zentsuji2

Well done Adam,lovely sword,you have the historic old blade,in the last mounts it would ever see,and nice ww2 mounts they are. Nice hamon, and shape,and your display looks awesome. Really pleased for you mate,Paul looked after you there,i told you it's a nice sword and even better in nice mounts. Your in now,you will want another:) Good luck,and take care mate. All the best.Ian bellis

Interesting article, I wonder if they wanted the metallurgical tests for weaponry, or for future ventures where steel like this would come in useful for advanced projects. Great find, it's nice to see that after creating the world's most destructive weapon,they had time to test the properties of the world's greatest sword. Thanks for sharing. Best regards. Ian bellis

Works well on my handheld Darcy, good clear pictures and zoom, I love the history given on each sword you sell,it's excellent, i prey one day there is one in my budget. Your site is an inspiration to beginners,the go Yoshihiro is stunning,as is the kunimune,sadly the sadakazu has sold. Your site runs o.k so far on my phone,thanks for a great site,wonderful write ups,clear pictures. Best regards. Ian bellis

This sword was offered to me,it is lovely, it was made in 1981,not 19 century, and is a real lovely blade, There is some lovely masame,and chikei, i was put off by a customs warning,of 20%and threat of losing the sword as it was not antique. In england now it is forbidden to send swords by post,and they can be broken up if found in the package,as offensive weapons. I love that sword, post has me worried at present,morimitsu took time on this blade,i wish it would have been over 27",but glad it sold to an nmb member. Good luck,nice work. Regards, Ian bellis

Nice sugata,and upswept blade,the hada also visible in the ji. What is the verdict,a mumei shinshinto, with the mei cut in ww2, or a later Tadakuni lineage,i would just like to learn as it's a nice sword in shape and hada,is it the tang that gave this away,or the mei strokes. Regards.Ian bellis

Thanks as always, to all something learned,again. All the best.Ian bellis

Thanks Denis,i have trouble making deals abroad, due to shipping to the u.k. Thanks for your post,it clears it up a little,i still think.it's customs on the day our sword arrives. Hope your o.k, Regards. Ian bellis

Looks like another worry for us getting swords through customs. We had all better study ray species, so good answerable available, when needed. You would find it difficult to get those fine nodules. A better answer has been posted as i was writing my post. Regards Ian

Nick,surely if the rayskin was used over a 100years ago,then is o.k. Ivory is the same,if antique then it's fine. The colouration dictates that this is over 100years old,so both sword and rayskin saya should be treated as being made,used to make,before any species of ray were in danger. Proving this may be hard to a customs official, but rayskin like ivory,takes on a patination that only time allows. Just an argument to put across, that this ray died before the species,in question was known about, never mind endangered. Just my 2cents worth. Best regards. Ian bellis

Is this endo nagamitsu,it is not like my nagamitsu, and would be rare if dated,unless I am mistaken. Regards ian bellis

Dennis is a gent Adrian,he is helpful,and never usually provocative, i have nothing but respect for him. I also find your posts interesting and thought provoking, you both have much to give on this forum, i hope things,can be resolved, this is a particularly important post,as getting swords in our over protective country,is a pain in the ar...,i am feared to death of importing swords,yet I had a meat cleaver, from eBay,handed to me In black duck tape by the postman,as he couldn't fit it in the letter box, ebay are strange indeed in England. Hope your both o.k. Best regards. Ian bellis

I suppose if one has the skill,and is still physically, and mentally willing to make a sword,then age is a gift of experience, the new smiths, are out of my range,and I feel these blades don't come out of Japan,without expense,and difficulties these days, Thanks Thomas, 2012,is a testament that these Smiths had a passion, or a need of money,in later twilight years. Any books on this,been written. Thanks ian bellis

Morimitsu Joe,he was a 1m rated smith,the sword made in 1981,i was asking in general,as i may have the chance to buy one, Now that's out in the open,it has a nice look to it,things a ww2 smith normally would reserve for a presentation, or high paying officer,it has,bo hi,twin grooves,nice clear masame,and unusual mei Thanks for the interest. Regards. Ian bellis

The smith i am looking at, made this blade late in his life,i have not got a wartime specimen to compare to,the work looks good on an artistic scale,and nicely finished, i am going to have a think,i am a bit overloaded this week,with sword periods,and need time to consider, what I am buying,this sword was made in the 80s,so being rusty is not an issue,as i suspect this smith forged many bladessince the ban was lifted,and worked through the war,it is one of the many avenues to explore in swords, and I will think hard on it,thanks wah,and chris,it gives an insight for and against kindaito. Best regards Ian bellis

What about the 1980s,is that too new,or does the same principal apply,i have started reading about the modern smiths, and looking at their work,but wondered about the ww2 rated smiths, where could I find info on their post war work. I just feel they would take more time,more risks in style,and go for art instead of death. Thanks for the reply chris,i am more concerned on what one would go through to get such a blade posted to the u.k. Best regards. Ian b

I apologise if this topic has been covered, but are post war gendaito, as collectable, or obtainable to collect, and do they fetch a higher price. I know the sword has no history attached, but do any members have examples,and are they more or less expensive to buy. I am taking this as an art sword not a weapon,and wonder how the workmanship compares, to the rush of war productions. I don't mean the new smiths, but smiths allowed to forge again after 1955. Any opinions welcome,or examples owned,commented on. Thankyou. Regards to all members.ibellis

I bid on one last night,the saya and mounts looked that good,the rayskin polished one,with the blade even looking o.k for display,3 holes in the nakago, then it hit me Tibet,then another one. The best part were the naked oil paintings further down, to take your mind off the huge mistake you were just about to make. Withdrew my bid,reluctantly at first, until common sense kicked in,i outbid someone,so it felt a bit better not being the only fool. My mind said"what if it's real,the colour, condition " What a scam. Best regards. Ian bellis

We should start an nmb most wanted list. Name and shame the eBay fraudsters,bad polishers etc. Rewards sent to nmb funds. Regards.Ian b Any reference to anybody,has been omitted, to protect the boards integrity

Pleasure George,tried to get a shot of the nie and activities, it is nicer in person,but the flash decimated the hada,what is this large piece of nie called,and the activity behind it. The hamon is prickly with tiny Ashi all along,and two lines of nie in the kissaki,a lot of work for a showato, as some closed minded people still think. A week ago I inquired about an rjt sword,and asked,is there a star stamp, reply"why would you want that,it's just piece of milled steel",here we go again I thought.ha ha Best regards. Ian bellis

Sorry medina san,i was not impuning the work,i love kanenobus work,however the hamon is like none of his i havw encountered,and i myself have trouble with photography,but the hamon seems to be a little showato looking,its probably the pictures. Have a look on eds site yakiba swords,there is a lovely kanenobu i was attempting to buy,the hamon is full of activity,and i find it unlikely he would not have signed his work. I am at the mercy of learning at the moment,and want you to be on guard at what you are buying,shinsa can be dubious,show it to someone with experience or post it on here,Its just strange that kanenobu would carve this horimono on an unsigned blade,in ww2 such a thing would be considered a luxury as the work was time consuming. I think ww2 swords with horomono would be for foreign diplomats,prizes for bravery high ranking officers,special units ,one was made for adolf hitler by shigemasa. I am probably wrong and hope you have a ww2 kanenobu,with his horimono carving ,but be sure, post the papers etc as you may have a lesser sword with later horimono added. No offence to the learned shinsa team named i am a newbie,but dont want a fellow collector to be duped.I hope i am made to eat my words as the carving is nicely done,and why have a horimono put on a an unsigned blade unless it showed nice workmanship. All the best medina san,i am looking out for your interest,and would like to know myself,about shinsa. Best regards ,Ian Bellis

My star stamp motomura kanemoto, pics of tang and mei,for reference purposes, blade is traditionally made. Best regards. Ian bellis

I am for one glad of the disputes,during identification of blades,i read in awe at the masters on this site,who can tell by a kanji stroke if it is a father or son,then an addition by another person, who has knowledge of hada,or hamon, kanteis the blade that way. We also have in my opinion the foremost experts on ww2 swords,reaching new research boundaries, it is one great big kantei board,which is second to none, especially to the collectors on a budget who are striving for a papered sword,but are trading up to it. Thanks to you all, for pictures, sword marks,mei explanations, smiths history etc. Where else! Regards to all and thanks. Ian bellis

Is that a mark above the top character in the mei.It is just below,the habaki.If so what is it. Regards. Ian b

This is a dangerous hobby,one can read a thread say on tsuba,and bam, you see their intrinsic beauty, then mounts,then tassels, swordstands, armour it goes on and on. I used to put the lottery on for a nice car, house etc,now it's for my Japanese museum, inside the house,displaying all the wondrous items they made. If only I were rich. Best regards to all fellow collectors. Ian bellis

I am no expert but go with the sword you like,the joy of owning something you feel comfortable with,sometimes outweighs papered swords,i feel sure the looking into the smith and upgrading has given you pleasure already. Good luck, if a blade is for profit buy a papered sword,if it's for enjoyment, and the deal is beneficial, then buy what makes you happy. However, it is easier to sell a papered blade,and it has the distinction of being perused by experts,and you know what you have,is really made by the smith quoted,and obviously if it's an important artefact papers are best,and a better investment. Hope to see some pictures if you get it,and wish you all the best in your purchase. Regards. Ian bellis