waynes

Yeah that's the katana I'm talking about. It was done before I got it, but I meet John before this to discuss another project. He is a great guy, he took the morning for me to go to his shop and talk about nihonto. When you get it back I would love to see some pics.

I'm glad to hear that it's getting redone. It's kind of funny because Louis polished my katana and John did the shira saya and habaki on it. You will be very happy with the outcome.

On the sho shin web site there is an earlier smith listed by this name. Here's the link.

http://www.sho-shin.com/hoku9.htm

Thank you very much everyone. This is very helpful, although I was really hoping it would have helped place it to a certain smith instead of a line. Especially because I don't have any Kaga books.

Hi, I just got my papers back for a katana I submit that came back with hozon attributed to

Kashu Ietsugu. If somebody would translate this for me it would be very helpful. I am including both sides even though I assume the info on the back isn't important I'd still like to know what it says. Thank you in advance.

Thanks for the response. I didn't realize untill recently that the name could be spelled either way. So now it's time to put my nose back in the books.

Yes, this was from the July shinsa. Best of luck with the tanto.

I just got the results today. It came back with a Hozon to Kashu Iyetsugu. That's all I know for now. I've found a few smiths working by this name in Kaga around early Muromachi, but not to much info. If anyone knows of anything else I'd appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

Hi guys, I hate to bring up such an old post but I just shipped it out to Mr. Bob Benson today to go to shinsa. I'm dying to see how it goes.

Hi, thanks for the responses. Unfortunately I don't know anyone going to the London show, and as far as sending it to Japan that's a little more then I can justify right now since I bought my first home and am restoring it.

Hi, I'm trying to find a shinsa in the US preferably on the east coast to get my katana to.

If anybody knows where I can find out where they will be it would be appreciated. Here's a link to the katana I want to take. viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1766&p=12091#p12091

i got your first one and its awesome so i would like a complete set!

I have to agree 100%

Hi, I am more then a beginner so my observations may be way off ,and I'm sure some of the more knowledgeable members will help correct me . That being said, the mei does look off. Of the Sukenaga's I found most signed with a different version of naga. The one I found who used this one is suk347 who's style, as you already stated, doesn't match. Also I didn't see any examples of these smiths signing so high (above mekugi-ana). The sugata does match the late nambokucho period. Also from what could be seen and what you stated such as the masame and the activity in the hamon I believe it could be Yamato influenced. All in all to me it looks like it has some serious potential. Definitely wouldn't mind adding it to my collection. Best of luck with it.

Unfortunately they'll end up as authentic on ebay. Honestly I never would have been able to tell that they're not from the pics. What are the tell tail sighs that these are repro's? I know nothing about tosogu so any pointers would be appreciated.

Sorry about the confusion. I read and wrote star but was thinking Seki. That'll teach me to post before that first cup of coffee. As for the polish Fred Lohman comes to mind. I've personally not used him yet, but have never heard a bad thing. Here is the link. http://www.Japanese-swords.com/pages/polish.htm

Hi Ron, nice find. I would recommend doing what some of the other members have recommended and finding out exactly what you have before parting with your money. If it turns out to be star stamped (most likely non traditional made), it probably wouldn't justify spending that type of money on it. The prices on swords are down right now for example I recently got a old koto katana in new shirasaya and polish for what I've seen people spend on a polish. On the other hand there are places that specialize in polishing war time swords for about half of what a normal polish would cost. Best of luck however it works out.

Hi, I see them at local shows around US $500.

Now that's a nice rack. :lol: I'm in the process of buying my first house and a rack like that would look great. It would also keep them out of the way of my monster kitten (whom I have to hide all things of value from). So if you feel like taking an order or someone knows where I can get one similar let me know.

Hi Hank welcome to the forum. The condition of the tanto is amazing. Very nice all the way around. As for your fathers use of gun oil, I use it sometimes on blades. I hope you decide to take care of it as well as he did and keep it in the family. I can't wait to see the other swords. One last thing I would definitely go for shinsa with both blade and koshirae.

Happy Birthday. Thank you to everyone for keeping this forum such a great place to learn, and the admin ,past and present, as well as moderators for doing such a great job. If it weren't for this forum I probably never would have found my last purchase (very glad I did).

Definitely post here before buying on ebay. I wish I would have that first time. :lol: I still have that poor example of a nihonto laying around because I don't want to pass it down the line.

Ya he's a wack job. I asked him once just to make sure if there was any ware or flaws and he went off saying if you can't read don't bid. Then it went down hill with it getting personal. In my opinion definitely the guilty attitude of someone with something to hide. Those nice emails you mentioned, I'll probably get one for this.

I have to say that I agree with Jean and Grey.

Yes I agree with you Milt that is a cast of a tsuba with sekigane. A real pity for the winning bidder.

Thank you very much for your informative opinion. I now have a lot of studying to do. I would like to send this in to shinsa but the thought of sending my only good nihonto away for so long is not a thought I like. Perhaps I'll wait until there's one around the New York area. Also congratulations to you Darcy and Mr. Benson on an outstanding book, I can't wait to have the whole series.