Grey Doffin

Shonai Kinko Meisaku Shu is the book that comes to my mind. http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b552-shonai-kinko-meisaku-shu-dr-sato Grey

Not that I'm an expert or that I can't be fooled, but. The fact that the design slops over and into the sepppa-dai and that the nakago-ana has never been adapted for mounting to a sword (it looks very typical modern fake) would have put me off this one. Water over the dam on this one but a word of warning to beginners who may be considering buying on ebay. Grey

I agree with Barry and add that condition is terrible and it would take forever to restore. Nothing collectable there. Grey

Hi Jack, Here is a care and etiquette site that will teach you how to remove and replace the handle, and a bunch more that you should know. http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm Grey

Hi Bradley, Saya- gaki are attributions, either confirming a signature or attributing an unsigned sword. They can be done by anyone but ideally by an authority. Ray is correct in that a character seems to be missing, but something is off about the whole saya-gaki. It shouldn't be partially faded and it looks like it was applied with a blunt brush; not what I'd expect. Grey

The scabbard isn't bamboo (none ever were), rather wood that someone has painted red. Here is a care & etiquette website for you to read: http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm Grey

Better than rubber bands for holding a split saya together: Cut a strip of paper about an inch wide and long enough to go once and a half around the saya. Wrap the paper around the saya about 6 to 8 inches below where you want the support and tightly wrap the paper with masking tape. Now, invert the saya on a table top and force the paper/tape band down towards the koi-guchi. Since saya are largest at the koi-guchi, as the band is forced down it will get very tight and offer excellent support. When the time comes for removal, shove the band the other direction and no evidence it was ever there will be left behind. Multiple bands at different heights can be used on the saya and the same technique can be used on a tsuka. These bands work well to hold the 2 halves of the saya in proper orientation when gluing with rice glue and I use a band around the koi-guchi of an unsplit shira-saya when I ship one, to lessen the chance that it split if the package is dropped. Grey

Noshu no Ju Tsukako Kanemasa Kin Saku (Resident of Noshu, Tsukako Kanemasa Respectfully Made). Grey

The black patina on the nakago protects the nakago from corrosion; clean it off and rust will take over. Grey

Best never to cut with a sword that you don't know the origin of, even if it looks well made. If there is a defect inside, the blade can shatter on impact and broken pieces become shrapnel. Grey

Hi Omar, Here is a care & etiquette page that will teach you how to remove and replace the handle (and a lot more). http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm The placement of the hi (the groove carved in the upper area, away from the edge) is abnormal, which leads me to think this is modern Chinese. Grey

Hello, You are smart not to attempt to clean the sword; more likely you will do damage than good. Here is a care & etiquette page which you would be smart to read. http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm Grey

Will Darrel who has emailed me twice about one of the pieces but who isn't receiving my replies please call? Grey 218-726-0395

Hi guys, As many of you know, I have been selling a large collection of Nara School fittings. 9 pieces, fuchi kashira, menuki, and kotsuka, remain to be sold and I have just now marked their prices down. You will find them at the top of my Tsuba & Kodogu page; have a peek please; there are some bargains to be had. http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Tsuba-&-Kodogu Thanks, Grey

Pictures from the book: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b865-connoisseurs-book-Japanese-swords-kokan-nagayama Grey

Hello again, The consignor has now told me he found 3 more copies; still available. Grey

All copies have sold. Thanks, Grey

Hi guys, I will be at the show with all swords and kodogu from my site. If any of you would like to see one of the books from my site let me know and I'll take it along. Grey

2 copies left. Grey

Hi Guys, Some of you have asked me to find you copies of Mr. Fukushi's book. I just took in a few copies in new condition on consignment. The books are in Europe, which will save on postage for anyone situated there. If you don't know the book, it is great for explaining the stories behind the themes found on kodogu: folk lore and history, and it is in English. Here it is: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b632-art-appreciation-Japanese-sword-fittings-fukushi If you want a copy please contact me by email through my site, not with personal message here; I need your emails to keep track of business. Thanks, Grey

Peter, I said nail set, not nail. Use a needle nose pliers or hemostat to pull out pieces of the mekugi and the nail set to break lose new pieces; eventually you should have it clear enough the remove the handle. You don't want to use a drill because that could damage the tang. Grey

Minneapolis Minnesota: http://www.threeriversmartialarts.com/trmaa/2018-minneapolis-sword-show/ Grey

Hi Peter, Here is a care and etiquette site; please read it. Don't use a drill to remove the broken pin. With a small punch or nail set you should be able to clear the pieces and get the handle off. Make sure to whittle a new pin when you get done; the pin is very important. You can scrape off much of the red rust on the blade with a piece of bone or antler and then place a thin coat of oil. Don't do anything to clean the tang. Grey

Hi Krystian, I don't think this is a cast tsuba. Search the board and elsewhere online for Jakushi. Grey

Hi, name please, Here is a sword care and etiquette web page: http://www.nbthk-ab.org/Etiquette.htm You would be smart to read it twice. All 3 of your swords are real and worthy of preservation but not necessarily a polish now. If you take some time to learn more about Nihonto before you consider polish you will be more able to appreciate the work and less likely to screw up the new (and expensive) polish shortly after it is done. Go slow and take time to learn; this is a fascinating study. Grey