My name is Thomas Kennedy. I am a teacher in Fairbanks, Alaska. I have been interested in nihonto for about 10 years. I have spent considerable time building up a decent library and have made many of the mistakes that beginning collectors make. I have an interest in many different eras of nihonto manufacture.
I was extremely active in the hobby about 10 years ago and treasure conversations and discussions with Phil Fellman and others. My first katana was an oil drenched gunto by Seki Yoshimichi. I then purchased a very nice chojigunome Chounsai Emura blade in Marine 1944 fittings from Tazmania. Since then I have purchased several other blades including a Sue Bizen Uchigatana by Kiyomitsu that I had polished by David Hofine and fitted in reproduction saya and tsuka. I have an Oei Period Bizen Katana that has been shortened that is probably my best piece. I have another wak marked Bishu Norimitsu that fits but was probably from the massproduction days.
I also have several Gimei blades. I have one very old taichi that was cut down to be a wak that is marked Heinjo Nagayoshi which may be an attribution that I bought from Canada. I also have a Tadayoshi (Gimei-Daimei-Interesting conversations with Robert Robertshaw on it) that I figure is haunted by the Miura(silver Mons) clan-Long story but very interesting piece that is in Naval fittings.
I have several other pieces as well but I probably have more money into books than swords.
I have taken care of them but have spent more time with wrestling which I coach and hunting which I pursue. I kind of got pulled back in when I "saved" a Shingunto blade at an auction this past weekend. I found this message board and waalaa. The Shingunto is in tough shape but it has a very interesting story and supposedly fought its way out of vietnam. No haunting ghost dreams yet so we will see but it is a very interesting old blade with several sword cuts to the ha luckily none appear to be fatal.
Sincerely,
Thomas
