Geraint

Got it Jean.

Jean, I'm not sure that leather thong translates too well. In Oz your thongs are your flip flops, in the UK a thong is something different.

Very helpful link and the secret is revealed! At least this will save those of us in the UK from worrying about Jean looking for a leather thong! All the best.

Hi. First up please sign your posts with at least a first name, (board rules). We need to see pictures of the rest of the sword to be certain but at the moment there are some question marks. The mounts are not shingunto mounts, the hilt wrap is certainly wrong and the tsuba is also doubtful. If you can find it there should be a mekugi, (bamboo peg) under the hjilt wrap at some point. This should push out though you may have to struggle a bit. When this is free the sword should come out of the nakago, can't resist saying that you need to be careful at this point. The decorative motif, which I assume you refer to as the markings, has no connection with anything railway oriented I'm afraid. A picture of the blade overall and of the nakago with any markings, as well as overall shots of the whole sword will allow people to give you the lowdown. Don't get your hopes up on this one, it doesn't look too good at the moment. Meanwhile have a look at this site, http://ohmura-study.net/905.html Lots of things to see. All the best

I suspect that what Curtis is referring to is the outline of the hamon rather than the activity within it.

Hi Ludolf. If they are over sized then almost certainly produced at the turn of the 20th century. Large brass tsuba, usually one sided in their decoration made for export. small sized nakago ana and no seppa dai. All the best. Oh and nothing to do with the two mei.

Thank you Morita san, I should have got that one. There is a smith signing this way from circa 1661, listed as NOB620 in Hawley's. All the best.

Morning Don. The sword itself is in kai gunto mounts, for use by naval officers. The mounts are complete though a little battered, missing one seppa? The blade is an earlier wakizashi and seems to be in quite good condition. The signature seems to be Bungo no ju Fujiwara ?? yuki. Not yet sure of the second to last character. This would make it a sword by a Bungo Takada smith, a group not always highly valued by collectors but appreciated by military men. A nice find and a fascinating aspect of your history. All the best.

I think we are making a mistake referring to the decoration as zogan. The source of the material for the two outer plates is the key. Now I'm running too.

Pretty close I think. Whatever else is causing concern the placement of the decoration derives from the source of the metal rather than any design intention. It may indeed be modern and it does look as if it has never been on a sword but if you are going to use a bit of scrap metal, what a way to go!

I think the clue is in what the surface plates come from that is 16th century. Fascinating thing, wouldn't it be great to find out it's history? Thanks for sharing that one Ian. All the best.

Hi, Have a look at this, http://www.nihontocraft.com/Mihara_Nihonto.html At the very least you have, or might have, a signed koto piece in polish and good quality shirasaya with sayagaki. Much to study and a group with some interest to it. What's not to like? If your estimate of the cost is right and provided there are no fatal flaws this is a bargain in my opinion. Oh, and unusual wakizashi sugata and a silver foiled double habaki. Have fun.

"Bingo no kuni Mihara"? And by the way I'd buy it like a shot.

Glad you got your sword back Chris, well done! All the best.

Dear Paul. You don't specify what currency you are working with but if it was me I would pass on this one. It has gunto mounts but the saya is at best scruffy, at worst nothing to do with the sword. The blade is mumei as you say and bears the signs of being a WWII production sword, though of course we can't see any of the detail of the hamon or hada because it is out of polish. If you want to collect military swords then there are much better examples around, if you want to collect other swords then there is little to recommend this one. We all understand the desire to own a real Japanese sword and when it comes time to part with your cash then of course this is your choice. Have a browse through the links to dealer pages at the top of the page and get a feel for what is out there before you make up your mind. All the best.

Surely not nunome zogan?

Hi Ron. Others will have more to add I am sure but here are some starters. Perfectly legal to do this, the recipient may have to demonstrate a legitimate reason to own it. Evidence that you belong to one of the sword societies usually works. The recipient will be very glad if you document the swords age as much as possible which means a reduced level of duty if the sword is antique. The law in effect states that it is illegal to import a Japaneses word unless it was made in Japan before 1945, was made in Japan by a licensed swordsmith or is for use by a member of a martial arts society. So basically any Japanese sword that was not made in Japan, (????) and any Japanese sword made anywhere else if you are going to use it for martial arts. Don't ask! The problems seem to come from customs officials who do not have a clue what they are looking at, but then why should they? At least that's a start. All the best.

Hi Dan. If you go to Aoi Art at this link, http://www.aoijapan.com/japanesesword/katana, scroll down and look for swords with suriage then have a look at the oshigata, click on them to enlarge. This should answer your question. All the best.

Hi Howard. On your original link to the War relics forum there is a page of family mon from a Japanese source which shows both left and right facing manji. Problem solved, surely? All the best.

It is interesting to see what commands a high price in Japan, there are certainly some surprises as far as koshirae are concerned. All the best.

Hi Trent. Do a search on the board for Bird head tachi, they come up from time to time and if you scroll down the page you will see a download from Markus with lots of info. There is a very famous pair which are sumptuous beyond belief and are in the form of male and female pheasant. The two you link to are unusual but...... A recent one was listed as gendai, you might try a look at Aoi Art for the example. All the best

Hi John. Nice tsuba! Check your PMs for some info. All the best

Hi Wiliam, I can't get any closer than you on this one. Someone else will chime in sooner or later. All the best.

Hi William. (You will get asked to put your name on each post, easy to do in your profile.) I am having trouble reading the first kanji but the second is mitsu I think. Have a look at the kanji pages from the link at the top of the homepage and you might have a chance to find the top kanji in hand. All the best.

Hi Ed, Given that you have looked at kinzogan mei on other swords what are your conclusions regarding the quality of that on this tanto? All the best.