zentsuji2

How nice is number 9, condition wise? I am a novice but these are works of art. Can you post a close up of Number 9,I'm on a stupid phone, Beautiful collection. Respect Ian

Think of the money saved by the knowledge gained. I would have been lost at times without members of this board, and Brian himself. There are many books, but none that answer back to your questions. Donation gladly sent,and thanks to Brian and other great members for advice, and friendship,during the last 2 years. Best regards from England Ian Bellis

Thanks for sharing the image,I'm glad people still have the luck to find rare swords like this. How was it rarity missed? Was it purchased from Japan or elsewhere. It's a lovely tanto. Regards Ian Bellis

Thanks big and Brian,I hopefully will get to handle the sword next week. I believe it to be seki yoshinobu? The tang is hidden, it's best for me to have a look, It referred to him having a good teacher, but I believe there are a few yoshinobu, in ww2. Thanks for your help, and for looking. Glad you made the effort on the board Brian,thanks for going through the technical pain,to give us this site. Regards Ian Bellis

this is a puzzle ,blade is a gendaito. yoshinobu was still working in 1965,so is a ww2 smith,i am sorry but no better pictures ,it is a small hamon of choji with ashi,nie crystals are evident,its a 3 character mei ,no date.Mounts type 98,26inch nagasa yoshi nobu saku,does anyone know a smith in hawleys using this mei in ww2. Hope someone can. regards Ian bellis

I'm so sorry,I immediately assumed tadayoshi of ww2. Thanks mate. Regards Ian

Thanks Peter. Best regards. Ian

Hi my freinds. Been looking at a yoshinobu, I have no word on him in sloughs, can anyone shed light on his work. Was he tadayoshis student,and has anyone examined his workmanship,his history,place of work etc. I hope you can help,any one held one owned one. Any help appreciated, it's in type 98 mounts,26.5"nagasa,pleasing sugata, sori,choji hamon. Hope everyone is ok,and thanks for the hard work of Brian, to upgrade. Best regards to all. Ian Bellis

Is this a war bring back? I applaud your convictions in wanting to restore a family heirloom, I would hang fire,and try and meet one of these good gentlemen,I see your passion,but they are trying to save you the cost of a polish, that might not turn out as expected, if the shinogi is rounded,lots of steel and skin may have to be removed by the polisher,to recreate the shape or outline of your sword. I hope it's not seen heat as suggested, and i hope this gives you the passion to maybe get another sword, Good luck with it. Best regards Ian Bellis

Great photos Morita San. Never seen these, thanks for kindly sharing. A great smith. Best regards Ian Bellis

I have a couple of ware on ww2 kanemoto, sometimes they don't appear until a togisghi. polishes. the sword. Unless you can afford excellent polish, they are part of a poorer collectors life,especially if you like hizento, even ww2 swords get them,if the swords pleasing,and you can live with them there part of a swords life, but getting a bit chooser now,as it can spoil a beautiful view. Best regards, Ian Bellis

Thanks George. The sword was not to impress others,it just wouldn't go away from my mind,it was pleasing to me, to have a kuniie in any form, I believe he was one of the most passionate ww2 smiths,in work and patriotism, a teacher of some great smiths,and a student of shigetsugu, an rjt inspector and maker. I thought it wouldn't hurt to have someone of this status in my limited budget collection, and I look at it still in awe. It has given me a link to his family, language is a problem, as my Japanese is non existent. Thanks once again for your support George, I am having a horrible time at home lately,and can't come on here much. Hope you are well my freind, keep up the gardening, happy wives,lead to nicer swords;) Hope to speak soon. Best regards. Ian Bellis

Thank you Peter. I am so busy at home, I miss things like this,having a bad time at present. Thanks for the link my freind. Best of luck to you. Ian Bellis

Sorry Dan Is that the cutting edge,tip to habaki. Or the total length of the sword. I like it,even if it is undocumented,don't be downhearted, many documented smiths have little to nothing written about them. Seki was a hub for swords in the war,and many were mass produced. But to have one that was used, and a story proving this is as good as any untraditional made blade,that is documented. There are provincial smiths, that made,beautiful blades, but we're never documented,as they didn't have selling skills, or were family village smiths,some say they made blades better than many documented smiths. I asked for length as I would imagine a naval wakazashi would be rare as hens teeth. Let us know. Regards. Ian Bellis

Thanks George for your guidance. 1 star stamp motomura kanemoto 2 yoshihara kuniie 3 ichiara nagamitsu, a lovely sword, the hada and hamon although obscured by scratches,is magnificent, the Ashi are long and reach to the cutting edge, there are choji that join like mushrooms, I wish it was in Polish, a beefy blade,near 26.75" nagasa,lovely cutting sword,and fine balanced. In all honesty, the best in a situation for balance is the star stamp,it is a joy to handle, in one or two hands,I see why the program started,these swords,they were meant for use, not just show. The kuniie is in original polish as you know, and honestly is razor sharp,it again is weightless until swung. I think these smiths are highly underrated,to make swords under pressure of this standard is amazing. I am selling one,but it's hard,I may just save and keep them,I am losing militaria, but there is no comparison, these swords are so intriguing, Considering most ww2 swords are classed by some as inferior, they have so much unique differences, it's staggering. Sorry for going on, will keep you updated George, but the kuniie was admired by both brothers,an honour in itself. Did you like my journal George? 259 hand written notes from this place,and your star stamp passion,basics,rarity makers mei,it's kept me sane these 2 years. All the best,again thanks for your kuniie comments, no one seemed bothered, but many have pmd congratulations, and Brian kindly commented. Best regards, my friend and mentor. Ian Bellis

Wonderful blade Stephen, The nie is beautiful,as is the boshi. A lovely sword,and a fantastic test Chris ,to show foundation polish,and a heads up for showing it in the light Stephen. I like the mounts and tsuba,i think a subtle polishing will make the black perfect,and compliment the blade. I hink you have showed us newcomers how a blade should be brought back properly. No cutting corners. Thanks for sharing a stunning looking sword. Your a good bloke and derserve it. Best regards.Ian Bellis

George I showed it to yoshindo yoshihara, and yoshikazu, both love the sword and flamboyant hamon. In regards to the mon,it is as you say a name, but it can't be deciphered as too defaced. I love the sword more everyday,and gain confidence in it,it has been complemented by his grandsons, so that's enough for me. They have invited me to meet at their forges and see a sword made,from start to finish. Thanks for being a good friend and good judge as usual. Take care.Regards Ian Pics of my journal, and sword collection.

Lovely piece of history, Keep it in the family,the saya is a beauty,and it's high quality fish skin. Congrats on your sword,I was told there was 1 naval sword to every 10 army swords made. Get the history altogether, and medals documents. You will have a stunning display. And you have a naval sword knot, getting harder to come by, especially now the Chinese are so adept at fakes. Thanks for sharing,a piece of your family history. How long is that blade? Regarding the history, it's possible it's a marines sword, there are numerous search pages, search ija marines,and images and, where your family member fought,see what you can find. Seki blades are never nice to kanji readers as they are always chippy,and not we'll signed(some exceptions before I get hung are),still a piece of history with a tangible story,congrats! Best regards. Ian Bellis

Excellent, Would like to see the full documentary, probably won't be on in the UK. Thanks for sharing, somebody on here will have this or a link to it no doubt. Best regards. Ian Bellis

Thanks George, I didn't even know there were character mon, So this could be the buyer or sword owners name, That's excellent, I probably won't find out as kanji is still out of my league yet,sword mei are beginning to jump out a little. Thanks for opening yet another door in this hobby,I am currently trying to talk to yoshikazu San,but not speaking Japanese, is a big problem, Thanks George for your help and encouragement,the kuniie keeps giving,made some Japanese togishi friends,budo sensei,they love the kuniie, and have shown great interest in it,yoshikazu Stated many things were lost at nihonso during ww2 fires,but was interested to see the sword. You take care, hope that garden has taken shape, Best of luck,and regards Ian Bellis

Recently purchased a ww2 gendaito, and like many it has a silver mon attached. Unfortunately it was defaced, but a shape remains. Has anybody got pictures of mons, that I can maybe match mine to,from books or from your own swords. Any pictures appreciated, and book images. I have pictured my mon, Anyone a clue of the family or a guess of the remaining shape. Thank you for this,I am trying to track down records,from nihon so,and hope that an officer of a specific family,may be logged in a ledger as the buyer of the sword. I also like drawing these so pictures of your mons will help and a book even better. Thanks all,sorry if it's been covered. Best regards, Ian Bellis

That really is a nice blade John, The hada is lovely, the muneaki is stunning. I too like the battle mounts to be no nonsense, I love artistic mounts,and Tsuba,but when a sword is in black plain scabbard, it's ready for a day at the office. The straighter sori is appealing, I am only learning,but that's a nice looking sword all round. Add that to the history and I think you did well,the condition is good, and smith is good,and as you say there is the possibility of the history getting more exciting, who knows? Good buy imho, Take care mate. Best regards. Ian Bellis

Thanks John and Ken. I will look into this and have a look at the site Ken. I would like to understand the sword styles used with Samurai swords,to gain a better understanding of what i am collecting, I have practised moves with cavalry sabres ,1796,rapiers and when holding the Samurai with two hands it feels awkward,however its because i havnt a clue what to do. When i see an expert,wielding it like an extension of himsel,it becomes a different thing altogether. Another thing to look into,this hobby just keeps giving,thanks both of you for your guidance and help. Best regards.Ian Bellis

Thanks Chris, Is this a common book,or beginner's book,it looks a great read,covers everything,even to silks used, It looks modern,any idea of the age.? Not bad for 10 dollars. Thankyou for translation, some lovely swords inside this book, but they look kindaito,or copies of older works. This is the one by ono you quoted in the must have list,I am happy,it shows all the crafts,and the effort that is put into the full production of the sword. I will probably buy the book Joe quoted and you,but it's hard when you can't read Japanese, and not worth owning, just to say you have one,the translation given is sparse at best. When are you going to put us all out of our misery and create the quintessential guide to smiths,and swords of ww2, you are the most qualified for this book,and every copy would sell,hint hint. I know your busy with child and house project, so thanks for your time,and tutelage. Best regards, Ian Bellis

Thanks John, I wondered how the Samurai did it, When taught as young boys,I wondered whether the three swords were taught differently with each blade, Or that the katakana, gave the skill to handle all, tanto, wakazashi and katana. Never read about swords being used yet,but surmised each had a different function in a fight,hence q technique would be taught for each blade separately. Any links on this John. Thanks, Ianb