ROKUJURO

Björn, try to resist the urge to 'restore' parts of your nice sword! You will not improve but damage it and its value. Cleaning with a soft brush is o.k., but not more! The NAKAGO (not Nagako) is not cleaned unless there is active red rust. What you feel not to be a good match might be seen differently by Japanese. The FUCHI (not Fushu) is interesting, but may be a later item. The KASHIRA is well made and deserves more study, I think. P.S. TOSOGU !

Tony, the second one of your TSUBA (no plural form) was certainly nice when it was made, but the serious corrosion is a bad flaw for an experienced collector.

Shane, welcome to the NMB! Unfortunately, your photos do not show any of the important features except the SUGATA. What about the NAKAGO? If you make an online search (with the correct name, he has nothing to do with chicken), you will find: It seems he was a well respected GENDAI smith, so congratulations if this is an authentic blade. Value and price of blades are affected by the condition. If you take the price of a decent polish (about $ 2.500.-- to 3.000.--) into consideration, you may come closer to the market value.

Grev, it is small, the metalwork is very simple, the wood is nothing special (pine?), and it seems to be in not so good condition. That is what I think, having only the photo.

Hector, traditional sword bags are often made from old OBI or KIMONO (no plural in Japanese nouns). The material can be quite expensive if it is in good condition. High-end sword bags are padded with thicker textile like moleskin and lined with a thin, lightweight fabric. Traditionally, they are sewn by hand. I can tell that it is quite a lot of work, so I bought some ready-mades. You will need a FUSAHIMO (woven cord) to secure the sword.

School is Chinese Grammar school.....Not a TSUBA but a cheap decoration item.

Bruce, I think you are right. The second KANJI looked a bit like ROKU (6) at first sight, but it may well be something else (SHIN or KOKORO?).

As a TACHI TSUBA, I have a feeling that it's now upside-down. At least the arabic numerals are.

François, the same thing happened to me just afew weeks ago with a Japanese cooking knife!

That would be a lot of work and in the end mean the complete destruction of the item. ISHIZUKI are usually made from simple iron, while the YARI tip is very probably made of high-end TAMAHAGANE. I don't know how the item looks actually, but I think a well versed swordsmith should be able to turn it into a smaller (KAGO-YARI type?) weapon by adding/welding on a new NAKAGO.

Barry, in Japan all swords have to be registered. If the police finds unregistered blades, they are cut in pieces no longer than 150 mm and given back to the owners. Some make knives from the parts, others sell them. I just saw the news: Happy birthday and all the best! Stay healthy!

Peter, that is indeed a good question which I have answered my way. I bought a few pieces of authentic KATANA which had been cut up by the police as they were not registered, and I will transform them into traditional kitchen knives. As soon as I have something to show, I will do so here on NMB. I believe that re-purposing SAMURAI-related bits and pieces is justified in cases where nothing of value is destroyed or disintegrated/separated. If the new item is well crafted and tastefully combined, it will be cherished and preserved as objet d'art, I hope.

Teisa, this is the NIHONTO section, so to get more answers you might want to switch to TOSOGU.

Max, if I see this right this is TACHI MEI or a date (if KATANA). More and better photos would certainly help.

What about the NAKAGO? Has it been cleaned?

Steve, that is really admirable!

John, the photos don't tell much, but the NAKAGO has a SOSHÛ touch.

Thank you, John and MORIYAMA-SAN, very helpful and appreciated! It is probably an old blade that has seen some polishes, but it has a nice shape (SHOBU-ZUKURI, which I always like). John, the powder trick works fine if there is not too much corrosion on the NAKAGO. I will have to try if more can be made visible!

Gentlemen, I have a small (320 mm NAGASA) WAKIZASHI with a MEI that I can't read. Please give it a try and help me!

Can't read it because of the small photo and lack of contrast.

TENSHOZAN TANRENJO ?

Why then do they apply the NEKO-GAKI on the HABAKI sides? And why do you have to replace the wooden shims in the KOI-GUCHI of a SAYA from time to time? Paul's HABAKI looks old to me, much used, and slightly damaged, while the rats look rather new and pristine. So I think that the rats are a later decorative addition.

Bob, I think I can read BIZEN XX OSAFUNE......

Jay, I can only say that my impression is that it is a modern production. Ford Hallam would give you a more precise and fitting assessment, I am sure.

Joe, usually there are only two KANJI symbols to form a first name or a family name, but there are exceptions. Often, a MEI consists of three KANJI, the last one being SAKU (= made by).