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dwmc

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  1. dwmc

    Menuki question ??

    Dear Menuki knowledgeable NMB Members, I'm in the process of restoring a Shinto era Tsuka. The tsuka needs ito as well as menuki replacement. I am finding it very difficult to decide on menuki, and have acquired several sets to choose from. (However, I definitely do not want to use some modern reproduction type menuki.) I recently purchased the set below and think the set would match well with the koshirae. I may be ok with with the menuki if they are at least Japanese Meji or Showa period. Please inform me, if possible, as to the time period of these menuki. They are a very light weight material, tin, aluminum, with two small prongs on under side, also with something which appears like a black lacquer. I would greatly appreciate your opinions. Thanks in advance, Dave M.
  2. I think it was Chris Bowen that once mentioned something to the effect of "beware of a wwll era made swords with two mekugi-ana." The day before the estate auction you were allowed to view items in which you may have been interested in bidding. The sword pictured above, I noticed was in overall excellent condition, the son of the deceased owner of the sword was not allowing the tsuka to be removed, which concerned me somewhat, but could also understand him not wanting people to assemble and disassemble and so on. I decided to roll the dice and bid on the sword the next morning. Apparently, some one had convinvced the son to removed the tsuka and I was able to take a brief look at the nakago. I immediately noticed the two holes and should have been able to translate the inscription as an Amahide, but couldn't for reasons I can't explain. Possibly due to the variations in signatures. The habaki was stuck tight and was going to be difficult to remove with out some work. I've managed to make a short story long and apologize, but I can't help but feel this is all part of an on going story of a sword which began in a Seki sword factory in the 1930's or 40's. After I won the bid and got the sword home and managing to get my eyes realigned, I realized the inscription was Amahide, which was amazing on account of my fathers bring back being an Amahide also. On to the two holes and the habaki . It took a while to gently remove the habaki , but when I eventually succeeded, the two holes were glaringly explained. This was machi-okuri due to a forging flaw moved from the blade to the nakago. I'm sure as suggested by others there are many reasons for these Showa era two hole nakago's, but in this case, as Dave R. suggested...a repair! Regards, Dave M.
  3. Hi Dave, I think you can just click on "down loads" at the top of the page. It should be the first article under "whats new" Dave M.
  4. More than happy to provide photos Mal. These are not the best of pictures , but hopefully adequate. The 1946 bring back is in possession of my younger brother, however, I do have oshigata photos. I'll provide it to you when I locate them Thanks again, Dave M. 20201113_142918.mp4
  5. Mal, I would like to thank you also. My father brought home a Amahide in 1946. Almost unbelievably, I purchased a Shin-gunto two years ago at an estate auction, only to discover it was also an Amahide. Both swords are signed with "kitau kore" which hopefully suggests traditionally forged. Below is my estate purchase which is daisaku daimei Amahide by Ido Hidetoshi. Excellent article! Again...Thank you!! Dave M.
  6. Correction...Good eyes Gentlemen...Horizontal stroke not diagonal..."Kanesaki" Dave M.
  7. Hello Chris, I would also suggest as Maxime mentioned above, a light coat of oil on the blade. The signature on the nakago appears to be Kanemitsu, other board members will surely correct me if I'm mistaken. There were many swordsmiths using the name Kanemitsu from Koto to Showa. Your sword appears to be in fairly good condition outside of the light surface rust. Judging from the nakago, I would guess the sword is at least Koto or early Shinto. Of course, as with many swords there are things that don't seem to make sense such as the large Mekugi-ana below the signature. Normally, this is due to the sword being shortened, however, too me, the nakago appears ubu. Again, other members may have a more accurate explanation... Dave M.
  8. This may not be the highest class Shin-gunto. However, I suspect it would be a welcome addition to a most collectors looking for a fairly nice looking gunto in good condition. Also, as Stegel mentioned above, simply trying to keep the thread active! Regards, Dave M.
  9. dwmc

    Ito color?

    Too much wine color?? Not enough contrast as green or cream perhaps ? Dave M.
  10. dwmc

    Ito color?

    Just wanted to clarify my earlier suggestion...bright Christmas red would not look good, but a darker maroon or burgundy color of red I think would look great! Cream color would also be a good choice! Dave M.
  11. dwmc

    Ito color?

    Chris, It's not easy ! If it had a bit of original ito, at least you could justify using the same color. Hopefully, you have menuki your happy with and don't have to suffer through making that decision also... I think the Fred Lohman silk Tsuka-ito # 13 Blood red would look nice on your Tanto ! Regards, Dave M.
  12. Good job spotting that one Trystan ! It's quite hard to see along side the gun rack. It's a Type 32 Ko as I'm sure you already suspected. The small show room in the picture is above a huge basement in which the owner claims to have over 100,000 items for sale. There was a time when many Pawn shops had a variety of Japanese swords lined up like the guns in the rack shown. Still a few to be found however!! Regards, Dave M.
  13. Both correct ! Definitely lousy picture Hamish...the sword has hung there for probably 40 years. I managed to buy it a while back, it's a short late war Kai gunto signed by Hiratoshi. There's another sword near the first, I'll see if any one can spot it before I point it out. Dave M.
  14. Just for fun, and to see how sharp your eye is for Japanese swords. How many do you see in the photo below ? There are still swords to be found in the USA, if you have the time to look...obviously not to the extent there were in years past, but still a few to be found in various antique and pawn shops. I would be curious to where swords can be found ( other than the internet in other countries.) Dave M.
  15. Have to stay with opinion in post #19, mistaken Kuni character. Dave M.
  16. Most likely meant "Inshu" and mistakenly used Kuni character? Dave M.
  17. Very odd indeed...(Kuni) Shu Ju Kagenaga ?? Dave M.
  18. I would say the sword on the left is more "ordinary" size Shin gunto length where as the one on the right is HUGE. The sword on the right has at least 20 twist in the tsuka ito when a typical standard Shin gunto has perhaps 14 ? (twist per side) Dave M.
  19. I'll always remember an older gentleman at the table just outside the entry door to the San Francisco sword show. I was holding a wakizashi I had brought to the show as there was a Shinsa team visiting that year. The older gentleman questioned me about the sword and I rather apologetically said " it's only a mumei wakizashi." He smiled and replied " ahh yes, maybe mumei, but much better than Gimei ! " Dave M.
  20. David, I think Geraint in the Nihonto section could not have commented on your Grandfathers sword any better. Leave the sword alone albeit a little light oil on the blade. Too me your sword says more than the most pristine Nagamitsu in a upgrade Rinji Seishiki koshirae. It shows the misery of heat, moisture, humidity, mud, malaria, Dengue fever, abject suffering on all sides of the campaign your Grandfather indured. Something he brought home as a memory of those he fought along side, and in honor of those who died. There are those who admire nothing more than the monetary value of Nihonto, a pristine sword, flawless with a flamboyant hamon and hada, which is fine. As for me however, your sword is what WWll Japanese swords truly represents...treasure it as your families history, and for all of those who fought and died in the New Guinea Campaign. Dave M.
  21. I'm almost to the point of giving up commenting on these type of swords. It seems they were produced just to make Japanese military sword enthusiast wonder what exactly in the hell is this... My first reaction is the feeling of something is just not right here. That nakago looks absolutely terrible, the kabuto gane and fuchi are odd looking, not to mention the tsuba. ( Bruce said he thought Neil~IJASWORDS~ has a simular tsuba ) Would like to see a photo if possible? Tsuba shows signs of age also... Then on the other hand, the sword sugata doesn't look too terribly bad, the tsuka ito is tied properly, same' and menuki appear right, the leather on the saya is aged, the seam stitching is separating , beginning to see possible verdigris near ashi, koiguchi looks old and losing paint . As John has suggested it is a reproduction, but I would have to ask, were they ( Chinese ) or whom ever producing reproductions back as far as this sword appears to be?
  22. As Adam has mentioned, these are only opinions at best. Even with a Shinsa team, it is a very well informed opinion, yet about the best we can hope for. Many times we have an opinion of what we hope, or what we want the sword to be and seek out those who support our conclusion. With all due respect others, I would still put my money on Shinshinto, the sword just appears too healthy for Koto, I don't see black nakago patina, the yasurime appears a bit too crisp, the mekugi ana are drilled, one rather poorly. It has obviously been polished a least once. Here is a comparison of a Kanbun era nakago . However, still not conclusive evidence. Either way, a beautiful sword and shirasaya. Dave M.
  23. Beautiful sword...Shinshinto era fukko-to! Dave M.
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