Marius

Judging by the workmanship (which is poor) it is Meiji at best. It could even be Chinese. The sword looks interesting, though. Yura, if you want to see a high quality koshirae (in fact, highest quality) have a look at this one: https://yuhindo.com/goto-mitsunobu-yokoya-nobusada-daisho/

JT, sorry to say, but your tanto seems to be very very low quality (at least in your photographs, but it might also be the polish). It if were a Hosho utsushi by a reputable sword smith it would have looked way superior. Masame as such is not an indication of quality, it is just a way of arranging layers during the forging of iron (steel). I suggest you don't focus on the least important factor in the quality of the sword... No matter what hada, a sword can be bad or excellent. `Please dive into this excellent resource by Kojima Hiroshi, a Japanese sword smith: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/information.html

Not really, just a few, (they focus on steel and I have no pics of the sugata of my own): My katana by Kojima: My ken by Kojima:

Kojima Hiroshi (4th Naohiro of the Taikei Naotane lineage, signs his swords Kei'un). Kojima makes functional swords and only seldom tries to copy old works. He has his onw style, while keeping "the spirit" of old sword. His hada is usually tight, his blades have utsuri. Hamon ranges from flamboyant gunome to suguha. I have seen a sword by him quenched without clay - it looked like an Ichimonji. The site of his shop contains a wealth of information: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/ I own 5 swords by Naohiro and they are the only modern swords I have.

The motif is that of a Chinese story from the Daoist Zhuang Zhou (Master Zhuang), which describes a mantis trying to stop the wheel of a passing cart. The story is in this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhuangzi_(book) it has been posted on this site: https://tinyurl.com/yd4eft9c One day, when Lord Zhuang / Juang of the state of Qi / Chyi was heading into the mountains to go hunting, he noticed a small green insect angrily raising its arms as if to do battle with the cart wheel. This piqued the lord’s curiosity, so he asked his driver “What manner of insect is this?” The driver looked at him and replied: “This is a praying mantis. This insect doesn’t advance and doesn’t retreat. It is not aware of its lack of strength and that its enemy is more powerful.” Full of admiration, the lord sighed: “If only this were a human. He would become an invincible warrior!” He then ordered his driver to veer to the side and let the praying mantis be.

Jeff, welcome to the Board. You will find a great community and loads of valuable advice here

I could not agree more. Kojima san is very honest in his descriptions. I have bought quite a few swords from his shop, and I was always extremely satisfied. As long as you take into account that shinsa's opinion might differ from his attribution, you will be OK. You don't risk buying swords with hidden flaws, you always know what you are buying. Kojima san has a peculiar style of writing. He appreciates functional quality and it seems that he dislikes swords made only to be visually attractive. Kojima san (I should rather say Kojima sensei) used to be NBTHK inspector for the Saitama province. He is an excellent sword smith (Taikei Naotane lineage) whose swords are functional and never contrived. He has extensive knowledge of nihonto and intimate knowledge of steel and its quality. He is also director at the Musashino Sword Club, where regular kantei sessions with some great swords are being held. When I was there, I have seen (among others) two Hosho tanto a ko-Bizen and a Soden Bizen, all of them masterworks. Attached are photographs that show steel of a ken that and a tachi by Kojima (Naohiro 4th) that I own. Forgive me this ad, but I consider Kojima my mentor, and he is a teacher whom I greatly respect for both his knowledge, his passion to teach and his honesty. To avoid any suspicion, neither of the swords on the pictures below is for sale. Ken: Tachi:

Krystian, it is perfectly OK to make comments a sales thread if the OP invites people to submit them. Of course you can choose to get comments via PM.

Eric, I guess what you are asking is where you can find the signature of the smith on a sword. Well, there is only one place - the tang (nakago in Japanese), which is the part of the blade that goes inside the hilt. Here is a little info on the tang of a Japanese sword: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/tang.html

Honestly, guys... just go to Grey Doffin? He offers excellent customer service, his prices are good (and often negotiable). He can be trusted to deliver.

Robert, the NBTHK settled the matter. PM sent to you.

Again, deleted.

Deleted, since the NBTHK has settled the matter.

Thanks George He must have never existed, then

Someone with Hawley's? Please?

Thanks for the effort, BaZZa Much obliged

Thank you Steve I have corrected the Kanji accordingly. Apologies.

A sword I used to own a decade ago will be returning to me this week, hooray It is a long hirazukuri wakizashi (nagasa 52cm) with hitatsura hamon. Judging by the sugata and nakago it is late koto and a rather ordinary sword. The signature is "Bishu ju Yoshiharu" (尾州住吉治). I haven't found this smith from the Owari province, neither in Marcus Sesko's Index, nor in the Nihonto Club Index, nor anywhere on the net. Here are pictures of this sword (taken by Kojima sensei) on my old and long defunct blog: http://gomabashi.blogspot.com/2010/03/hitatsura-wakizashi-in-sashikomi-polish.html Any information on this obscure smith will be highly appreciated. Perhaps there is something to be found in Hawley's? (I no longer have this resource)

Congratulations to the buyer! If you are inclined to do so, please report on the sword and its polish.

Gents. I know that many of you are used to hadori and utterly unfamiliar with sashikomi. This sword is in sashikomi so it will look lacklustre in (amateur) photos. Don’t be fooled by this. I own a few good swords which are in sashikomi and I assure you, that this kind of polish shows the real colour of steel and emphasises steel particles. In a nut shell - sashikomi shows you the real look of the sword. I have a Takada blade in sashikomi and the steel is a wonderful blue which would be hidden in a typical hadori. I would say that if you buy this sword you will pay less than the price of the polish. And a good old polish it is. Here is some info on hadori and sashikomi: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/togistyles.html http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/togi.html I am sorry if I am being a bore. But seeing a real gendaito (and a katana) in old excellent polish for this price, I cannot keep silent.

This is a great opportunity IMHO. Whoever buys this sword, I would advise to keep and cherish the old polish.

Interesting. Thank you

I would recommend Hiroshi Kojima's sword shop. Just be patient and buy once something good turns up. One thing is sure - if Kojima writes that the sword is good, then it really is. His descriptions are always brutally honest, even if they hurt his sales. Kojima is a sword smith (4th Naohiro of the Naotane line) and he has forgotten more about steel and swords than we will ever learn. He used to be NBTHK inspector for the Saitama province and is active in the Musashino Sword Club, where masterpieces are being studied on a regular basis. He really knows his stuff. http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/catalogue.html

You have been careless, that is all. You might have done what I have done, too - moving the cloth up and down the blade (NEVER NEVER DO THIS!) Well, my left hand goes too far up, catches the tip, pointing finger and thumb are cut, the former deeply, with bundle of nerves severed (the finger is still a bit numb after all these years). Bleeding like hell, I grab some paper towels to stop the blood for a moment, I use the time to clean the sword (Sukesada wakizashi). Once the sword is cleaned and oiled, I use some bandages and take a cab to go to a surgeon. He sees the would, asks (admiringly) "That is a nice cut. How the hell did you do this?" I say " with a Japanese sword". He asks with genuine interest: "Katana or wakizashi?" Not much of a horror, but it taught me to be very cautious and focused when handling swords...

Ah, yes. I see. That is interesting indeed