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Dean in a nutshell expensive IMHO , for a Shin Gunto mounted Showato sword . where are you from in the UK , Google Token Societies of great Britain, there maybe one close to you ?

Dean I am not 100% sure due to the photo's supplied , but I does look like a Showato , NB- a lot of smiths in that ww2 period made Showa-to and Gendai-to . also it depends on the cost, if reasonable and your happy with a Shin-Gunto from ww2 then it is your choice, but again you can do better depending on the cost .

Hi Scotty sorry but this sword has had an acid polish and over priced IMHO. If you are willing to spend good money on a sword I suggest you politely look around some of the Uk reputable dealers or collectors you can do much better . from your statement it is amazing ! at 5K , you need to hit the books and politely do a bit more research /study don't be tempted to jump in and buy on impulse , lots of help around the UK. I am not trying to be to negative here but it feels like you are new to collecting swords, so shop around and be patient , plenty of good deals to be had if you look in the right places. And also sorry to say this, but the Edo polish was done in the UK, look also at the Tsuka the Fuchi is larger than the handle including the Ito,and this internet site is knowing too many for there amazing right up's !!! just my two pence worth,

Ken contact the Irish Token Society, for some local help .

I have seen many fakes on this site , I tend to comment and disagree with there experts with a - .

the file marks on the tang look like Taka-no-ha , a good indication for the Mino school , but not guaranteed , but good starting point IMHO

Hi Luis the curvature if a true reflection in your photo " may suggest a Kanban -Shinto style sori " roughly about circa 1650 , but they also made swords in the Shin-Shinto period that were also made with little sori.

Hatchet / Axe head .

ok, thanks,

Ray i got a warning pop up from my anti virus soft ware when i tried to open the link !!

sorry fake chinese copy IMHO

Hi John i hope, it was not yourself that cleaned the Nakago / Tang , because it has been over cleaned , not sure obviously of your level of experience collecting Japanese swords ? but check the care and maintenance recommendations on the NMB.

Danie good news , take your time and make contact if possible with local collectors , I am not sure there are many in your neck of the woods ! but the NMB will always try and help out.

Name please it is the rules on the board , sorry but you need to invest in some books on the subject , before you venture down the road of buying Japanese swords , because like your previous post this is a Chinese copy ,

Not a Tsuka but a pic of the tang , and not Japanese , do not waste your money on this ? just my two pence worth,

Hi Russell, there is lots of help and advice available in the Uk , pending on where you live you could pop along to sword society meeting , Google To-ken society Uk

Bruce / Dave, If you go to and old posting called , show me your High Class Gunto topic , you will see the whole sword and the previous translation , I think on page 3 NB_ you are correct it most likely means made in the vicinity of the Hachi-man shrine . Dave, we did meet a few years back at the DTI in 2016 , when you were with Paul Martin , . I was the tallest of the three Scotsman that day !!

Does this count , a sword made by Naotsugu in the grounds of the Hachiman Shrine

Luis , a possibly little hint of a Gimie signature from Jacques ?

hi Steve handle ? is that not the tip of his shoe , I had to look 2 or 3 times to figure it out !

A cast modern copy IMHO , but !

I agree it looks like anti-rust steel looking at the tang, have you tried a magnet on the tang , if it is pure stainless steel it should not work , just a thought ! I have seen many swords on tables at antique auctions etc. arms fairs , it is not uncommon for someone to mix scabbards up and they end up sometimes in the wrong mounts .

thanks for fixing the images, I was hoping Morita san and Moriyama san , would give an expert opinion on the meaning of the inscription please.

I just wanted to show this tsuba again, to see if the translation previously giving to me was a 100 % accurate ? and to try and get the true meaning of the translation. i.e. YU -RAKU -DOU ? Mods apologises , I cant get this photo to stop rotating to the wrong viewing position , help please

looks like it is dated - showa 1943 plus a small Nagoya style stamp ? above the date