dkirkpatrick

I have to disagree that the presence of boshi should dictate what is done. I think its pretty obvious that its going to be pretty close and probaby hard to say in this present polish. The idea that an elegant piece like this would not be sent for polish when hundreds of mumei shinto “also ran” wakizashis are is simply beyond me. If you didnt make a single cent on this sword when the smoke clears you will have preserved something of real significance and that would be something to be incredibly proud of regardless. Easy to speak so freely about someone elses money but I do hope you get this restored so you may see all she has to reveal, best of luck to you and please keep us posted! Doug

i would guess 600-850 depending on presentation /pictures. Looks to be a nice example suppose it could touch a grand with great pictures on the right day.. This based on what i see on ebay, I recommend waiting for the experts to chime in.

Obviously up to Steve or whoever to answer how they wish but i feel he’s given the general flavor of the content and context. I think most would agree that the spirit of a free translation section is to keep requests down to a fairly minimal amount of text. However, I am sympathetic to the desire to have large sections of text translated. Forgive me for not using the search function but has it been discussed where on might go to have a lets say a large detailed older origami or an arms length sayagaki? I believe I’ve heard there are fee-for-service outlets just cant remember if they’ve been discussed. Again, not wanting to make anyone feel bad but just want make sure that we are not abusing what is a very gracious and much appreciated service offered by a few of our valued members. Doug

While i dont envy having to burnish those hi I am jealous of the polisher who got to strip away the years of abuse and bring this back to the world, what anticipation and excitement he must feel to watch those details emerge. Georg, thank you for choosing to restore this treasure and for sharing your journey with us, it has been fascinating to follow. All the best, Doug

Perhaps he’s inebriated. Just an impression i get from looking at his face. Doug

This never made sense to me either given how most swords dont fit random saya very well so using an existing koshirae always seemed strage to me. I could see if a field expedient was needed but surely there were enough craftsman that a new tsuka could be quickly put together in a non emergent situation.

I’m thinking NAGAMORI SAKU but agreed this is a poor gimei. Doug

I wonder if perhaps Yukikage? Doug

It looks like a pretty decently forged shin-shinto sword and a legit rig, however the nakago patina feels a little off (cleaned or something?) and the mei looks like it was carved by someone who never held a chisel and feels like it was added (to my eyes anyway). Interesting. Doug

Bruce; for what its worth I think its legit (assuming we can rule out a welded on nakago): The yasurime seem simply too well executed to me and the mei seems to stand up against your examples. Maybe there is a second question regarding the Takanobu tempering attribution. From your pictures it looks like you have an example of one of these as well and although the resolution isn’t great it seems to be pretty close as well. The value of Mantetsu discussion sounds best reserved for those more knowledgeable than me about their history and construction. I reread the thread about the chinese fakes; mei quality still seems quite a ways off but it seems thet are making headway on some of the early geometry issues, scary stuff for sure. If this is in fact gimei than I can see where collecting Taisho/Showa period swords is going to become increasingly challenging. Thanks for bringing this interesting piece for discussion, I havent paid much attention to WW II manufactured swords but this has made me curious to understand more about this and Yasukuni-to, thank you. Doug

Shimada ju Minamoto Yoshisuke

Looks to me like the oshigata you posted is pretty damn close, maybe a different point in his career. Although a different Kuni and what not to me it feels like done by same hand. Doug

I think real same, by the look and the way you see the nodules flake by the mekugi. I love the hamon and the kissaki, definitely forged, steel color feels older than gendaito so I echo Ed’s assessment, no matter I think your absolutely fine at that price, can’t wait to see pictures! Doug

Do you guys have any concern about this possibly being saiba? I say this because of of what appears to my eyes to be drying fire scale /tone on the nakago and the already mentioned highly unusual hamon appearance for this school. Additionally the habuchi for me just has that “thin” appearance that I associate with retemper. Admittedly I am looking at these pics on my phone, maybe looks different on larger screen, it would be nice to see the hamachi and boshi better. Doug

Guys, much more damage than we realize here. Luckily, I’m in the market for unsightly blades such as this, perhaps you’d like to sell this quickly before it gets any worse 😆! Ha, Nice blade, Doug

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-old-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-with-Sharkskin-Handle/224132347896?_trksid=p2485497.m4902.l9144 I’m just guessing someone here talked the seller into cancelling, guess my offer wasn’t enticing enough. Nice mokumegane guri bori tsuba style of Okitsugu, well done mon fuchi, and what must be a pretty decent blade. If indeed anyone here let us know what you find if you would....it’s the least you can do😀. Doug

I may have a few swords that fits this description. While some of the earlier swords were indeed quite expensive, the last one referenced was about 6400USD unless I’m mistaken. Given that, I’m wondering what you are thinking of price range wise for a zaimei 75cm sword in original koshirae? EDIT: I realize I mistakenly thought JP was the OP, I apologize for the confusion. Doug

Looks like Hisanaga Doug

What a great topic Peter, thank you for bringing it up. I’ve always been fascinated with the use of Western motifs in Japanese Art and, in the case of the current topic, actually repurposing. I found this image sorry if its been posted already or alluded to but the fact that nudes being used and rendering in this way leaves no doubt in my mind that this went on. Doug

Hey guys, Doug here, just thought I would jump into the fray. Interesting topic to talk about, even if, as said it has been addressed often. Intuitively, it would seem wrong to exclude a sword as being a true nihonto because it is not comprised of tamahaganae. If this were true, then would'nt we have to disqualify Hizen Yukihiro's swords forged with orando-tetsu or " Holland steel"? I'd tend not to think so. Also I found a cool link that many of you may have already read about Masahide and his use of the "barbarian iron"...a nice read. I'm not coming down hard either way, just think it is a fun topic to banty about. Heres the link: http://www.k3.dion.ne.jp/~j-gunto/gunto_146.htm

Shan, I dont think it is suriage. My guess based on shape and hamon is that this is a Koto Mino wakizashi that someone did an aggressive nakago cleaning on at some point. At first blush I was thinking Shin-shinto but again the shape and the fact that it seems excessively tired or polished down for that recent vintage. Just my guess on what you confess are marginalimages. Hope my .02 was useful, if most probably incorrect :D . Doug

Hard to tell in the pics but almost seems more of an ikubi kissaki as the mihaba seems to be fairly consistent throughout the blade. Also the boshi seems to be almost komaru sagari or yakitsume. It would be interesting to have a squared up pic of the kissaki and the exact blade measurements to add to the discussion. I like the activity and the steel color, the health aside I am curious as to what would rule this out for being Shinto (or older?). It seems swords of all eras were shortened in a variety of ways for an equal variety of reasons so I think it can be hard to say sometimes without multiple experienced eyes seeing the piece in hand to say. Pics of the bottom two ana might be useful along with a nakago mune shot that might show cues to original lengths. Looks like a great sword to me! Thanks for sharing. Doug

Nice weld indeed! Something that makes me wonder if perhaps the point is moot with regard to the Yamashiro sword is that it would appear to me that the hamon rounds off the nakago past the hamachi making me wonder if the blade is perhaps saiba. That and the nioiguchi seems to be unusually thin and "lifeless". A fire might explain the some of the nakago distortion. I considered that maybe the blade wasn't o-suriage but only slightly suriage with multiple ana but at 66cm it would seem unlikely for the purported jidai. Perhaps a better pic of the hamachi might clarify this (not so close this time! :D )Just my musings! Doug

Hey gang, just my two cents. I don't know if I am the only one to notice this but the hamon seems to have a yakidashi and a long one at that, curious I think in a suriage (shortened for those learning the lingo)blade. Also the mei seems a little superficial and sloppy to my eyes. The nakago patina looks good though which leads me to think that maybe this was an altering of a sword by a contemporary of Echizen Sukehiro working in this toran-midare. Just my thoughts, that said the work seems very solid but myself I would be casting an eye toward leaving as is. I think with oil and uchiko it could be made to look very presentable and as it is not being marketed the expense and effort to maintain an art polish don't strike my as being worth it. Just my random thoughts. Robin, thanks for sharing your sword with us by the way, very nice pictures. Doug

Kuni iri on my first kantei bid? Yeah me! OK then, because we now know it's Yamashiro kuni looking at various oshigata I am toggling between Kunihiro and Kunimichi but am going to say Kunihiro. Probably not for a good reason but I think maybe that high quality detailed horimono came from a closer association with Myoju. So that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! C'mon Atari! Thanks Guido! Doug