cuttingedge59

Overall looking at the whole item the call would be gimei lots of little things that point to a copy. The mei is not quite a match to references as is other features. the yasurime is not correct for kaga den nor the quality of the horimono. Still a nice enough little item. Chris NZ

Have used uchiko and light oil on the staining and since photo's have improved the visibility of the hamon and activity. I don't know if fuchi and kashira match , i'm thinking no as to me the themes seem different . But both are ok on there own. All fittings are done in Shaduko. Chris NZ

A few more pictures . Chris NZ

Hi all This is the tanto I brought from their Nov 30 th 2017 auction. I was the only bidder so got it for the starting price plus their 20% , total 540 usd. Shinshinto I think , Ubu nakago signed Kashu No Ju Kanewaka which looking at the yasurime is more than likely gimei. Nagasa is in good condition with a couple of nail catchers and staining , with a clearly visible hamon and activity. needs a couple of seppa but otherwise tsuka is tight and well done. Saya looks to have been refinished in recent years. Nagasa os 11.5 in or 29,2 cm Kasane of 24mm Mihaba of 8mm Chris NZ

Thanks Piers Will keep working at it. Cheers Chris

Prehaps stroke count and if I have any of them right. Regards Chris NZ

Hi So after working on the nakago of said tanto I have now moved onto the fuchi which is also signed. I don't have any of the fitting translation books so have used what I have on hand . However it stikes me that the kanji are not very well cut which makes the process harder . So at the moment right or wrong I Have Bitchu - something - Masachika- Kore . The kanji that make up number 3 & 4 or something I have not been able to find. These I would ask for a bit of help with . I will also mention that the only one I have any confidence with is Kore . With thanks Chris NZ

Hi Ian As a beginner at translating I don't like to question those with more knowledge , However I do use Sesko's Niihonto Compedium which has a listing of the commonly used kanji and is easy enough to use if you know what you are looking for . Both Kane and Waka are listed. In my case I didn"t have a clue although I was close with the first three. So counting strokes gives an indication as to where to start looking in the tables. I would be interested as to how you find kanji in the above mentioned tables if you don't use the number of strokes as a starting point. Also this seems a more stylized way of scribing the mei , Regards Chris NZ

Parcel from US turned up 31st December and tracked all the way via usps . No delays all the way to Nz. So maybe I got lucky , I was sure it would get stuck in the Xmas backlog but never happened. Worth the wait , nice little tanto. Chris NZ

Hi all Interesting the translation process and quite satisfying when the mei is finally translated. In my small collection I have only 2 signed items , this and naginata from jumyo den. Will now do some more reading. As a matter of interest this was purchased from Centurion's Nov auction and I was the only bidder. The eye must be getting better as way better in hand than their photo's. Chris NZp

Hi Thank you Guido , Checked my compendium and can see the kanji for waka quite clearly now . So got Kashu Ju Kanewaka , a Shinto smith . Seems this way of signing was common to the 1st gen kaga den. However probably not correct but at $540 usd for a mounted tanto with signed nakago and fuchi I'm pretty happy. Nagasa is stained but very healthy with workman ship quite visable. Chris Nz

Hi And just when I thought I had it sorted , was thinking Oshu Ju Kanesada as in the shinshinto smith. So now it seems maybe I had the first three wrong and is something Ju Kanenao a Shinto smith which with a punched mekugi-ana makes sense. However the example I have looks and translates to nothing like this. So back to the drawing board so to speak. and still have the fuchi mei to translate as well . Chris NZ

Thank you Both . I had a feeling that these kanji where different to the norm . Blade seems to be shinshinto . Chris NZ

Hi All First off best wishes for the new year . I am working on translating a mei on a tanto that I recently purchased . At this stage I think I might have the first three worked out but the last two are proving difficult to find. These I suspect are the smiths name. Rather than a straight translation I would ask for some guidance as too how many strokes make up each of the last two kanji . I have tried a couple of options but are struggling to find something close in Markus's nihonto compendium. Regards Chris NZ

Any other Meikan entries .? Chris NZ

Hi All I recently acquired a petite naginata ( 375 mm nagasa ) in average condition that is signed Tango No Kami Fujiwara Jumyo . So this is The Shodai of the Owari Ha real name Kondo Sukezaemon who was given this title later in his career. A early Shinto smith working Kanban or Keicho depending on which reference is used . I have checked the mei against Markus Sesko Meikan example and to my inexperienced eye seems to be good . However I only have the one example. I would greatly appreciate it if those with more experience would comment on the mei and any reference material that I can also reference would be very much appreciated. Have already done an online search with very limited results. Chris Nz

Ok Well all I was looking for was an e-mail address and no I don't have any issues what so ever with this seller . he simply had something I was interested in and was looking to purchase privately . The replies received are via pm. Maybe Brian. All Good Chris NZ

HI All Fishing here big time but wondering if any of the board members might have an example of a naginata by the smith Tango No Kami Fujiwara Jumyo. looking for an example to compare . Not looking to purchase . regards Chris NZ

Much appreciated Greg. Chris NZ

Hi All Does any of our Aussie members Know what is going on with Cameron Appleford at the moment. Can't seem to access his web site in any form , message is the DNS address is unavailable which would suggests that he has closed down the web site or it is down . Thoughts please. Chris NZ

$50 ,00 sent . So much knowledge here and so many friendly helpful people in so many ways. Many Thanks Brian , Chris NZ

Seems to work no fatties there. Something I was a bit interested myself as used to train with a long hardwood longstaff and figured something similar with a bokken would work as well . Chris NZ

Hi All Does anyone have contact details for Yasukazu Onishi other than the obvious through e-bay. With thanks Chris NZ

Hi got plenty of room for more nihonto folks. No monthly meetings though , never mind sword shows . If you have foreign currency pretty much all of them better the NZD , but petrol and food is pricey . Depending on where you want to live , house prices are getting out of control. No hand guns without special permit but swords are allowed on all levels just takes a while through our customs / postal system. The last one 2 weeks for in country to in my hand. Not two many crazies. Chris NZ

]Menuki , Pine trees with gold highlights. Pictured from original listing , shared on facebook as well. Chris NZ