Geraint

Looks interesting Dennis, more images please. Especially of the blade. Cheers

Hi Steve, Do you mean a stamp? I have never come across that but of course several Shinto smiths cut the symbol in the same way as they cut the mei?

Curtis, Certainly not a Chinese fake. The koshirae is of a type encountered reasonably often. pressed brass components assembled to cover the whole of the sword. Usually assumed to have been done at the end of the 19th century to produce mounted swords for sale to the West.

Hi Curran. It certainly is an unusual feature though not unique; I have a memory of a tanto or ko wakizashi on Aoi Art with an extended nakago and there is one in the Boston Museum collection, number 51 in the catalogue. I believe the Aoi Art one had a steel sleeve fitted around the edge of the nakago but the sword has gone and is no longer on the website so I may be imagining it. In the later case a copper extension is used and seems from the oshigata to be riveted through an existing mekugi ana. Ogawa san comments; "The tang of this wakizashi was originally short, but now has a long copper plate 'nailed' (sic) to it. A long handle attached to a short tang would be very vulnerable and easily broken, so the copper plate was added to strengthen it." This was on a long Soshu wakizashi and one can imagine it mounted as katana; with the short Soshu tang breaking the tsuka would be a very real possibility. If I had bought the sword I think I would regard it as very much a part of the blades history and certainly wouldn't attempt to remove it, always provided that it had the probability of being a Japanese repair.

On the other hand , Christophe, check out the daisho tsuba on the "For Sale" section......

Welcome Ian. Buying from e bay is now almost impossible in the UK but there are very good sources for swords around the world. You have one great advantage, you live in the area of the Northern Token society! (Though having two members called Ian B might be confusing!) http://www.northerntokensociety.org.uk/ ... ut_Us.html It is so worth joining these guys, not only will you have access to a friendly and enthusiastic bunch of collectors but also when you do find a sword you wish to buy from overseas you will hit the problem of justifying its importation through customs. Membership of the society is one way of proving that you have a good reason for bringing the sword into the country. I would also advise joining the To_ken Society of Great Britain, http://www.to-ken.com/ which will be of benefit as you start to explore this fascinating world! Spare a thought for those of us who live in the outer fringes of the UK for whom any sort of contact with fellow collectors is a bit of a mission. All the best.

Which is a promising start so can we see some images of the rest, please?

Have a look at this thread, may help you out. viewtopic.php?f=50&t=13926

Glad you like it guys. Not me who cleaned the shibuichi, a previous owner. When I acquired it it was described as silver due to some overzealous polishing. So far the kojiri has settled in the best but time will enhance the rest. Thanks for your positive comments, just a shame it doesn't have Gotot Ichijo mei.

What, you mean it's not tachi mei?

I agree with Chris, a nice package. You would think that someone with the skill to remove a mei would also have the wit to ensure that yasurime matched, wouldn't you? Perhaps it is a deliberate indicator of the removal? Well spotted Patrick!

I have to confess that I really like a nice a sword in koshirae, don't tell me I know, I know! This one came to me with a Takada Sadayuki blade and mounts that were assumed to be silver. Time has confirmed that they are shibuichi with katakiri bori, honzogan silver and gold butterflies and blossoms. Fuchi, kashiara and kojiri all match and as the shibuichi tones down to a lovely grey they are getting better. Hirumaki tsuka with silver tombo menuki, gold foiled seppa, a true niju habaki but with a single piece silver foil jacket and an iron Higo style tsuba with some gold zohan and a silver fukurin. The kurikata is carved black horn. Sorry, I am no photographer so any advice above point and click will be wasted I'm afraid. Just thought some of you might enjoy this. All the best.

ask a Cornishman if the glass is half full or half empty and he will invariably answer that it is not big enough....

Hi Aron and welcome. I appreciate your interest in the sword but as you know it is in pretty bad shape. We have seen some examples of blades that looked as if there was no hope returned to life by skilful Japanese polishers but this one does look to be too far gone, others may have more optimistic opinions for you. If you do decide to attempt restoration then a reputable polisher will soon tell you if they think they can do anything for it, however it will cost a lot of money and the sword will never repay that. Why not keep it oiled as a souvenir of your Grandfather and lurk here for a while, stacks of really good information and, who knows, you might find something that will deepen your interest in this fascinating field. All the best.

Just one question Brian: "How do you get drool off a keyboard?" Seriously, thank you very much for that one.

I can't believe that it is thirteen years since publication! I have all the issues and re visit them quite regularly because they do contain so much useful information. Great to see them on the website; if you think Issue 1 is a treat then just wait!

And it seems that Juyo swords are not immune from this sort of thing. Have a look at this article, http://www.nihontocraft.com/japanese_sword_papers.html Towards the bottom of the page some information regarding fake Juyo papers. I get the impression that these are out and out fakes perpetrated by persons who have no connection with the NBTHK but as has already been intimated the love of money is a root of evil..............

Hi Folks. Just been browsing the Hartman catalogue and came across lot 183, fuchi, kashira, kogai and kodzuka signed Isshin Masatatsu. Would make an excellent koshirae with the tsuba illustrated in Robinson as Plate 4A also signed by this artist. Perhaps the Hartman set and the Tsuba in the V & A museum were originally a complete set. What a koshirae that would have made!

Here, here! Looking forward to it being ftb with great stuff!

There is no boat house at Hereford. Not nails, ain't got no Oakleys, not one for wearing cravats in the bath, just got Google and a suspicious mind!

Hi Brian. Before anyone else jumps all over you here is a thought. Cleaning out the saya liner for a gunto is a reasonable thing to do but be careful when sanding. Always small particles of the abrasive medium on the "sandpaper" become detached and embedded in the wood you are working on. A recipe for serious scratching to your blade if you are not careful. Might I suggest that rather than sanding you investigate some small, shaped scrapers? Easy enough to make and far safer in the long run. All the best.

Dear Christophe, What a pleasant koshirae! Just wanted to ask why you think the habaki is too big? Is it a habaki added to replace one that perhaps was left with the blade, in which case as it is not original to the koshirae then a wooden one would seem like the best move.

Hi Anders. Welcome. Can't help you with the references you request but perhaps with your last comment. There is nothing up with the tang, (nakago) That shape is a classic for a Kaga sword. Hope that helps, unless your comment was directed at something else? Cheers.

Certainly mounted as an uchine now, but the seller is quite clear that the koshirae is modern. All the uchine I have seen have very conventional yari blades or normal fukuro yari. Have a look at the shape of the shaft in the bottom two pictures where it has been shaped to fit the socket.

Inoshishi no yari = wild boar spear. Hefty, leaf shaped blade. Had one once, think it is in France now. It was mounted on a distressingly short shaft which appeared to be unshortened. Frightened me.