kissakai

Hi I bought this tsuba in a job lot and pretty sure it is a fake. If it is I was going to thin it down (currently 5mm thick) and recut the shape into a design I like I would just like your opinion before I do this Out of curiosity I googled Japanese axe to see which forms they used as I was sure they didn't use one of this shape I assume the lower detail represents lightning Grev UK

Hi I live in the UK and bought a wakizashi and Katana from Japan about a month ago They were held up at customs but I give them my qualifications as an Aikido coach and insurance details They were cleared within two days I have no idea if this will always work but for me it was fine You will see all over this message board the problems buying without seeing the item so be warned The other advice in this thread is excellent so be careful Grev UK

Wonderful - Some great comments that give me so much to look into Before I had no idea what I had but now it is much easier for me to be more specific in my searches I put it on the HMB hopefully for a bit of direction and why I was a bit disapointed when the only comments where on the crack which was an obvious fault For most of us we will not own a sword that is top class but are still hungry for information, not necessarily praise. Grev UK

Grey are you thinking it is WWII as you mentioned ‘Seki Gunto’? Jean I’ve just found out the following but this will be nothing new to you. I only have Robinson’s ‘Arts of the Japanese Sword, the NMB, and the internet for research. So I need to spend more time looking up these details. Also attached pictures as requested Yasurime - File marks on nakago - Mine are about 30° crossed. Diamond shape (Higaki) Ubu Nakago Form (Futsu Gata) - This general form is the nakago type which occurs most frequently. Kengyo tang style. Name Hawley Province School Province Kanemitsu KAN1464 Mino Seki 1381 Kanemitsu KAN1499 Mino Seki 1394 - 1428 Kanemitsu KAN1502 Mino Seki 1532 - 1555 Kanemitsu KAN1480 Mino Seki 1864 Sorry I was a bit pointed but where else can I get such good information. There is no need to spoon feed us just some pointers such as Jean made Maybe we need a section for the notice to ask for advice. That way there is no embarrassment in posting some of no so good stuff Grev UK

Hi Grey I put up this Wakizashi for discussion/comments, good or bad At the moment it is 2-1 for a serious flaw so I can live with that and I did find it difficult to see why it was signed if there was a flaw at the time it was originally made I was a bit disappointed that no one has given me any real info on this Wakizashi It seems in the main to be only the good and the bad that generate the most info and the middle of the road stuff hardly gets a mention I have another couple swords and as they are nothing special it hardly seems worth adding the posts/images I know we rely on people who voluntarily contribute so maybe it is to be expected Grev UK

Thanks Brian for your comment I must admit my spirit did drop I wouldn’t like to disagree with Josh but I believe there are some pointers to saiha There would be a change to the patina nakago, the hamon near the habaki and loss of shape to the nakago and sori. In general it would have looked wrong. To my untrained eye everything looked reasonable If I assume the crack (there is depth to it – about a 1/3rd to ½ way through nakago) was formed at the time of forging would this have been acceptable? I would wonder how the sword smith felt about this. If possible I would still like some general points about the wakizashi and its maker Grev UK

I forgot to add the sizes: Dimensions Full length in shirasaya 76cm 30” Blade full length 66.8cm 26” Temper length 51.2cm 20” Sori 1.7cm ½“ Width 2.7cm 1” Thickness 0.7cm ¼" Grev UK

Hi As a novice my first post (a tsuba) got a hammering and I was taken aback. It was only after reflection that I realised the wisdom of the comments It made me look more carefully and read, read, and read a bit more along with the information in the NMB posts Now I would say do not hold back we need to know the truth from the expertise on this (the best) message board I also know that if there is unfair or unrealist critism Brian will step in and if Brian doesn't step in then you can be pretty sure the comments are just and honest Don't change and keep up the good Many thanks Grev UK

Hi I said I would put the Wakizashi I bought at the same time as my Katana (previous post) so here it is. With this one I have found a crack so I’m unsure how bad this is. The crack is ringed in yellow so you can see there is some depth to it. The translation was proved by Morita and is Seki Kanemitsu - 関兼光 I have no idea is this can be attributed to one smith or even if a date is possible Any information would be appreciated. Grev UK

Hi Mark Nice reasurance - thanks I'm about half way through the suggested book Japanese swords and I thought it started very well then I lost the plot a bit with all the fine details I will put up the pictures for the Wakizashi I bought at the same time in the next couple of days Grev UK

Hi Mariusz Thanks for the advice, book should arrive on Wednesday - Amazon £18 Should be a good read Grev UK

Thank you all for your help I was expecting some 'cutting' :lol: comments about poor selection and why. I know more about polishing and some pointers to see if the nakago has been shortened and one reason why there is a hole at the end of the nakago. It would be impossible to ask any more about the origins of this katana but would anyone hazard a guess at it's age? I have Hawley's 'Introduction to Japanese Swords, a small booklet published in 1973. In this he talks about age related rust condition assuming that the rust has not been faked. Basically, no rust or red rust spots = up to 75 years: Firm dark rust = 100 to 300 years old and deep corroded rust = over 400 years old. Can any of this information be applied to my katana or is it to open to conjecture Grev UK

Hi Martin I am a novice but as an engineer I felt the condition of the end of the tang was consistant with the overall state so it didn't look as if it had been cut down I will have to have a closer look but as always I welcome any comments Grev UK

Thanks Kunitaro a very good comment about the boshi Martin tang images as requested Grev UK

Thanks for comments it appears I have been lucky :D Martin - What pictures would you like? Images of the blade are a nightmare with the light and reflection. I will be seeing someone who is more adapt at this than me so maybe some more Alex I had the dreaded letter about my swords being seized. The letter shows some bullet points one of these I felt I complied with so I sent this letter (it has been shortened) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parcel declaration - Katana Wakizashi for display with wood Korhirae The parcel declaration should have read - Katana Wakizashi for a martial arts instructor with wood Korhirae I comply with this bullet point: • It is for a martial arts club or sporting activity and third partly liability insurance is held I have been a martial art instructor since 1976. (I’ve removed all the details to stop people falling asleep) I hold the highest coaching level (level 3) that is awarded by the Governing body. I am also the Coaching Administration Officer for the Governing body was instrumental in providing the Weapons protocol. I then submitted my insurance details and the website with my qualifications -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I can print all the bullet points (exceptions) and my full reply if anyone is interested but this will only be of use to UK members Mariusz –It was my first sword purchase from hintendo along with a ‘long’ wakizashi. I will put the wakizashi images up later. No wonder you guys don’t miss anything! How on earth could you tell it was a hintendo sale from one small image – I’m impressed Can I come back to my original question about information about this katana, old, new, style etc. I also meant to ask about the hole right at the end of the nakago. Isn’t this an unusual place to have a hole and is it any indication of age? The condition of the nakago is consistent throughout so I’m sure it hasn’t been shortened. Grev UK

Hi I am not a collector of Katana but as a martial artiste I have always wanted a traditionally made katana I bought a katana from Japan a few weeks ago. It was a shame I didn’t read the excellent article posted earlier, ‘Tips for collecting Nihonto’. After reading the article there were so many things I did wrong so I thought I could use this as an example to other new collectors and invite comments good or bad It was bought as Edo period but this is a huge range and there is no guarantee it is not post Edo No other authentication apart from the sizes below although slight flaws were detailed Dimensions Length with koshirae is 99.5cm 39” Blade length is 91.3cm 36” Temper length is 69.9cm 27 ½“ Sori is 1.2cm ½” Width is 3.3cm 1 ¼“ Thickness is 0.7cm ¼“ It was bought in polish Buying without seeing it is dangerous and especially with no authentication I am quite happy with the katana although I may have paid too much Any information would be appreciated including value and I do have broad shoulders so fire away! PS customs was a real problem but eventually I did legitimately get it through I found taking these pictures was difficult with the light and reflections Full Boshi Hamon Tang Grev UK

Thanks Chris/Morita I would never had seen the similarity between the character and the one sent by Morita So learning a bit more I will have to put up images of the Wakizashi as Kanemitsu is a very common name and I've no idea of the age or any other details! Grev UK

Thanks Chris I was told it may be Seki but when I looked it up I found two characters both were nothing like my character Do you have the the character for my reference? Grev UK

Hi all I'm struggling with the first character for this mei I think it is ? Kanemitsu Can anyone help? Grev UK

Hi Grey Do these help? Mei Cert – I know this is not an authentication certificate but have no idea what it says Overall picture I should wait until I get it and then do some better pictures Grev UK

Hi Brian/Henry I will post some more pictures when I get it back from the polisher but that will not be for for a few weeks so may be best to open a new post when I get it back Initially I was mainly looking for info on the tsuka but that appears to give no real info I've no idea how to tell baleen fron dear strips Grev UK

Hi I have an aikuchi that has an interesting handle. I believe it is baleen. I have seen an article on baleen in a previous HMB post but I can't find it! Does any one know if this type was used in a particular time zone? I'm hoping to find out some pointers for the aikuchi and again if any one has any idea about the Aikuchi I would be most grateful. I realise this is a tall order from the limited info. I swapped a 'tired' wakizashi for the aikuchi at a militaria fair and was not given any information about it It is being polished at the moment (will not be returned for a few weeks) and will be put into shira saya so I can’t supply any more photos/details at the moment With thanks Grev UK

Hi I have purchased a wakizashi with the mei Seki Kanemitsu so I've looked on the Nihonto Knowledge Base There were three different kanji used so after deleting two of the varients I was left with only one choice and the details are delow: Noshu Seki ju Kanemitsu Mino no kuni (Genki) - KAE1477 (15pts) Unfortunately there is no date so is there anyone who can give me any more details? It will take a couple of weeks to come from Japan so I've trying to get something I can research before delivery such as a copy of this mei and an idea of style and form It is not authenticated so I have no idea yet if it is correct Grev UK

Many thanks to: Mariusz for leading me in with the link David for the last character which I could not find Soshi Gemei - reply, the tsuba is not signed but again a pointer where to look Morita - Another pointer as I was just concentrating on the makers mei - Doh So I have Mokko Gata Sukashi Tsuba - I assume this just translates to 'tsuba' and not an era Best bit about this apart from feeling a bit smug is that it is so ordinary I was hoping for a school, maker etc but instead it's just like getting something out of a sweetie box and on the jar it says 'candy - round' :lol: Is there anything worth saying about the tsuba? Grev UK

Thanks for this link I've looked but with no real success I also have trouble with the stroke count For example is the first character 4 strokes? The last character has so many strokes I just looked at the end of the list again without success I suppose someone needs to get the 'eye' in If you gave me a couple of pointers I'd love to try it myself Grev UK