Grey Doffin

Possibly Kanbun Shinto. Grey

The number 326 painted over a Showa period date and Seki no Ju Kanenori Saku. Grey

Thanks guys; I think this one is fixed. Grey

Hi folks, I learned recently that my customers who use MS Edge or Google Chrome as browsers we're unable to see any of the photos on my site. I think my tech support guy has this corrected but I'm not sure. If you have a minute please logon, open any of the individual product pages, and if you see no pictures let me know. Thanks, Grey japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com gdoffin at gmail.com

Hi Crews, Scroll down for a brochure on care and cleaning: https://nbthk-ab2.org/sword-characteristics/ Grey

I believe masame in the shinogi ji points to Shinto or later. Grey

If you want to have the mei (signatures) of your sword or tsuba translated, you'll have to post pictures. See below for 2 pictures of a sword mei and 2 of a tsuba mei. All 4 pictures were taken at the same time, with the same camera, in the same light, in the same orientation and, other than cropping the pictures to reduce their size, I have not altered them. The only difference is the color of the background. Ask yourself, if you could read the characters, which background would make the task easier? Please take your pictures of mei on a dark background. Also, the pictures are oriented properly to be read. The top of a mei on a sword is closest to the start of the cutting edge and on a tsuba, as it would sit if the edge of the sword were facing up. BTW, pictures on a white background are good for showing the true color of the nakago (tang of sword) or tsuba; they don't work well for translation. Grey

It is signed Mitsunga but probably not as old as advertised. I think beginners would be smart to buy only from trusted sellers. Grey

It is true. Order from Markus as before. markus.sesko at gmail.com Grey

Hi folks, Sad to tell you that Skip Holbrook has left us. Skip was a long time, knowledgeable and generous,with his knowledge collector/student of kodogu. I learned a lot from him. He will be missed. Grey

I think this is a piece of a broken sword made to look like a tanto, kinda. Nothing worth collecting. Grey

I drive to the Chicago show and can bring with me more than my usual show merchandise. If there is a book on my site that you'd like to pickup - save on post - let me know. Glad to lug it along. Grey

Hi Henry, Unless your shirasaya has been messed with it probably needs nothing and you should leave it alone. Post a picture if you're not sure. Grey

Hi Zachery, There will be no need to register a koshirae on tsunagi and you will be able to take it home with you, mo problem. What you propose with parts and a new bladeless tsuka is possible buy why bother? You'll get more bang for your buck - better quality pieces for the same money or same quality for less - if you buy an existing koshirae rather than go to the expense of having the tsuka made to fit your parts. Grey

Smith is Kanenao and date is Showa 16 year 2 month day (a day in February of 1941) Grey

The nakago is way too long. Possibly a remnant of a broken longer sword. Study first; buy later. Or, at least, buy only from a trusted source. Grey

This looks to be put together for a western (non Japanese) customer no earlier than late 19th century and possibly as late as after WWII for occupation forces to have a trinket to take home. The nakago is wrong for real Nihonto. Nothing to bother a polisher over. In my often humbled opinion. Grey

Hi guys, I just listed on my site 25 pounds of sword, fittings, and armor books (pictures below), all at one heavily discounted price of $200 plus post. Please have a look: https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b787-large-box-of-greatly-discounted-books/ Also listed recently is a set in great condition of the two volumes of Nihonto Zuikan at $695: https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/book/sword-books/b731-nihonto-zuikan-by-kataoka/ If any of this interests you please contact me through my site, not by personal message here. Thanks, Grey

Danny is 100% on the good side; he can be trusted. Grey

Hi Blake, I have this on my site: https://japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/swords/q795-ensuite-katana-koshirae-possibly-higo-sweet/ Cheers, Grey

Thanks folks; much appreciated. Grey

Hi guys, I get X kawa Naomasa. Can someone please tell me what the X is? Thanks, Grey

Indexing a Japanese book is an excellent way to learn the characters and it doesn't have to be a book that doesn't already have a romaji index. Fujishiro's Nihon Toko Jiten would be a good choice; everybody wants to own a copy anyway. Set the index aside and see what you can do on your own. You can then look to the index and see how you've done. This way you're learning from written (carved) signatures, not printed Kanji and all the characters are relevant to your study. I learned a lot in putting together the JSL Index at jssus.org. Grey

Hi Blair, No Nihonto worth owning is valued so low; best you can hope for is garbage at that price.. Take time for study and save some money for a better sword. Grey

and on a dark background. Grey