Grey Doffin

The 3 missing mon are a serious problem; they pretty much kill the value. A good piece to learn from and move on. Grey

cdjapan is sold out again. Grey

Hi Olivier, This is an obvious fake. Before you buy a sword you need to buy books and spend serious time in study. Only with knowledge will you be able to avoid mistakes like this sword would have been. Grey

A cocker spaniel eating a jelly bean. Grey

I've always assumed they were insurance on a longer (heavier) blade. Makes sense to have it and I can't think of a different reason. Grey

Hi Henk-Jan, Sorry to burst a bubble but there is no chance this was actually made by Ko Bizen Tomonari. Most likely, if this is signed Tomonari it is in homage, much the same as all the WWII and slightly later knives that are signed Munechika. Grey

Hi Tony, Late Kamakura was the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century. Edo was 17th through most of the 19th century. It's great that you're interested in Nihonto but you would be doing yourself a big favor if you slowed down on sword buying and spent some time in study. The more you know the better your buying decisions will be. Grey

Hi guys, Recently consigned and just now listed to my site is a small group of kodogu: a few iron tsuba and some great early Kinko, including Ko, Kyo, and Goto. Have a peek if you like: C213 to C227. http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Tsuba-&-Kodogu Thanks, Grey

Aw shucks. Thanks guys, Grey

Not sure I'm a tsuba guy but pretty sure I'd like to see the tsuba face on (not mounted) before I try to tell what it is. From what I can see, maybe Tosho or late in the style of. Grey

Hi Steve, Don't try to fix anything on the sword; anything you think up might do serious damage. Leave it be until someone who knows Nihonto can look at it. Mark in Toledo is a good choice. Grey

Hi Steve, Where in the midwest do you live; maybe we can get you some in hand help (I'm in Minnesota). Given the condition, this will likely need someone to see it in person before you will know much. Grey

Hi Wouter, Since the title of your thread is "Purchase advice needed" let me give you some. Before you spend a penny on a sword, you need to learn a whole lot more about Nihonto than you now do. The fact that you weren't sure about the train wreck of a fake above tells us that you are exactly where each of us was back when we started. If you spend time and money on study (here at NMB, at sword shows, with good books, other sites online, visiting collections, etc.) you will be much better prepared to buy something you'll be proud to own. You wouldn't expect to walk into a flea market as a rube and come away with an old master oil painting; works the same with Japanese swords. Buy books first; swords later. Grey

Hi guys, Just listed a fantastic wakizashi by Aizu Nagamichi on my site ($2,200). If you have any interest please contact me through the site, not by personal message here. http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/swords/s121-wakizashi-mutsu-daijo-miyoshi-nagamichi# Thanks, Grey

Hi Jeff, There is a better than velcro temporary fix for the saya. Cut a strip of paper about 1" wide and long enough to circle the saya one and a half times. Wrap this tightly around the saya about 8 to 12" below where you want it to end up. Tightly wrap the paper 1.5 Xs with masking tape. Place the saya mouth down on a table and force the paper/tape down towards the mouth. Saya are largest at the mouth end so as the paper/tape moves towards the mouth it will get very tight and do an excellent job of securing the split. Perfectly reversible and will leave no trace when the time comes for the real fix, since the tape didn't touch the wood. Same trick works on tsuka. I do this everytime I ship a blade in shirasaya even if there isn't a split, to guard against damage in transit. Sorry for the hijack; back to the sale of your excellent blade. Grey

The Hakogaki on the top of the lid with the Ho-o is likely not by Dr. Sato; someone else maybe. Grey

I agree with barry; leave the lacquer alone. Grey

Thank you Dirk. Grey

Hi guys, I'm told this hakogaki is by Dr. Sato and it goes with a namban tsuba that will be for sale. Would someone be nice enough to give me the translation (and Romanji if you're feeling extra generous); it will be appreciated. Thank you, Grey

Hi guys, I have just finished lowering by 25% the prices on almost all of the tsuba, including the Holbrook tsuba remaining unsold, on my website. I think there are few bargains to be had. If interested, please contact me through the site, not by personal message. Cheers, Grey http://www.japaneseswordbooksandtsuba.com/store/Books

Hi Richard, Not sure I understand but if all you're doing is receiving and reshipping you don't need anything; you just ship it. You might want to look into private insurance because the shipper will want proof of what you spent on the item before they pay out if there is a loss. Grey

I also think Kanetsugu and the date is Showa Ni Ju Nen Ichi Gatsu (January of 1945). The chippy writing found on WWII swords is often difficult to read. Grey

From Fujishiro, Sudo Kunitsugu. This is Screendoor Kuni. Grey

Maybe an abbreviation for Oei? Grey

or this one? Grey