raaay

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 !

Hi Daniel here is my Choshu Tsuba , with a similar theme .

Hi Nick The polisher in question is on holiday right now for two weeks , and when he comes back we are off to Japan together for ten days . And before all the comments come in about trained Japanese sword polishers , as far as in know he is the only one in the UK with an NBTHK approved accreditation certificate to polish Japanese swords .

Hi Alex try Nine circles .UK they are Kendo and Iiado martial art suppliers , they have seppa and Sageo's .

agreed 100% Chinese fake and sorry it is a really bad fake IMHO

here we go again

Hi Ian , I only got it right away , because i have a Tsuba signed Seiryuken

Ian , not like you , you are normally good with kanji signature's

Alex , I had this conversation not that long ago with someone who lived in Japan for nearly twenty years , he is a high Ranking Iiado instructor , now living back in the UK . he also travels back to Japan to order Shin-ken for private commissions , his take on it is due to the lack of artisans covering all the different discipling's in the new sword making process , it is now taken up to a two years, to have a custom sword made for his Iiado students , previously one year was about the average time for a new Shin-ken .

Hi Jason , contact the Irish Token society , someone there may be able to help you or at least point you in the right direction , there are a few Japanese sword collectors in Ireland . also there lots of fakes turn up at local Irish auction Houses , not sure how much you know about Japanese swords , apologies if you are already an experienced collector . but seek some advice first if you are a complete novice , just my two pennies worth .

I will jump in and say it looks like a replica to me , with the poor photo's available , IMHO

Hi Peter , have a look in the for sale section , there is a full set of Kai Gunto mounts for sale , most likely a lot more economical to purchase the whole package rather than trying to pick up all the parts individually, IMHO .

as per previous comments , it is a Chinese fake trying to be a Japanese sword .

Sorry , it looks like a Chinese copy IMHO trying to look like a Japanese Tang .

Hi Gerry , in not shell that would be the normal thing to do with the mounts .

Hi Nick , It looks like an Iaito sword to me ? and with maybe imitation same ! on the Tsuka , better pics would help ,. PS. but that does not explain why it has 4 tang holes .

Hi Ron , not 100% but i think you would remove the cords from the Tsuka then unscrew the Mekugi cylinder ??

it is singed on the Katana Mei side, if i am not mistaken .

Hi , contact the Token Society of GB , they should be able to get you his contact details . PS . pity about Mick retiring , he done first class work .

now we can see the tang, i agree it is a Kanehisa showato blade

Hi Nicholas , It is sword that was made on the Island of Java , and is signed Shiyawaka Sumaran , according to the book called Fuller and Gregor swords smiths of Japan 1926 - 1945, the oshigata is on page 116 , you should be able to find more info with a search on the board here , good luck

Just the usual 100% BS from the lanes appraisals , i agree it is a fake / repro copy

HI Gareth , some of your photos are upside down ! it is not easy to read the kanji . just a heads up for others /