zatoichi

Is this type of Nioigire excepted/found on koto Gassan tanto. I was not able to find another example on the net or in my books. This one papered tokubetsu hozon. Not sure if it was this way when papered. Justin http://www.sanmei.com/contents/media/T2 ... PUP_E.html

Hope you have a fire extinguisher!!! Justin

Hello , This tag is on a sword for sale on line. I wanted to know its purpose, and who issued it. Thank you. Justin

who said it was polished before being papered? Justin

Chris could you point me towards any more information on the tsunatoshi group or Toshikazu. Thank you Justin

Hello and thank you for the input. Chris the answer is no and no. I am not 100% sure of the name, and I would be surprised if the board came up with something that the NBTHK could not but it is worth a try. Ken I used a sony A900, Manual Leica APO macro elmarit-R 100, with Leica Elpro. Gitzo GT1542T with markins ball head. Lighting was Halogen work light. Justin

Hello, I submitted this tanto for shinsa in Japan with the NBTHK it came back saying NBTHK will need to research this sword further. I presume this means it is traditionally made and the mei is not gemei but not much more. The mei reads Tsunahide Tsukura. Not kato Tsunahide since he didn't sign his mei this way. I have looked in Nihon Shinto Jiten and Nihon to Koza shinshinto but have not found anything. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you Justin

Geraint, Thank you I guess that is the answer. I didn't know that shinshinto smiths went so far in there emulation of koto smiths as to make the sword look like a o suriage blade. I was not able to find another examples in Nihon shinto jiten or Nihon to koza. Justin

Keith, if it was a copy of old Tachi why shallow sori, o-kissaki doesn't look like ichimonji. Chris, if a little was cut of the nakago ( to fit in foot locker ) why is the shinobi ana so close to the end? Justin

Here is a sword that seems to be a conundram. Nakagojiri is kiri. has two mekugi ana. the shinobi ana placement looks like an old tachi but the sword is papered as shinshinto.Sword is not suriage Sorry don't know how to do a link but the sword is at Aio Art. http://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumeiuns ... -masakatsu Justin

Jacques, It certainly could have been polished after having origami which may have brought this out. If you would not mind could you please explain why you do not think it is shingane, and why you think it came about.(these might be the same thing) Thank you Justin

Hello all ,just wanted to know if this looks like shingane coming through in the jihada. Thank you Justin

Thank you for the link. I started out watching the sword fabricating movie but got drawn into the other shows due to the amazing artistry. Fascinating. Justin

Geraint, yes it has three mekugi ana. So has been shortened which would make sense for the rust on the bottom of the nakago. The file marks could be from the reshaping of the nakago to fit the tsuka. It was the clarity of the file marks that made me think that some work had been done more recently to the nakago. Justin

Wanted to find out how this could take place. Yasurime clear by the hamachi. Nakago has deep pitting rust below obscuring the Yasurime. Is this hi-hada? Justin

Jamie Thank you Justin

I was looking for opinions ( which this board is noted for) on this Nakago. To my eye there seems to be very distinct file marks on part of the Nakago but none on the rest? Fake Mei removal or some of the Nakago rusting and obliterating the file marks, and the rest like virgin snow? Justin

On image 4 what is the line running perpendicular to the hasaki Justin E

Has the nakago been filed at a later date? the two areas with less rust seem to have file marks that do not go in the same direction Justin E

Ron thank you for the examples. I can see from your sword that hataraki can be seen through the hadori.( by hataraki I mean the shape of the hamon, hope that is right) that is a great example of the change from Keisho polish. Justin E

Adam thank you for taking the time to reply that did answer my question. Justin E

Is the white above the hamon a part of the polishing process #1. Is the lack of detail in the hamon ( bleached look ) #2 part of the polishing process? Keisho. If this is not nioi isn't this a rather artificial look? Is the Nie #3 being brighter and more distinct in this blade also done on purpose during polishing or is it a natural occurrence during sashikumi polish? I know it happens from polishing the blade but does the polisher work on that line exclusively or does it just end up brighter because of the metal composition? Thank you. Justin E

Hello just wanted to say thank you to everyone for sharing there knowledge and insights. It might be for your own edification but others can gain as well. sent me to the books looking up words & soshu smiths. Justin E

Does sword registration date effect the value of a sword? Did family owned swords, swords that were important tend to get registered sooner? Justin E

Did I miss something where is the Nakago where is the kissaki, boshi how can one say good blade with out seeing these? Justin