CurtisR

I agree! It is probably out of my price-range (having another blade mounted in shirasaya & habaki made for it so *poof* goes my collecting $$ lol), but very pretty and the Tsukamaki is beautiful, even today. Also, the menuki are very thick vs. the standard ones seen on most Gunto. Not sure if the owner would like to sell it but I will certainly ask! Curtis R.

Hello All, I've recently found this sword in a friend's collection - pretty koshirae IMHO. I haven't fully translated the mei, but know it was made by a Seki smith and appears to have been re-mounted. It has a very tiny kanji (maybe 3-4mm) just above the top mekigiana that is not stamped but hand carved. Thought I'd post it for your enjoyment... Cheers, Curtis R.

Thanks to all for the great opinions & advice. Seems I am learning a thing or two and after confirming my thoughts, will leave it be. I suspect the seller will want more than a couple of hundred $, but as long as it's not *my problem to re-sell, he can ask what he wants. Sad that it cant be re-polished, but I examined the blade closely under a magnifier last night and found a bubble/indentation on each side of the blade. Perhaps this is why it wasn't signed........ Best, Curtis R.

Thanks much Grey and Mariusz ~ Apologiez for the nagasa measurement (duh on my part). Two questions and I'll be done with this one, if you don't mind? 1. Do I have the period "possibly" correct? and 2) I'm seeing that from the overhead shot, there is a lot of "meat" missing from the original width of the nakago, which would indicate it's been polished many times, correct? Well, in addition to the very indistinct hamon.... Just trying to verify what I'm learning... No big deal on the period but am wondering if my guess is close to the mark. Many thanks, Curtis R.

Greetings All. I've recently been offered to buy this blade, found in nicely aged shirasaya, but it's giving me "mixed signals" and thought I'd run it by those here for some wisdom before committing. it hasn't been treated terribly well but seems to have a genuine yokote & nice (although faded) hamon running to the Nakago. What's really throwing me is the apparent age of the nakago (mumei) vs. the condition of the blade itself. I know some can be falsely aged, but the wear/pitting is consistent on both omote and ura sides. The overall shape of the blade is attractive (to me at least). Measurements are as follows: Nagasa = 65cm Nakago = 15cm Sori - 2.5 cm Also, I'm wondering what would cause the black pitting (see photos) mid-length? Have seen this before on other blades and am guessing it wasn't properly re-oiled after being removed from the saya, since they appear to be in an almost straight line. Am I off base here? Due to the copper habaki, shape of the kissaki and depth of the sori, I'm guessing either shinshinto or perhpas early to mid-edo? Thanks and cheers! Curtis R.

Thank you Chris - it makes sense that the Navy would use stainless - duh - should have thought of that! And yes, the stamo is exactly as the right sided of the Toyokawa mons. No mei on the blade, either. Thanks very much! I'll study the page a bit more too, so when I run into them again...... Cheers, Curtis R.

Greetings to all. I ran into a sword yesterday that had a distinct anchor (surrounded by circle) neat the top of the Nakago (prior to habaki) and am wondering how rare they might be? I've seen star-stamped blades of course, but this was the first I'd seen with a distinct Anchor. Gunto mounts, obviously, but the blade was in excellent condition with little aging of the Nakago - a clue that it may have been kept out of the elements and humidity. The craftsmanship did not indicate it was a Chinese fake.... I'd guess it was made for a Naval officer, but perhaps there are tons out there and I just haven't seen them? Thanks in advance, Curtis R.

Thanks John - ill do that too, as I ensure clean hands ALWAYS when handling weapons. Shipping my next to him in about a week. I highly recommend him! Curtis R.

Ok Bruno - here are a few..... The plastic wrapping is designed to keep oil-stains from hands etc. off of the sood. And it it a TIGHT fit...no slop, with the original habaki intact. Curtis R.

Wow Bruno .... I'm guessing you'd like some pics?? Lol... Will post some tomorrow got you! Curt R.

Just wanted to tip my hat to John Tirado, Sayashi. I received my Showato in it's new Shirasaya - made by Mr. Tirado - and it is a thing of beauty!! For anyone in the States (Or Canada for that matter) needs one made, I'd highly HIGHLY recommend him! Will be sending a second to him within a week or so. Such skill is hard to find in the U.S., but this gentleman has it! Curtis R.

Second try to re-post; apologies! The blade came in "half shirasaya (no habaki, no tsuka, no Tsuba...nothing but the lower part of a low-grade shirasaya. I am having it fitted w/ new habaki and shirasay as "step #1", but though it might be nice to have koshirae as well...all of your opinions are excellent and give me a direction to follw (I think Jean said it best ) but didn't want to put new fitting onto on older blade which would = "insult" to the smith & blade. I'll have plenty of time to search for a new set, and am getting fairly decent (in Western terms) at Tuskamaki, for a decent set of matching fittings. As an aside, I don't plan on using it for Iai, or for Tameshigiri - I have much less expensive blades for those - but may just leave it alone in it's shirasaya vs/ "playing with it". It's not an 'art sword' but is beautiful to my eye...perhaps best just to leave it be unless (As Ford suggests) I have the 9k to invest to do it justice . At the VERY least it will have a wonderful shirasaya to preserve it, and a beautiful, solid silver habaki. Many sincere thanks for your thoughts on this subject....as it IS mine, I didn't want to go messing with it until I'd run it by you all. Cheers! Curt R.

Damn my typo's"....:"traditional Tsuka" "have to pick the Tsuba, menuki & f/k" "Not much worried about the menuki as they can be fitted right into the theme if I look long enough" Apologies, Curt R.

I'm about to send off a blade for shirasaya. It is a good Showa blade, by a good smith. Upon it's return (also having a habaki made), I would like at leat a traditional Tsukan made for it (or to attempt it myself), but also hoave to pick the Tsuba, meniki & f/k. IF I go ahead with the project. How do the pro's here (who's opinions I respect very much, BTW) feel about this? SHould the fittings be new (including the Tsuba & f/K), or should I perhaps find decent older, late Edo pieces (which would then need to be fitted)? I'm truly in a quandry over this but fortunately have plenty of time to decide and to take input. I'm not sure if it would be disrespectful to mount nice fittings onto a nice blade, as the fittings would need to be filed, etc. Not much worried about the Menuki, as they can fit right into the there if I look long enough. Just trying to avoid the "Oh my god, what did you DO??" reaction..... Many thanks in advance, Curt R>

And there they are! But ill still re-photo them lol. Many thanks to Heretic & hopefully this will support my thought on "same maker"? I do well with wildlife & pretty models but still learning how to photo swords & Tosogu! Cheers again ~ Curt R.

Thanks for your opinions on this one to both John & Mariusz - I was told here it was most likely Nidai, but do need to research the Oshigata further to be sure! I am new to many aspects of nihonto / tosogu collecting, especially in the area of shinsa. I think perhaps my best course would be to 1) research the oshigata of the mei to avoid the pink-slip, then 2) submit the blade, then 3) if the blade receives a good rating, THEN have the Tsuba repaired and submit next year. I can't tell you how much I've learned just from this one post and thanks to you all!! I will post pics of the f/k as promised, this weekend and am very curious to see if my eye is correct that they are by the same maker. Cheers (literally, as I'm having a glass after a long night of work ), Curtis R.

Thank you Mariusz ~ I believe them all to be by the same maker, but don't have great pics of the f/k at the moment, although I'll do that i detail this coming Friday and then post. As for "why submit?"...the fittings are on a Kanesada (nidai) wakizashi which - thanks to those in the know here - believe may paper well. I'm not the owner (although I may be one day if I'm crafty lol. My thinking is that it both the fittings (or at least Tsuba) is papered, as well as the blade, it would add value in the long-run. Perhaps I'm mistaken but seems logical. Photos of the f/k coming asap! Cheers, Curtis R.

Thanks Mr. Stiles, I've seen Mr. Hastings' work...very beautiful and I can see Mr. Hallam's influences there. Perhaps later in the year he'll accept new work and we can get it done. I suspected it would be a problem in Shinsa (besides making it look even more amazing). Great idea though! Cheers, Curtis R.

Wow David - thanks for the link to yours, which is beautiful! In comparison I can see the skill vs. the "junk" ....and I think I need to study more lol. As for saving up for nicer pieces I couldn't agree more. I am actually having shirasaya & habaki made for 2 decent blades now, so guess ill pay those off first! You all saved me $ and I gained knowledge ---- what a deal (seriously)! Curtis R.

One last question if I may....with the "130" scratched in the Tsuba, is it still acceptable to submit for Shinsa? I am planning on going to the SF show and would love to get this papered. Best Rgeards, Curtis R.

Thanks Brian - I've learned that! I've had a couple of genuinely nice finds so am not totally striking out, but still get distracted by "shiny things" lol. Best, Curtis R.

Thank you gentlemen! Those details are what I missed --- and thanks to Curran for pointing me in the right direction...I KNEW I'd seen the design before. I think I'll pass based on the observations on this one. Learning, learning, learning! Regards, Curtis R.

Many thanks Christian, Good to know my eyes aren't fooling me (and that I'm learning lol), except for it being early to mid-Edo, which makes me want it even more . I will see if the owner & I can come to an agreement on price... Best, Curtis R.

Greetings all, I'm considering buying this tsuba...iron, no sign of being cast BUT - I recently (and can't for the life of me recall WHERE I saw it but think it was on NMB, which is driving me batty) saw the same exact theme & design, only with gold or brass leaf and in much better condition. Has anyone seen this original design here (or on a website)? Decent bones on the mimi, although I'd have to stabilize the red rust. I'm guessing it's a Meiji or late Edo copy of the original but perhaps I'm mistaken & am open to other thoughts of course.... Thanks in advance & Cheers! Curtis R.

Thought I'd add to the collection....Seki smith. Curtis