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J Reid

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Everything posted by J Reid

  1. Anybody else think the patina looks artificial? It's too uniform. I'm thinking it's been tampered with.
  2. Now that I look again second kanji could be "真" (sane)
  3. Seems to be signed "助貞" sukesada.. It looks to be late shinshinto or more likely gendaito. My translation may be wrong as I can't find any smith signing in this way during these periods.
  4. Geoff, I'm in Vancouver if you ever want to meet.
  5. Etched hamon on chromed blade. Very clean example though, imo.
  6. Little seki stamp + star = gendaito. Anything with a star is gendaito. Period. Bigger seki stamp and no star= showato. There is an obvious difference between the small and larger version. The small stamps are stamps indicating where the sword was forged. Examples of "small" stamps are: "na" "ko" .. "seki".. etc. The larger stamps indicate non traditional methods. Examples of "large" stamps are: "showa" .. "seki" .. "anchor" etc. Guys, size friggen matters.The end.
  7. Just wanted to add to this topic for future inquires in kanesumi/zumi. I'm adding the oshigata from sloughs. I also wanted to mention that any previous discussions regarding this smith noted that no known gendaito examples have been seen. Unfortunately mine is not in great polish so it is seemingless to post pics, however I can make out a tight nioguchi in suguha. Itame hada. Sword has 3 tiny "na" stamps on nakago. Mei is niji-mei and a better than usual cut. Average kesho yasurime. Nakago fits the bill of a gendaito forged at the arsenal under RJT before star stamps were implemented. Date of march 1943 coincides with this theory. Kanesumi made low-medium grade gendaito- and that's exactly what this is. An average gendaito, imho. Deserves a window polish. Will update if I have that done.
  8. Owned a wakizashi by this smith some time ago and I can confirm that the sugata is spot on. The nakago jiri and hamon (that I see) is also correct. I imagine the kasane is rather thick and the sword heavy for its size. Well made sword by a respected smith. Probably shoshin. Good find, IMHO
  9. Thanks, George. I appreciate the info. I'm still hoping to get a pic of the oshigata in sloughs if anyone has it.
  10. That is the exact sword from the book. Notice the ware in nakago. Same in both Oshigata, and blade. Published work from a reputable school. Missing Boshi.. meh, I'd agree with Ray. I'd happily pay that price to own this blade. Nice work.
  11. I've owned a gendaito with a solid silver habaki. They do exist.
  12. J Reid

    Ubu and Mumei

    I generally have similar internal conflict of thought. However, I think I stand with the Japanese in their perspective. "It's better a sword have a chip left in the edge, than remove it and leave a bad shape". I love a minty blade. But I can't bring myself to polish a sword unless it really needs a polish (bad geometry, damage, extremely rusty/ scratched & banged up) and/ or is guaranteed to increase its value 2 or 3 times afterwards. Or at least break even. If the swords polish is good but old or light issues (cloudy, scratched, a chip etc), I think it's better left alone and healthy. I don't mind an imperfect polish if I know the sword is well made and without major flaws. I'm happy with one attribution from either nthk or nbthk. I think we've all seen questionable attributions from both. I'd only consider 2 if I really disagreed with the first, or if it was a major find and big title.
  13. It looks good in theory.. but if you look closer you will see the nioguchi is very weak. Not a good hamon to my eyes.
  14. Joe you're spot on! Just found an identical Mei.. pic is from a thread here on the board from years ago and doesn't load anymore but google shows the image. Unfortunately I can't view it past the main page.. but here's a screen shot and for reference. Thanks a lot guys!!! If anyone has the page from F&G or slough on Sato Kanezumi, I'd be grateful.
  15. Thanks Stephen.. and "Yoshi"吉? Or 女? I'm just not seeing it haha. Has one too many strokes for 吉..
  16. My first thought.. but the Kane kanji doesn't look right.. is it another?
  17. Type 3 mounts. Some small stamps on omote, ura, and mune.. bought it as an oil quenched blade with low expectations without checking out nakago first. Owner had never taken it apart. He really didn't. Screw untouched. Mekugi pristine. Had blood under habaki, on seppa seeping onto nakago. Expected a crappy mei or low quality nakago with bad finish.. but was surprised to find decent mei, yasurime etc.. polish is war time and hard to make out anything but looks to be a possible gendaito. Anyone able to translate and provide page from john slough?
  18. J Reid

    Ubu and Mumei

    Bob, I must say you're an excellent treasure hunter! Love the sword. Ko-Mihara is a safe bet. What a find indeed. Congrats!
  19. Great koshirae! Would have loved that one too.. but unfortunately missed it on my radar
  20. You think Dana white has no honour? Can't say I agree. He may be rolling in $$$, but he's not a fraud. He's a martial artist himself and gives glorious opportunities to true fighters. I'd show him respect. He's obviously new to collecting, but I'm sure he'll take care of the swords he bought. Just my 2 cents
  21. Something else to consider (when judging the weight) is the health of the blade. Old swords are much thinner as they have been polished many times. As a result, they become lighter. Even Shinto period swords are still generally healthy as they weren't used as frequently as a sword of kamakura or muromachi. Nanbokucho swords were relatively large and as such carry a significant weight even til this day. Shin-shinto, gendaito and shinsakuto are obviously still healthy and heavy in comparison. I notice the lightest blades are heian, and early kamakura (oldest) and muromachi (most used). Coincidence?
  22. Nah it's the redish toned leather.. it's the lesser quality version of the higher quality dark brown leather, and heavy lacquered saya with what feels like a "rock" finish. I owned a high quality 44 years ago that housed a RJT kiyokatsu blade. Edit: sorry it's not leather.. it's a lacquered dark red-brown Ito. With tan aluminum saya.
  23. I'm not big on gunto, but I also love the type 3/44 mounts. Oddly enough, I stumbled across one for sale here in Canada about a week ago. Paid a very good price for it. Still waiting for it to arrive. It's an oil tempered showato blade. The 44 standard version tan aluminum saya, leather wrapped & lacquered Ito w/ celluloid same on tsuka. Had to buy without seeing nakago.. but the blade said it all anyways..
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