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Andy , try nine circles, they are a UK based martial art suppliers .

Hi Peter , you have a Tachi mounted sword with a Katana blade, as the blade is signed Katana Mei . and what is the small mark just above the Mei ?

Hi Les , i would say there are lots to see pretty much everywhere , but i would go to Nagoya to the new Museum there , it is well worth a trip .

The Lanes ,should be called for our UK members the Hans-Christian Anderson Auctions

John, a basic rule of thumb never clean the tang , sometimes it is acceptable to remove active rust on the tang , but you really need to know what you are doing first . looking at the tang again , it could be signed No-Shu Ju Kanesada saku ? which would mean it is a WW11 sword .

if look real close at the last tang picture, there seems to be a partial Seki stamp about 40 / 50 mm. down from the Mune -Matchi ! I can see why someone might think this sword is older considering there is very little Ha -Machi there , but it is WW11 sword IMHO .

Andy , please do , just noticed my typo dyslexia is real bugger sometimes .

Hi Andy Try the UK Token Society ,if you are not already a member you should confider joining, someone there will be able to give you a contact number for Richard Adams. And if you need work on the shira saya, Mike Hick-man Smith is your best bet . John Bolton has been retired for some years now .

to me it looks like this Habaki is nearly sitting inside the the Tsuka and the Habaki has a gap all the way around the blade IMHO for what is worth , looks like a repurposed Habaki and not a good fit !

Hi Brian , all seems to be working well this morning, fingers crossed you have solved the issue !

Hi Brian , I hate to say it but , logged on all was well for about 5 minute's then went to look at another topic , then the buffering started for about 2/3 minute's and then the page turned grey for about another 2 minute's before returning back to normal !

Hi Colin not sure where in the UK you are , but you may want to consider becoming a member of the UK Token Society , they have regional meetings all over the UK . PS. and at most meetings there are some nice swords etc. for sale by the members .

Just back from Japan a few weeks back , my friend had two swords with him , we contacted the customs at Narita " we were maybe a bit lucky " within 15 minutes 4 police arrived and went through the customs checks and registering the two blades the whole process took about 45minuites , but as Piers says above it can take a lot longer ! But please note and to be confirmed you can only bring in 3 swords at a time into Japan , this is what we were told , i believe you can leave with as many as you like as long as you have all the proper paper works .

Hi Piers , yes it was very nice to bump into you too , pity we did not have more time there , Les and I just got back home today ,

from memory , and i cant remenber what book i got the info from but it was a round circa 1600 that Kesho i.e. full dress file marks was first used !