click these. All the best.

Dear Bruce. I realise that your interest in the sword is probably from the military point of view but can I just say that the Hamabe school from Inaba produced some very nice blades. Plenty of detail on the link that Jean posted. I've had an interest in the swords of Inaba for a while and have yet to find a Hamabe blade that I didn't like. Obviously condition is a key issue but if you get the chance then go for it! All the best.

Dear Mya. There is a real tension between the rules of conservation as applied by most museums to most of their collections and the way that Japanese swords are treated. For what it is worth the British Museum carried out a programme of conservation on some of its holdings of Japanese arms and armour, the results are available in their publication: 'Cutting Edge: Japanese Swords in the British Museum' Paperback – 20 Dec. 2004 The book is readily available and not expensive, quite a good introduction to the subject. The programme involved a sizeable donation of funds and the swords were sent to Japan for traditional conservation by craftsmen whose training was fully traditional. Let us know how your journey goes. All the best.

Dear Bob. Yamashiro Kaneiye. A reference example here, https://www.shibuisw....com/ELkaneiye6.html All the best..

Dear Tyler. While you are working things out it is important that you don't clean anything, some light oil on the blade is all. The tsuba looks very nice and this was once a nicely mounted sword. Go slow on this one. All the best.

Goodness, Steve, a Tankgewehr! What a beast! All the best.

Aaahh! You know when you are moving up an echelon in your collecting life when you can say that you are buying a better type of rust! All the best.

Dear Ryan. As this is in the 'Translation' section I was anticipating some kanji but I don't see any. Post in the 'Nihonto' section for more opinions. Any help that anyone is able to give/suggest will come from overall pictures of the blade and kissaki. Colour is always difficult to judge from images but given that some areas of the nakago appear quite clean while others are deeply rusted I would guess that the nakago has experienced rust damage as opposed to developing a good patina and that this is a heavily shortened sword. The shape of the nakago also suggests this to me but that might be rust damage to the edges. All the best.

Dear David. Check reply in the Translation section. All the best.

Dear David. Have a look here, https://www.bonhams....615-1868-dated-1862/ This seems to be the same smith so, the nakago on yours does not seem to be suriage to my eye, possibly machi okuri though I may have missed the photograph that shows the machi in your posts. Tachi mei is credible for this smith and given the period then it is perfectly likely that this was always intended to be the sword it is now and therefore not ever a nagamaki. Bear in mind that Shinshinto often copied shortened Nambokucho swords and that would account for the sugata, in other words it may have been an attempt to copy the sugata of what was an original nagamaki. Hope that helps. All the best.