Grey Doffin

The number 22? Possibly to keep track at an armory, but earlier armory than WWII. Grey

I don't see the problem here. If I can help with a translation or anything else I'm glad to. If the owner then puts the sword on ebay, no concern of mine. Grey

Hi Darius, As I said before, it would make no sense to attempt a restoration. Do not spend a dime trying to put this into different mounts; it would be like restoring a 15 year old Ford that has been totaled in a wreck. Instead, take some time to study and learn and then if you still want to restore a sword you can find a much better sword to restore. Grey

Hi Daso, (and if that's not your name please add it to your posts) No question; it is a real Japanese Samurai sword. This may be retempered, as mentioned above by Maximillian; hard to know for sure from the photos. The numerous grain openings may be the result of retemper or maybe just core steel showing through on a worn out sword. Either case, it would make no sense to attempt a restoration. Keep a very thin coat of machine oil on the rust spots, if not on the whole of the polished blade, to keep the rust from progressing, and enjoy it as much as possible for what it is. And keep reading; always nice to have new collectors join in. Grey

I originally thought rabbit but have come to bamboo for the theme. I like the central vertical as the stalk with leaves on either side and no idea what the circles represent better than I like the circles as rabbit's heads with long ears ending in no idea what the central vertical is. Anyone agree? Grey

For what it's worth (not much) this doesn't look burnt to me. Grey

Hi Antti, The dovetail cuts in that other thread are on the outside of the kotsuka/kogai hitsu-ana and are unusual. This one is on the inside and not uncommon. Yours used to have a shakudo strip placed to protect the soft metal kotsuka or kogai from scratching as it is inserted or withdrawn through the tsuba. No idea why this tsuba is so badly scratched; doesn't make sense. Grey

Hi Dominic, Not to blow my own horn (and thanks to those who did it for me above) but my site is an excellent place to learn what is available in books. Scroll through the pages to see what's interesting. If you find something but it's in Japanese, many of the Japanese books have been indexed in English. I'm happy to answer questions about the books so feel free. Cheers, Grey

Masakiyo. Grey

Hi Antti, Harry Watson will sell you a digital copy of his translations of Fujishiro for $100 (afu at suddenlink.net). This is a bargain and getting it from someone other than Harry is ripping him off. Grey

I think the collecting experience of the sword owner has as much or more to say about whether koshirae is made than the value of the sword. Beginners want to have koshirae made for everything, even lowly Showa-to. More experienced collectors tend not to do this, realizing that in the end they'll have something put together rather than a historical artifact and that also, in the real end, they'll lose serious money on the project. Grey

Looking at the koi-guchi and ko-jiri: if the petals that aren't gold are some other soft metal (meant to be that way) then definitely worth $400 I think. If what I'm seeing is missing gold, then possibly worth $400 but not by much. But what do I know? Grey

A chance to see some of the interior of the book and a shameless plug: http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/books/b650-Japanese-spears-polearms-and-their-use-old-Japan-knutsen Grey

There are some very early, important swords that have very early and important koshirae (if the sword is in polish it is kept in shira-saya and the koshirae is kept together with a wooden blade called tsunagi). Most very old swords, however, if mounted are mounted with koshirae that is newer than the blade. This doesn't mean that the koshirae isn't real, just that it is newer than the blade. The stash of swords that surfaced at the NBTHK some years ago had fallen through a beaurocratic crack. They have since been registered and will not be destroyed. Destruction was never an option. Grey

Something Kotetsu Saku. Good luck with that one. Grey

Hi David, The plug in the kotsuka hitsu-ana is the same material as the tsuba. This could happen with a kinko tsuba but never with an iron one; if the tsuba is iron the plug will be copper, shakudo, silver or gold foil over copper, or lead, but not iron. If this tsuba were mounted, parts of the design would fall under the seppa (the oni's fist and the ring around the monk). This happened on some real tsuba that were made very late, very fancy (very high end), and to be collected, not mounted. You'll also sometimes see earlier, utilitarian pieces with parts of the ornament under the seppa but in these cases the ornament is flush with the surface, not raised, so the seppa will sit properly. Look at the nakago hitsu-ana. The rounded top and the lack of copper inserts top and bottom (or evidence that there ever were any) are other tips that this is a fake. If you'd like to buy tsuba you need either to buy only from trusted and knowledgeable sellers or to study before you buy. Your current level of knowledge is just enough to get you in trouble (no shame in this; we've all been there). There are many great books on great tsuba; one of these should be your next purchase. Grey

Facts and Fundamentals is out of print and difficult to find. Copies I've had I've sold at about $100 and I've never had a copy stay in stock long. I highly recommend the book. Grey

Masanobu 正信 , if I'm not mistaken. Grey

Jim Dawson's book is great on the subject but make sure you get the later Cyclopedia Edition, not the earlier. Grey

Hi Dominic, You have 3 options. You can try to find someone else to choose a sword for you (basically what you're trying to accomplish here on NMB). You can choose one yourself; maybe you'll do OK or maybe you'll rue the day. Or you can study a bit before buying and then be able to make an informed decision on your own. The 3rd option makes so much sense; the 1st 2 don't. What's more, the 3rd option will be far more rewarding and the fact that you'll understand what you've purchased will make owning the sword more rewarding also. But you seem to have your heart set on a car wreck. Listen to us. We've been there and understand what you're up against. You've been given good advice, why ignore it? Grey

I wasn't suggesting that this be sent to David for new tsuka-ito. My thought was that he could patch in the small missing piece, which would improve appearance and help to stabilize the original ito so more doesn't come undone. Grey

I agree totally with Barry; David is the obvious choice for this. You should be able to find him in the links above. Grey

Since both are WWII era and probably showa-to (as opposed to a handmade gendaito), both are over priced. You can do better. I suggest serious study, online, in books, and at shows, before you buy a sword. Grey

I will be there and since I drive to this show I can bring books with me. Anything on my site you want to see let me know. Grey

I agree with Rivkin: either very low quality Japanese or recent Chinese fake. Look closely at detail; it doesn't hold up. And regardless where & when it was made, everyone should strive to collect better. Grey