J Reid

http://tetsugendo.com/

the moon was so bright it shawn through the clouds?

I started collecting nihonto at age 16. I am now 21 (almost 22). I am most likely the youngest collector on the board. I have got my brother (19) and a handful of friends that follow me in study. Hopefully coming forward will help people see that there is hope for this amazing area of expertise to continue for many more centuries to come. :D

It was 100% leather. I was suprised too! I have some scraps I'll take pictures of when I have a chance. But yeah, definitely leather and it was glued to the wood, underneath the lacquer, and also dyed black.

Interesting. I was quite intrigued.

So I start refinishing a Kai gunto saya yesterday. Someone had painted it fairly recently with a rather crude layer of black paint.. So I decided to strip the whole thing to the bones and start fresh. After about 20 minutes of wiping this thing down with paint thinner, I decide that I could only get the recent paint job to come off and the original lacquer (for whatever reason) wasn't affected by the chemical. So I take this down to the work bench and start sanding the saya. I get through the next layer of paint and it turns out it wasn't paint at all!!!! The black lacquer Kai gunto saya was originally wrapped in a super fine leather underneath the lacquer. The leather had been dyed black and then lacquered over originally. It peeled off like thick paper. Definitely leather though. I know the Japanese wrapped their saya in leather for WW2. But i have never seen this before. It was like a stealth layer- nicely tapered to a thin saya. Did anybody else know this?! I sure didn't..

My opinion- my experience is the chinese fake nco swords have a bohi that ends quite early. The real ones have a bohi that runs beyond the "yokote". Also the arsenal stamps on the fuchi are much larger on the fakes and smaller on the real ones. I think this is real.

Just wondering if anybody could scan an oshigata of 1st gen bizen munemitsu for me. Page 628 toko taiken? Thanks!

Don't buy it. You can find a lot of nicer tantos for 650 euros.

I completely agree with what you are saying Jacques. I must clarify though- I am not saying this sword is definitely gimei. In my opinion, I am saying this sword is most likely gimei.. I am basing this opinion from what I have found (so far). This looks like a 6th gen knock off to me. That's all. I do not have enough sources to verify 100%. We will only be able to help Stevie here in furthering this discussion with more examples to compare to. Personally, I think he should just forget the mei and concentrate on the blade itself.

In comparison to all other examples of a smith signing in this manner- so far, yes. What have you got to bring to the table Jacques?

Jacques, I do not. I have found virtually nothing on this smith. I was just saying that not all smiths signing fuyuhiro, nessasarily signed in this manner. This is proven by even just one mei sample that is different. Nihontoclub.com will list off numerous different signatures. From what I have gathered though there were several smiths signing "geishu no ju fujiwara fuyuhiro" until kansei. The most prominent being 6th gen working in keicho. His features are mokume with suguba. Judging Stevie's blade here I'd say someone was trying to pass it off as such. Does anyone have an oshigata of 6th gen fuyuhiro for comparison?

P.s. I am very envious of this piece. Looks like a beast! If you ever decide to sell.. PM me first! haha

I think its just an O-kissaki.

L.O.L

Thank you!! I will give that number a try.

Thanks Chris. I found a topic on professional polishing that is now locked.. But the thing that stood out most for me currently was your comment regarding a polisher in Canada that has been properly trained. Do you have his contact info or webpage?

Just wondering if any members here have used his polishing services before and if you have, maybe some examples of the work that he did for you, opinions? He is listed on the forum on the links page. I am in Canada so it just seems reasonable that I get in touch with him. Much appreciated!

Stevie, The blade I gave you a link to is signed "geishu no ju fujiwara fuyuhiro" with nbthk papers authenticating it. Not all smiths signing fuyuhiro signed using this exact title. This means that most likely, by comparison, yours is gimei. So the next step is to erase this smith and mei from your mind and attempt to recognize age, and school using sugata, and Nakago patina colour for period ID. Use the characteristics of the blade to decipher tradition, school, and maybe maker.

Why don't I find things like this at garage sales? ...AHH THE ENVY!!!

Might help pinpoint a time frame for comparison..

Couldn't find anything other than rated wazamono online and that there was more than one smith named Geishu Fuyuhiro. I did, however, find a link to a sword that looks like it was made by the same smith with nbthk attribution. Although no photo of the attribution is present I'm sure the seller could fork it up if asked... http://www.japanesesword.net/FUJIWARA_F ... 9-8223.htm

Lovely. Wish it was in the budget.

droool.. Josh

See original post.. Joe provided a link, Justin. Josh