Grey Doffin

Hi Gabriel, Care and handling: http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.php You should read this. Congrats on being gifted a Japanese sword. Grey

Hi, My name is Grey Doffin, I live in northern Minnesota, USA, and I have a website dedicated to Nihonto and books on the subject: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/ I've been studying Japanese swords for nearly 40 years now and buying/selling for most all of them (I'm trying to lose my 1st million). If you check my site today, in late 2020, you'll find a dozen or so swords and koshirae (with more to come soon), 150 to 200 sword fittings (tsuba, menuki, fuchi/kashira, etc), and a very large inventory of books on the subject. I try to have reasonable prices and items to fit a variety of budgets. I try also to be helpful. If you're just getting started with Nihonto feel free to ask questions about any of my pieces; I'll tell you what I think I know. This field can be daunting; there is so much to understand and ample opportunity to make mistakes. If you come to me with a question, I will answer honestly. Promise. Not sure what all I'll do with this space on NMB. As I get some time in the coming days I'll post highlights of some of the pieces on my site; beyond that we'll just have to wait and see. Feel free to post here also; your comments are welcome. If you want to contact me please use my email, not personal message on NMB. Email is easier and I can keep track of our correspondence in folders on my computer. Phone calls, if you live in The States, are fine also. Thanks for stopping, Grey grey@japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com 218-726-0395 central time

Care and handling: http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.php Grey

Hi Julius, You can make a new mekugi yourself; just whittle a bamboo chopstick. And don't wait to do this; do it ASAP. Without that pin to lock the blade in the handle, it can fall loose: onto the floor, inside the scabbard, through your foot, there are many variations. Grey

Hi Julius, Here is a care and handling brochure you would be smart to read: http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.php Grey

Hi Angel, Showa Ju Ku Nen Hachi Gatsu Kitsu Jitsu. Showa 19 year 8 month lucky day. A lucky day in August of 1944. Note: I may be off a bit on the kitsu jitsu part. Grey

Masanaga Saku. Grey

Hi Greg, I also tend towards cast but, even if it isn't cast, it is so low end that it doesn't matter much either way. Cheers, Grey

Hi Curran, I have a couple pieces papered to later generations and this kotsuka papered to 3rd Goto Joshin. https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/tsuba-%26-kodogu/f207-shakudo-and-gold-kotsuka-papered-3rd-goto-master-joshin Stay well, Grey

Hi Gordon, It isn't difficult to find tsuba to fit a sword but habaki and tsuka have to be made to fit the nakago and the craftsperson will have to have the sword in hand to do that. Trying to find existing pieces to fit, especially the habaki, is a waste of time. Grey

Sometimes these 2 part metal megugi are difficult to remove and the last thing we want to do is send David off on a mission to damage his tanto. David, if you want to call I'll explain what you're up against and I'll tell you about the various techniques you can try and those you shouldn't attempt. In the mean time, here is a care and handling brochure you should read: http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.php Nice tanto. Cheers, Grey 218-726-0395 central time

Here is another example from my website. https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/swords/k86-signed-%26-dated-armor-piercing-tanto-higo-koshirae Grey

Hi Nick, If you would like to talk with someone, get a bunch of questions answered in one swell foop, feel free to call. I'm not an authority but I have been at this for almost 40 years and I will be honest with my answers. Cheers, Grey 218-726-0395 central time

Hi Nick, I recommend that you don't get this sword restored, at least not now before you understand a lot more than you currently do. Restoration does nothing to preserve the sword; a fine coat of machine oil will do that. Here is a care and handling brochure you should read: http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.php Some day, if you develop a serious interest in Japanese swords and you know a bunch more about them, maybe you'll want to get this one polished and put into shirasaya (new resting scabbard). I don't think it makes sense to have it done now. Grey

Hi Alex, Can't tell much about the blade from your pictures. I see nothing that makes me suspect it isn't real but, at the price you paid, it probably isn't real good. The mounts are decidedly mediocre except for the tsuba, which I think is a modern fake. I think you would do better to work with a dealer here in the west, in The States. Communication is easier and, given your current knowledge level, you need lots of help and advice, something you can't expect from a Japanese dealer with an $800 sword. Grey

Mutsu Daijo Miyoshi Nagamichi Grey

I think: Yamashiro Kuni Ju Minamoto Tsunahiro. Grey

Hi Matt, Here is a care and handling brochure that will tell you how to remove and replace the handle. Please read it through before you attempt anything. http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.php Cheers, Grey

Hi Jeff, Feel free to call with questions before you attempt any repair, or questions in general. Mean time, here is a care and handling brochure you should read: http://nbthk-ab.org/cleaning-maintenance.php Cheers, Grey 218-726-0395

Hi Jeff, Could be Shinshinto; could be Muromachi. Hard to tell from just these pictures. Cheers, Grey, also in Minnesota

Hi guys, My website: japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com, is misbehaving and I'd like to learn how bad the problem is. If you tried to contact me, enquire about an item, through the site and received no response from me, please send me an email. With luck I can get this put right. Thank you, Grey gdoffin at gmail.com

The sword in the book pictured was made by a different Yoshikuni; yours was made by someone without traditional training as a swordsmith. The date is Showa Ju Hachi Nen Ju Ni Gatsu (Showa 18 year 12 month, December of 1943). Grey

Bizen Kuninaga or it could be the top of Bizen no Kuni Osafune something, with the nakago cut just below Osa (also read Naga). Grey

Hi Ryan, From top to bottom: Sukehisa Ju Ku in blue paint. the # 15 ? 1573 Yoshichika and the last 2 pix are Showa Ju Hachi Nen. Showa 18 or 1943 You need my Kanji Flashcards: https://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/kanji-flashcards Cheers, Grey

Hi Marco, Usually fukure in the yakiba (hardened area of the blade) can't be repaired but even if the fukure is above the yakiba it is an expensive repair and is warranted only if the sword is very good quality or better. You don't mention what your sword is but unless it is special you should leave it be; don't go looking for a polisher. This isn't a fatal flaw but it is a large negative. A reputable dealer should have told you about this before you bought the sword. If a collector comes to me wanting to buy a sword, I tell him everything (the fukure would have been mentioned in my description; it is only fair. Not saying I'm a saint; this is how it should be. Grey