zentsuji2

I would imagine the price comes with age,on original Japanese stands. The lacquer work is outstanding on some examples and there would be signed pieces,check out Google and look at some images of Japanese lacquer work,with shibayama inlays,urushi,there are breathtaking examples,i like the deer antler types. The Chinese examples are still nice, but I believe many would be modern made,still lovely, but the Japanese are the masters of lacquer, their sword sayas are second to none. Take a look at Japanese lacquer work,then sword stands and you will see what work is involved. Look after yourself. Ian bellis

I am no expert on this subject but could this be a blade that slipped through the stringent rules of the rjt scheme. As we know many blades were turned out by these Smiths,and this one has a well cut kokura Rikugen Zoheisho, and date,the inspector could have passed the blade inadvertently. This is theory only and I can't back it up,but people do miss things. Has anybody seen this style of cutting on any of the kokura Rikugen Zoheisho nakago before?We know kuniie cut mei for smiths and yakire,hopefully someone may recognise the work on a sword or oshigata of a Krz smith, who signed in this style. This is just a thought and apart from the lack of mei,it is for all intent and purpose a star stamp, or an attempt to deceive,which I find unlikely. We are still learning about these swords and anomalies appear from time to time. I hope it's solved, as usual these interesting swords are giving us more to debate and look into. Best regards. Ian bellis

Nicely cut mei,the hamon is busy for showato,but no way to know without polish. Possibly best to ask for a window polish to settle the issue, this way you will be sure,if not, it is a nice showato. Let us know how it goes. Best regards.Ian bellis P.S. Check underneath the habaki, it sometimes retains polish, and hada may be seen,if it isn't rusted of course.

Don't rush to understand christophe, i am still unsure with hada, it will come,and if unsure, post a picture, if possible, you will always find help,have you any swords yet! Regards.Ian bellis

Can you see a grain above the hamon?Look up hada or jihada types,and look in good light. Welcome and good luck. Ian bellis

Thanks jean,my stupidly efficient predicted text phone started this,I will use the laptop,if I can remove my daughter from it. Regards. Ian bellis

Thanks chris,your knowledge is enviable,to know the smith and school,i was sceptical of the deal,just put my foot in it again on here,ha,ha. Thanks for not hammering me,it did look nice on my phone,and I could bid. Take care, and regards. Ian bellis

Sorry about sloppy paragraphing, i am on a phone, and was in a rush,apologies. The question has been answered it looked attractive to my untrained eyes,i have been predominantly looking at ww2 swords, so have not had chance to know about this smith, and Googled the name,when I read further and saw the comparison to soshu masamune, i was shocked and foolishly posted without thought,i must confess to liking the blade,and strangely it is a sword i could bid on. I am still a relative newbie, i am still getting my head around ww2,and have little time at home, due to commitments, thanks for putting me straight,it is a complex hobby,and I am learning, thanks for all comments. Best regards Ian bellis

There is a lovely kiyomara on ebay at the moment, could this be a student carved mei piece,as his work is likened to masamune in terms of quality when he got it right, i was shocked that it popped up here,the work looks good to my untrained eyes, nice o kissaki, lovely nie,horimono,the date is within range of his work period,i would like to buy it,what makes this sword worth less than the figures his swords bring,or can masters turn up on ebay and my last question would the Japanese allow it to leave,being such a valued piece of their history, i am sorry for posting if members are bidding but it's getting up there,is this a case of names don't always make the sword,as the workmanship still looks nice, where am I going wrong in judging swords does the lack of shinsa seal it's fate,the seller putting it on ebay and not going to a Tokyo shop,the fact that it's leaving Japan or can a masters sword still slip through the net, i would send it for shinsa and believe any dealer would but the fact the work looks so nice worries me as surely somebody who can forge this well wouldn't need gimei signatures, can anybody shed light on this.apologies in advance if this has been covered,and to any bidders,i would rather know if a sword has been ruined by deception, or its a poor sword and my eyes see it as nice,any input appreciated best regards to all.Ian bellis

Lovely gendaito, was the dragon horimono added or requested by the buyer,just a newbie question, i love these carvings and wonder what they would have cost, what date is the sword and is the mei skillfully carved,a gift to or prize etc.Ian bellis

Welcome christophe, i haven't the words to best describe the jihada only pictures will do it as there are different forms of masame, wood grain,mokume burl grain,itame, ayasugi look up gwassan sadayoshi, then there is a sliced pear grain,hada can be mixed, masame itame,tight muji ji,i am still learning, buy a book which explains the basics first,i bought the arts of the Japanese sword bw Robinson,it shows good swords,hamon types,hada,the schools, in all a good beginners book but googling the hada you seek will give the best results,and you will see the many variations used,ayasugi is magnificent, there are many pictures and links on this board also,and many experts to help you,have you a sword with a hada you can't identify? It sometimes is obscured by scratches, needs a certain light to be seen until polished,or doesn't exist if a machine made showato, keep learning and asking and things become clearer, then suddenly you see something totally different and realise your needing 2 lives to fully understand this fascinating hobby,good luck and welcome,regards ian bellis.

Glad you're still alive and kicking bill,this man would drive to your house with a selection of swords,and is the font of knowledge on these items,the shop was a meeting place for many,it was a collectors dream,good luck bill,you deserve a break,i know you had a hard year,last year,all the best.Ian bellis

Everyone was a newbie at first,everybody regardless of money they possess, should and can collect nihonto,everyone has made a buy they wish they had not,every person is in different countries, with different rules and acsess to swords,new problems come with different purchases,no one's perfect and alot who ask here didn't know about the board until they already had a sword,i have learned,a lot from people here I have made bad decisions in buying out of polish blade,hiding ware,this,place has been kind,harsh,but it is all true what these learned people have said at least to me,i am an impulse buyer and this costs,i have books but again each era gives a new challenge, i have finally learned to wait,look,ask read and look for respected buyers,i must commend the moderators Brian,Jean,john,George trotter,c bowen,dennis and all who have put up with my queries, questions and doubts,i am still looking for that magic sword,my others I class as teaching guides of what not to do again,even though they are good gendaito and given me hours of pleasure, i think we are all different as people some impulsive, some must have,some patient but with all these must come knowledge,i am still here a year later and although poor, this board has given me a hobby in my difficult times at home,thanks for that,best of luck to all collectors on here.Ian bellis

The blade was advertised as 1800s that is,why I put forth the question, it must mean it's earlier then, the hamon looks shinshinto,but I am learning,and there is a,lot to familiarise yourself with with nihonto,so I asked you knowledgeable people,that's what the board is for,thanks, so all shinto were signed,?Ian bellis,or they have to be signed,to be,sent for shinsa is this correct.

I am looking at a sword 1800s unsigned family blade,why would a smith not sign,and are the best swords signed, does it mean it was faulty or was it for other reasons,and is it impossible to identify a maker without a signature, i like the sword but also like looking up smiths history. Ian bellis

lovely sword , tom ,i am a beginner ,i have a little known star stamp by motomura kanemoto ,a lovely nagamitsu,and soon a kuniie ,the swords i wish i had are all inaccessible as i cant bid on ebay,its frustrating,i love your sword have you found any more about him?regards and hope to speak again.ian bellis

realistic yoshihara kuniie ,my next star stamp a type 3 with sengoku wars wrap ,(daydram) okimasa , dream swords sadakazu with horimono,shidzu saburo kaneuji,sadamune of sagami, a named sword Dew on the grass,or any of the five swords under heaven!I am a deep sleeper and big dreamer,a sword in full Japanese polish by any rated gendai smith .You are all the holders of someones dream in your home owns and from what i have seen posted,good health and regards to all of you fine people,and remember when your polishing your swords they were all dreams at one time.best regards to all ian bellis

A death badge was given to thefallen's family I summise,it wouldn't let me upload the picture it was showato the kissaki was nicely polished and hamon with a groove,It was out of my field,sorry for late reply. Regards. Ian bellis

That's the one,sorry about late reply, it would be nice to find a family blade,but it would have a chopped tang,thanks Ian bellis

All beautiful thanks for the links, I am drawing some for a journal I am writing so I can take it to arms fairs,the phone is a great aid but I remember more when I sketch or write about subjects,thank you both. Regards ian

i was wondering if anyone had pictures of hadas and hamons of swords they own,i am learning and just heard of a seaweed hada and squid ,plus any sunashi and nie close ups,i would like to see the variations in one place of all sword periods as a guide for people who dont understand the Japanese term ,a picture speaks louder than words.THANK YOU if anyone can show the variety of art that all have in their collections but in one place.regards.ian bellis

The strength of steel produced now to what was then is insignificant,we all must stand in awe of Smith's who had no text books,just charcoal and tamahagane and overcame all impurities, mixed steels, and created martensite through heat and clay ,like the pioneers of flight took us to the moon,the pioneers and masters of steel manipulation gave us the urge to seek out the strong steels a Japanese company are churning out today.Also before the monosteel blades were necessary the traditional nihonto blades did what they were made to do kill people swiftly,I give the award to the traditionally made sword,which we all revere for had they made monosteel blades back then we wouldn't, have this wonderful forum.ianb

I have been offered 3 swords in shirasayas the shirt. Are marked in ink Japanese script,they have the symbol for sword on the sayas and HabakI,the writing is what I need to decipher so will try upload a picture,the shira data handles are not pegged are these just cheap and nasties.

I have been offered a cavalry sword and it has a hamon.Did cavalry swords ever have traditional blades ,or oil quenched and were they used inbattles ww1/had anybody got an example, it has photos and a death badge with it.thanks, ianb2.

Can anyone give me the address of a Mr baal from Birmingham england ,I can't find him listed.Thanks.ianb