Grey Doffin

Hi Michael, You admit to being new to Nihonto, which is good. You would be very smart if you strongly resisted every urge to fix this sword yourself. Until you know a whole lot more than you currently do you should leave the sword alone; well meaning amateurs can make a terrible mess. Best, Grey

Hi guys, If anyone has a better idea please let me know. If not, would one of you please give me the romaji for the Japanese and a rough idea what is being said? Thank you, Grey

Hi Edward, Kore, meaning this. The mei would be read Seki Nobumitsu Kore wo Saku, I think: Seki Nobumitsu made this. Grey

Thanks. Anyone else know more than that? Grey

I am pretty sure this is Japanese and pretty sure it is in terrible condition. This one might be best left as is; far too much of it would have to be sacrificed in a polish. If it were mine I would be tempted to enjoy it for what it is, as is. Grey

Thank you Dan; much appreciated. Grey

Hi guys, I'd be most appreciative if someone could tell me romaji and meaning of the following. Thanks, Grey

I also agree that this is cast and I just couldn't resist when Barry wrote caste (which someone has since corrected).. Grey

Brahmin.

Hi guys, I just took in 6 boxes of books (5 were large; 1 weighed 90 pounds) and have listed those not already spoken for on my site. Some very useful references, a couple I've never had before, and a few in immaculate condition (pretty amazing for 40 year old books). Check them out at the top of the list on my books page: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Books Cheers, Grey

Hi Oleg, Your sword is signed Dewa no Kami Hokyo Minamoto Mitsuhira. Mitsuhira was a leading smith of the Ishido School; he worked in the mid 17th century. My 1st real sword was by Mitsuhira; nice find. Grey

Hi Acxel, Signed Rai Kunimitsu. The earliest Rai Kunimitsu was a very important smith from Kamakura era but he never made a wakizashi (the form didn't exist when he worked). There were later smiths who used the name; none are well known. Your sword is either by one of them or it is gimei, a forged signature. Grey

Hi Acxel, In spite of what everyone is telling you, resist the urge to jump into restoration. 1st you need to have a better idea what you have and what all your options are. The sword can always be restored and nothing terrible will happen to it if it isn't restored soon. The more you know before you have restoration done, including whether or not the sword should be restored, the more successful the effort will be when you do it. There may be a Japanese sword show in Schaumburg (near you) the end of April (depends on the virus situation); if so it would be an excellent opportunity to have the sword looked at. If it doesn't happen there are other options. In the mean time, take it slow; don't be in a hurry. I'm not too far away in Minnesota. I'm not an authority but I know more than you do about this. Feel free to call with questions; glad to help if I can. Cheers, Grey 218-726-0395

Morning Acxel, I agree; this might be interesting. It needs to be seen in hand by someone who knows what he's looking at and who is honest (not going to guess which of the 2 is in shorter supply). As mentioned, don't try to fix anything yourself (well meaning amateurs can do serious damage) with one exception. If there is no pin to fit through the hole in the handle and blade's tang, whittle one out of a chopstick ASAP. The pin (mekugi) is very important; the blade is dangerous and subject to fatal damage itself if there is no pin to lock it in the handle. Best, Grey

Morning Jose, As Piers mentioned, you need both a kotsuka and kogatana. Don't get too hung up on these being made in the Muromachi; while your wakizashi is from that period, its koshirae is most likely newer than that. Lots of kotsuka online to choose from; I have more than a few on my website and would be glad to help. Mark Jones usually has kogatana for sale. You'll find both of us in the dealers section here on NMB. Cheers, Grey

Hi Max, Check with The Index of Japanese Sword Literature at jssus.org: http://www.jssus.org/ijsl/?&display=table&table=smiths&page=1 Cheers, Grey

Hi Brian, The sword looks to be real, real low end, and in really bad condition. The handle wrap may be something done late war, to get it out to the troops as quick as possible. Don't spend any more money on this one; it is too far gone. Grey

Hi Paul, Smoke oshigata are not a good idea; the carbon (soot) can become part of the nakago's patina, changing it from what it was before. Better to use oshigata paper and the ink stone; it leaves nothing behind and, with a bit of effort, does a much nicer job. Grey

Hi J.W. You can take this to shinsa and you will get a paper, but the paper will say Sukesada, which you already know, so why bother? Depending on the group doing the shinsa they might specify a period of manufacture but it will be late Koto (16th century), which you already know, so why bother? Save your money for study and swords; in this case a paper makes no sense. Grey

work, work, work... Oh well, how about an Ishiguro Mitsuharu tsuba, a sweet little tanto tsuba, and a Bitchu no Kami Yasuhiro, Kii Ishido school wakizashi with koshirae. And more. Grey

Hi guys, The fittings have been listed and I've started listing swords. To all you who want to buy your 1st real sword worth caring about, keep an eye out. There will be good pieces at very reasonable prices. Thanks, Grey

Hi Andrew, Books. Start with either (but not both) The Samurai Sword by Yumoto or The Japanese Sword by Sato. Next step up on scholarship would include The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords by Nagayama and Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords by Nakahara. If you want a collection of oshigata (rubbings of authentic signatures), Fujishiro's 2 volumes of Nihon Toko Jiten gives you all the important and most of the less important but still worthy of attention smiths and won't set you back nearly as much as the larger Taikans. If you get serious about study, the 59 volumes of Token Bijutsu English edition by the NBTHK are, in my opinion, the best information in English on the subject. If you have an interest in Japanese military swords, Dawson's Swords of Imperial Japan: 1868 - 1945, Cyclopedia Edition is the best choice. Beyond those there are so many fine books, I wouldn't know where to stop. For a better idea what these books are like, all are listed, with descriptions and pictures on my website: japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com. Cheers, Grey

Hi Andy, I think you need to slow down; take some time with study before you go throwing thousands of dollars at swords and polishes. There will always be swords to buy and there will always be qualified polishers (both in Japan and in the US). The more you know before you spend the money the happier you'll be with the results. Otherwise you run a large risk of making mistakes you'll regret. There are lots of book recommendations on NMB; just use the search option. Grey

Hi guys, I probably do as much overseas mailing from the US as anyone else here. I've had packages delayed, sometimes by USPS but in other instances by the receiving country's Customs Office but, so far, nothing has been lost. USPS has been troubled by much higher than normal volume and inept political appointees to postal service management during the last administration (nothing like dismantling room size sorting machines to slow things down) but, with luck, all will be well again. Cheers, Grey

Best of luck with this Adam, One thing I would add is to emphasize the fact that it isn't possible to learn what you need to know in order to sensibly collect Nihonto just by watching a video. Reading, asking questions, and foremost, in hand study of quality pieces, all over the course of years are necessary. Grey