zentsuji2

Good luck with the old blade,it is a windows into the feudal past of the Samurai, and a time where magicians played with steel to make the finest blades known to man. Buy a book or search on here to select which old style blade shape you like. As to ww2 smiths and confusion of non traditional or traditionally made blades,there is only one way to do this. Why not buy a good book on ww2 smiths,like sloughs, find a smith with reputation, or a rikugen jumei toshu,post on here before buying and you may find its a lovely blade,in good condition. It's a fact that older smiths had better experience, lineage,and produced harder cutting edges,and complex forging patterns lost to time. If you buy an older blade check it out, I am moving on to them in the near future, as I covet a mounted true Samurai blade. Here's my ww2. Sword,want a Hizen Tadayoshi Regards, Ian bellis Ww2 sword,decent shape

keep drifting off subject Chris, It gives an insight into books that can be used,and what purpose they serve. Thanks for the great list, you know my private life is busy, and your Web suggestions will be a good start until I have time. On the subject of Japanese books,my wife bought me a Japanese book, cheap. It explains everything,but I can't read it:) The pictures are superb,and show every craft of the sword,from tatara, silk,Tsuba,saya togishi, forging. Will you translate this title Chris picture attached. Thanks to all for the lists,links and the photo of kuniie, I'll ask Ed if it's o.k to download. Congratulations Joe on the Shigetsugu, I'd love a picture, being kuniies teacher,he will feature in my journal. I have six books, so far and this unknown Japanese title,so I am reading, at least. Take care all,best regards and greatest thanks Ian Bellis

Thats what you call cautious! I wondered had he found the honjo masamune,and was testing the water. The swords were in ww2 mounts,i wrote and asked,but alas no reply. Regards.Ian

Regarding the length of sword used during your chosen martial arts,have you ever crossed swords /bokken with an expert who prefers a shorter blade. During many battles a good fighter will choose a place suited to his or her skill. Samurai guards chose small katana,to protect their lords,as a fight may occur in a geisha house,small alleyway etc etc. I would love to have any of the skills mentioned in this thread,but feel to become complete,a martial art that employs all 3 sword sizes is best,Katana,wakazashi,tanto This would prepare the user for any event,even in the streets. I like the thinking of musashi weapons,and terrains,always differ so one must adapt to the situation ,when confronted with a large samurai,huge sword he fashioned an oar into a bokken and won. Is there such a martial art which employs all three,or does the handling of a larger swod make you adept at using all . Not to offend just a layman asking,who would love to learn any style mentioned. Best regards.Ian Bellis

That's the book Joe, It explains The lot, Thanks for that mate. If you get your Shigetsugu, or students swords,I would love to get any info you find, I will never own one,but hope you finish that group. It would be magnificent. Thanks, take care. Regards, Ian Bellis

Thanks Peter,if anyone has it I'll buy it. The link you gave is fantastic, thanks for that Take care,I wonder if Grey has a copy,I'll check his site. Ian Bellis "Looking for info on akihide, shigetsugu, kuni iye"

Sorry Stephen,I don't own it, Trying to build up books at present,have you got it mate?. Thanks Stephen. Regards Ian Bellis

Thanks George, I intend to keep this as it was the best I could afford, and I loved it from the minute I saw it. Obviously there are better kuniies, but most are in art polish, not in their original state. I know this would come up stunning as there are activities of nie everywhere. It's time to read now and maybe dip further into the past,with a wakazashi, In good mounts. I always wanted an original ww2 sword in good polish by a decent maker,and I am happy with kuniie as I like writing, and sketching. I wish to thank yourself, Chris Bowen,Lee and Brian for putting up with my worries and questions during this,I love my sword,a shigetsugu, or ka would have been nice,even a yasukunito,but some people are rich,some have to sell treasured militaria to collect. I have spoken to Paul Martin,and Yoshihiko, a budo sensei and freind to Yoshindo Yoshihara, and found some good information. Yoshihiko kindly invited me to visit his house in Japan and possibly visit yoshindo at his forge. Post my last couple of pictures, thanks to anyone who looked. Best regards, and thanks. Ian bellis Apologies, pictures came on twice.

Welcome Ryan No such things as disappointing in history, especially if family are involved. Looks like stainless steel,as already mentioned, but this was expensive, and useful when the Japanese marines,navy used them. A stint in humidity for a traditional forged blade, could be it's end. You hold in your hand a piece of family history from the last war of its kind. Look it up,check the mounts see if rayskin is present,check everywhere and you will see its a bit less disappointing, just the Japanese trying out methods of rust control. Enjoy and embrace your heirloom, as a lot were hard fought for. Good luck, and you might get hooked on a fascinating hobby. Best regards. Ian Bellis Where did your grandfather Serve?How long ago did you first see it,fakes were less frequent, when swords were, let's say easier to come by,and a lot cheaper. I hope it's real,and you have family history. As to rarity, naval swords are harder to come by than army swords, ie 1 navy sword to 10 army swords, just a ratio I was given years ago when I bought a kai Gunto by tsukushi yoshi haru. Good luck Ryan

Thank you Peter, for the link. Exactly what I am after,just posted my kuniie on the new posts,and writing about ww2 smiths, as a hobby. Take care,keep In touch,any links always appreciated. Ian bellis

Thank you Brian, I am always worried to post pictures, it's the most money I've spent and your comments mean a lot. Take care Brian,your kind comment made me feel a lot better Ian b

I saw a pair of ww2 swords, on ebay, The starting bid was $125,000 does anyone know who or why? Regards Ian bellis

Grey ,have you got a guide to showa swordsmiths F+G? i always wonder when i ask george or chrisb about a smith,where they get their info from ,ie won medals,part of motomura clan,born,died. Which books contain this info,are they Japanese? keep your eyes peeled for WW2 books. thanks again Grey regards ianb

Thanks Paul,the pictures just don't do it,and it's not in a modern art polish. The choji lines are lovely,the nie balls near the shinogi, my poor photos, will not show what I want to. It's for my pleasure anyway,just thought I would share a blade,by a decent ww2 smith, from a fine teacher. You take care Paul,and Thankyou mate. All the best.Ian b

Other side of sword. Ian bellis

A few more pictures. Nakago,and sheath,the cover is replaced but says retains all parts Ianb

Thanks Grey ,i always look on your site ,the books are wonderful. I think the best books are in Japanese ,and i am far from even reading kanji.I wish a westerner would create an nmb book with all swordswe have seen. Thanks for writing Grey ,you take care ,i will keep an eye on your site. Just bought a kuniie and wanted a picture of him to frame,i am studying hiswork. take care Grey,love your web site. regards Ian bellis

I have bought a kuniie, from an nmb member. I was drawn to his work as he played an important role in the ww2 sword scene. Also his teacher kasama shigetsugu was a great smith and kuniie studied under him,and akihide. As I like the rjt swords and kuniie was a teacher, it gave me a great deal to look up,and write about. Chris Bowen has been a constant source of knowledge on kuniie, and his interest inspired my own. The sword is in its original mounts, and has defaced family mon, on the kabuto gane.Sarute, sword knot, nice fat seppa,and lovely rayskin with high nodules on tsuka. The blade is a take on ichimonji, slanted choji, with parts which resemble tadpoles,with nie eyes,I can't describe it as it is not like the kuniies in sloughs book,but more flamboyant, Chris b started a thread where kuniie did the yakire for students, and mei,and these seemed to show a hamon nearer mine. nagasa-26.5" Sori. -2.5 cm Kissaki -slightly larger chu Hada. itame masame mix The sword is in original polish,it has some loose grain, in the shinogi,but is as it was in the war, sashikomi,hides a little less than hadori. I cannot get better pictures yet and wasn't going to post, but would like to learn about kuniie, and I like the bizen style of his blade. It has no marks,apart from the made in imperial capital Tokyo, at nippon so,plus the mei and date. Please excuse poor photography, I am in the process of buying A decent camera, and learning about how to photograph a mirror,that reflects phone lens,and never shows what I want it to. I will post more pictures, as they come out,the ones shown are from Christies a few years ago. Will post nakago and more if anyone is interested. Best regards Ian Bellis Thanks and regards. Ian Bellis

Thanks Chris and wah, I still struggle with what smiths made during the war in regards to length,and after the ban was lifted. I surmise the longer sword was more plentiful as a post war item,and that josun, like Chris has always said are rarer and made for prizes or commissioned pieces. This said one would see that a smith would take more time and effort to a josun sword, and sign it with the appropriate designation. Hence rarer and more sought after. Is this correct, at least regarding nihonto. Ian b

Would like a good ww2 sword reference book.preferably in English. I have sloughs, but are there any describing smiths achievements,unknown smiths. Any help appreciated. Thanks. Ian bellis

What price could one pay up to in a place like this,are there swords over 10M Yen. Lovely daisho Chris,thanks for the link,and I see your point with special order jo sun length swords,it is lovely work.The horimono are wondrous. Would love to visit the shop,must be a collectors dream. Have you bought from here Chris? Regards.Ian

That's a nice looking blade Roland,it looks a quite beefy blade on the pictures you posted, can't wait to see more. Looks like your waiting and patience, plus advice has paid off,made up for you. Regards Ian Bellis

Hi Nathan, I am not posting this to give advice on the blade,it is your sword now, these guys are masters on the nihonto,Chris, Jean, John,Mariusk all who post. I bought a sword like yourself,eager to own a Japanese sword,it looks a nice sword and you will learn from it, balance, shape, hamon,activities, hada,even if it isn't quite what you thought. Let them pin it down,accept their judgement as they are always right, they have years of handling swords,visiting Japan,papered swords, they read kanji and see slight differences that practice, time,and mistakes they themselves have made,has honed their skills, just reading previous posts on a blade identification or kanji request, requires knowledge,to keep up with. You have a decent sword,a good starter library, and live in the US, and now you have people to ask,that won't steer you far wrong before a future purchase. Welcome to the nmb, read your books visit shows,ask advice and you will learn. The above mentioned and many i have not are people willing to share their knowledge, who have made mistakes and will help you not too,your in good hands. Just a heads up from a learner that has been guided,and to welcome you to the best nihonto source on the Web. Good luck with your blade,and welcome to you. Best regards. Ian Bellis

Trust Billy to have this Peter,I miss his shop,and banter. Lovely blade,it let's a beginner like myself see the importance of good polish, and also how competent the ww2 smiths really were. Thanks for posting. Regards. Ian bellis

I have had a close escape from eBay. I was bidding on the yasukuni_to way way before it hit the $6500 jackpot, and I sent message regarding post to the u.k, as for once it allowed me to bid. I got blocked by said seller,and even then tried to pm him on here, to ask would he deal privately as he was a board member. Luckily he didn't reply,for once being a UK collector saved me from a bite i wouldn't have come back from. I hate mithering on the nmb,but please if you are spending this amount, even if you think you have found a gem no one else has got onto,PM a member you trust, for an opinion. If you have good pictures,by the e bay seller,as their educated eyes are likely to spot what you have not. Fine members here have saved me more than once, but even the best can't spot hagire, That said I have seen some nice swords plucked from eBay, it's a pain in the a,,, when the word ww2 stops you bidding. Regards and thanks.Ian bellis