Nobody

The mei looks "Horai (豊来)" to me, though I am unsure.

I think that it is Daki-myoga and Karigane. From a collection of Rich T. http://www.nihontokanjipages.com/person ... asaka.html

Hi sencho san, distribution of each power http://www2.harimaya.com/sengoku/bk_map ... ap_nn.html http://www2.harimaya.com/sengoku/bk_map ... ap_nm.html http://www2.harimaya.com/sengoku/bk_map ... ap_ns.html

Hi Mark, I think that the motif is Susuki (薄: Japanese pampas grass) and Hotal (蛍: firefly).

Hi, I do not agree with "sada". As you can see, the nakago was reshaped and mune side was slightely lost with some parts of the kanji.

and put the stress on the second syllable "sa".

I am unsure about the date. But I still think that it is Enbun (延文) at present. Maybe Enbun go nen ni gatsu hi (延文五年二月日 = the 2nd month in 1360). Attached image shows how I see En (延) on the nakago. BTW, Enbun belonged to Hokucho (北朝).

The characters are easily identified, because the mei on the tsuba is exactly written on the paper on the right. However, the mei is rather strange to me and I know little about tsuba. So, I am unsure if it is a reasonable mei or not. And I might be totally wrong about the translation of the mei. motif: 幔幕松図 = picture of curtain and pine tree 鉄地金赤銅象嵌 = iron ground, inlay with gold and shakudo mei: 日本第一家正阿弥元祖 = originator of Shoami which is the No. 1 family in Japan 宗圓的傳孫三和軒我独 = Sanwaken Gadoku (三和軒我独) who is thought to be a descendant of Soen (宗圓) period: 江戸後期 = late Edo

My oshigata cannot be searched by nengo. So, it is hard to find Genkyu even if there is the data. And moreover, Genkyu era started in 1204 and ended at the 4th month in its 3rd year. If you read "the 5th year" on the nakago, Genkyu cannot be the answer.

With only a wild guess. So, please do not ask me the grounds for that. :? 延文 (Enbun: 1356-1361) Attached examples are Yoshimitsu and Kanemitsu in Enbun era.

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.