Nobody

Hi Ronin 47, Are you sure that the inscription is a date? It is on the omote side of the katana. BTW, what is the mei on the other side of the nakago?

I also cannot see characters. We need more sharp photos with better contrast.

I sent a pm.

Hi, The photos should be flipped over. They are reverse. BTW, the page below shows a genuine (maybe) Kinmichi 3rd. http://sinogi.ddo.jp/syasin/katarogu/17 ... 23073.html

now humbly eating crow, as I seem to have my sources confused. While Kokan Nagayama sensei does mention a "distinctive carved groove" in defining a naginata, he does not use it to differentiate between the two, and his diagrams clearly labeled "nagamaki" depict a naginata hi. Thanks Franco. I knew the quoted writings and also have its original Japanese book. The correct quotations are as follows. Kokan Nagayama sensei did not say that naginata-hi always difiines naginata. He only said that it it was a feature often seen on naginata. So as you already mentioned, I assume that there are some naginata without naginata-hi and there are some nagamaki with naginata-hi.

Hi, I think I heard the theory about a naginata-hi somewhere on this board before. But I cannot believe the difinition. Does anyone know where and what Kokan Nagayama sensei really said about that theory?

Maybe zinc alloy, aluminium, or something like that.

They say that the blade is imitation. So, it cannot be steel or stainless steel, otherwise it is illegal.

Hi Darcy, You have very good eyes. But my reading is a little different. 大和國龍門延吉 但大磨上無銘也 延吉ハ千手院流ト傳へ手代正應・永仁頃ノ工也 彼ノ作風ハ大和傳ニ備前傳ノ混在スル所ニ特色有之 而本作モ其見所ヲ顕現シ殊ニ刃中ノ沸足ノ働キ見事矣 蓋シ同工極中屈指ノ優品哉 IMHO, "手代" must be "時代" as you read, but it seems to be wrongly written.

Hi, "Masamune" does not always mean the only one Masamune. The NBTHK paper says that it was made by a Masamune in late Muromachi era.

Yes, same kanji (馬針). "bashin" is Chinese reading while "umabari" is Japanese reading. But AFAIK, the kanji usually read "bashin".

This tanto koshirae is equipped with a bashin instead of a kogai. http://www.kanshoan.com/special/dtls_00 ... tsune.html

Hi Ford, Yes, I think that I read some articles about its usage of handling severed heads for formal head viewing (首実検: kubijikken) after battle by supporting the head like a stand.

Scott, Thank you for your comment. I understand your feeling. Actually, I thought the same thing, though I could not express it properly.

BTW, I forgot to mention that Kankyuto (貫級刀) means a sword to pierce a head.

Its correct name is Bashin (馬針). And it is also called Kankyuto (貫級刀). I do not think that it is only connected with Higo, though Higo koshirae was sometimes equipped with Bashin. I heard that Bashin was used as a throwing knife as well as a tool for horses. And during Sengoku era, it was used to support a cut head of enemy when it was examined. FYI; http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/0710_6034syousai.htm http://www.e-sword.jp/sale/0710_6037syousai.htm

There is an article on the general rule of Higo koshirae at the Web site of Gifu branch of NBTHK. However, it is minutely written in Japanese, and I cannot translate it properly. http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~nbthk-gf/ronjyutu03-1-5.htm

I agree with you, Rich. The mei looks 関住渡辺吉武作 to me.

With my mind's eye. Hint; The family name is Watanabe (渡辺). But there are still four Watanabe(s) on the list.

BTW, the mei consits of (Seki ju) + (family name) + (smith name) + (saku).

I do not think that it is gimei. Why do you think so? http://www.geocities.jp/kanetoyo2666/ya ... igata.html

The smith was one of WWII Seki smiths. His name appears on the following list. http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/seki.htm

There is not anything special. Just only a company name, post, person's name, and adresses and names of his colleagues maybe.

Hi sencho san, :? Is this the shop? http://www.meitoukai.com/index.html

See the last part of the page below. http://www.nihontokanjipages.com/common_kanji.html