Stephen

Its good having you back contributing on the board, always a informative and thought thru post, how about a update on the Bizen book.

Hi and welcome back, we often have talked about you're whereabouts and have needed your experience many times. Good to have you back on board.

also posted his tsuka in another thread with little help from us, sorry I missed it. http://militaria.co.za/nihontomessagebo ... .php?t=871 I don't think it was WW 11 fittings at all just a combat cover that let him carry it into. From my experience it looks like the brass hanger was added like Brian said, they do not always ruin saya and often slide off with little work, adding a kurikata is little work for a sayashi, you should be able to tell the quality of the lacquer from what you can see under the cover at the koguchi. Both B and S make good points but don't count out what you have, IMHO late shinshinto mounts with possible shinto blade that remands to be seen.

the age looks shinshinto to me...but as Brian said they changed them offten, i think your whole set is worthy of restoration, blade et all.

pix did not attach the file may be too large, if you cant reduce send them to me and ill post it. I bought a Kanesada at a local auction with a leather cover that was cracked so removed it, under it I found a nice Buke saya with mother of pearl inlay...it turned out quite nice. Some collectors like it left on but if your keeping it then id remove it, good luck.

think your sword is a Phoney, its still true Nihonto :lol:

Heres your pix, i cut it in half and reduced the size, did you take the photos? If so well done, nice lighting on the top set, i think to help with the kante of this if you were to remove the fittings and show the area under the habaki where the rust on the nakago turns to polish would help us alot.

send the pic to me and ill post it for you.

Manji 10,000

is its lat war Navy, it does not have the extra hanger, don't know if it was lost or came that way. Dr Rich Stein might shed some light on this when he sees the post. I have seen these sell for around 6 to 800 on Ebay, with the late Tsuba and missing seppa it may be less. I may have a buyer for the rifle if you care to PM me.

and thanks for all that have supported me in many ways. Is the bidder Robtaka a NMB member? wonder if there will be any icing n the cake when I get up in the morning. Thanks Ed and others who bumped me back to the top.

is the smith youll have to wait for someone else to give the first name he is a seki smith. showato with the seki stamp.

Just a note to say 24 hours to go, then no more bother. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... &rd=1&rd=1

Its a freakn letter opener.

Thank you Thank you i have not had a gut busting laugh in many moons it was almost as good as what you young guys do with your wifes and girlfriends. :lol: :D :lol:

A outstanding reference, a must save to file for any Nihontophile

we could use another name besides Steve/Stephen...

and as believable as a lone gunman who shot JFK

some left over saya matter on kissaki not rust.

I was concered after he would not state who he was and he changed his feedback to private, i may have delt with him if the sword does not make reserve.

Moritaka saku

from F&G first book. page 65 Fig 30 ii The Paulownia imperials (kiri) found on flag Officers' naval swords made after 1896, and dipolmatic corps dress swords.

That is the Kiri (Paulownia) its was use by many Imperial households then laters for clans. Later Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi conferred it on their generals for brave and faitful service. check this web site for the mountings. it may take some diging but that half the fun. http://www.h4.dion.ne.jp/~t-ohmura/gunto_002.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Historical-Geogra ... F8&s=books

nice little starter wak...for the price http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/wakizashi/06169.html