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Alex A

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Posts posted by Alex A

  1. Hard to tell with the pitting, kind of see something maybe a long the edge but cant say for sure.

     

    Anyways, your blade reminds me of a Katate-Uchi type from the Muromachi, mass production for war.  Jussi put some dimensions up years ago that were listed in Kantei-Zenshu as Katate-uchi. One mentioned at 53cm, roughly the same blade length as yours.  Do a search you will find that thread.

     

    It might be Bizen, maybe Mino Sue-Seki. On another note ive read that some Bungo swords are often very similar to Bizen, that's another story

     

    I said Sue-Seki because the Shinogi-ji is definitely masame and there is a coarse mokume in the hada (as described in Connoisseurs). In that book Sue-Seki is also described as having a "black" jigane without being bluish. I cant tell from the images for sure but that's the impression I'm getting. In hand i would know.

     

    What you have is an Antique sword in reasonable polish with the details that can be seen

     

    If it was cheap i think you did ok.

     

    I would say buy some books, you will appreciate what you have more if you become better informed.

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  2. I agree with that, unless NBTHK are aware of a distinguishing feature that only applies to one smith. 

     

    Just looking at another signd Bungo Muneyuki on Aoi (disclaimer i have not had time to look more into this smith in regards the school above and im not saying its the same smith lol), they give a date of Early Edo. They describe it as  "Hoshu Takada Ju Fujiwara Muneyuki is a work that is said to be a new ancient boundary that straddles Koto blade and Shinto swords" 

    https://sword-auction.com/en/product/6392/as19653-刀:豊州高田住藤原統行/

     

    The hada is a tight Ko-itame, the hada above does not look so tight, nakago jiri looks a bit different too.

     

    The thing is though, just speculating without having an whole bunch of information on hand .

     

    As said before, if NBTHK cant split it then we cant. You can trawl through books etc and come up with your own opinions (which may be reasonably accurate) but that's all you will ever have, this perfectly demonstrates the issue with mumei swords (and some signed)

     

    Very nice sword, would just enjoy it and forget about trying to narrow it down, there wasn't that much time between those smiths anyways. 

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  3. That's a beauty.

     

    Looking at the dimensions, the long point, nakago and the hada, reminded me the type you see at the very end of the Muromachi. Its about that time you tend to come across more mumei.

     

    The index says there were four generations from the end of the Muromachi onwards, plus another in the Edo period. (if i read it correctly)

     

    Whatever the case, there's a lot to like about it

  4. Yes, look at the blade characteristics you mention, shape and condition of the nakago, etc etc. You will pick it up.

     

    Welcome to the club, you will see a lot more swords like that. Just remember that it is often the case where you find variation in hada between a line of smiths in a school, even the same smith. Itame/mokume can often get somewhat muddled, explanation here which makes it more clear.

    https://markussesko....i-2-jigane-jihada-2/

     

    Think about the number of blades a smith made over a long career. I think a another good thread could be which smiths deviated the least with their work over a career or vice versa.

     

    Read books and look at swords, in hand and online as much as possible. You will often question what is written, sometimes end up confused lol

     

    Learn a lot here by reading old conversations. 

     

    Remember there are always exceptions to the rules, surprising what can turn up.

     

    Sorry Simon, gone off on one here., agree about the Muramasa book:)

     

    Back to books.

     

     

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  5. Its great that folks collect books, especially beginners. The thing about books though..........

     

    Folks can have a library of books yet still not be able to give a reasonably accurate opinion on who made or when a sword was made..  Seen folks known for having many books state the totally wrong era for a sword in Kantei, easy kantei.

     

    To be honest, i find some books can be misleading as they only mention textbook type swords. As a quick example, they may just talk about a particular school hada being itame with masame, nothing of the oddball swords you may come across just in itame. Its the putting things in Boxes.

     

    Personally. prefer just looking at blades in online stores and reading their descriptions. Sometimes i think folks don't do this enough. 

     

    You see this in their replies here, they just haven't seen enough outside of books to form their own opinions, missing an important perspective. 

     

     

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  6. It can be surprising what can be missed, to me it does appear like it has been there a good while, as stated.

     

    It isn't the end of the world as pointed out. Some folks can live with such issues whilst others cant.

     

    To me, well, at least its on the mune.

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  7. Nice displays.

     

    I take a more simplistic approach.  Those little cheap Perspex stands, not so many.

     

    Top of a shelf next to a lamp, like to see the silhouette of an evening, Sukashi especially.

     

    Change them about for others for a change of scenery when the time comes.

    IMG_0384.jpeg

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  8. One thing that i find a bit irritating is when folks start going on about CAST tsuba and how to avoid them.

     

    My philosophy is pretty straight forward in that respect.

     

    STOP looking at S*** tsuba

     

    With S**** looking carving and a lack of fine detail

     

    Had to say that:laughing:

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  9. Good points, though feel i should explain a little further as don't want to sound like some kind of elitists asshole lol.

     

    Having collected various items for many years and many ups and downs, i cant help but butt in if i think it will do some good for some folks,

     

    An analogy.  

     

    Some say that when your learning the guitar you should buy the best guitar you can afford. Why?, because no matter how good you get, with a bad guitar you are always going to sound bad. In that respect I'm in the same place as Dan, never had the spare money for the expensive £1500 Martin that i only ever tried out in guitar shops., all my money went into Nihonto. Instead, i bought lots of cheap guitars along the way that sound ok, but they are never going to sound like the Martin. Just one big waste of money. Owing the Martin would have prompted me to play more, learn more. A wow every time i picked it up, rather than i cant be assed with this lark. Im years behind what i should be.

     

    You don't have to keep buying cheap tsuba just for the sake of adding more and having a "collection". Save up and learn a long the way.  For what you paid for all the tsuba above you are not far off owning probably the best value excellent carved tsuba i have ever owned, an ABSOLUTE beauty in hand. I had to sell when the job went bad and theres never a week where i don't regret it. You dont need to be an expert to know its a great tsuba, in hand, you couldnt help but say wow. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23939-black-wave-deeply-carved-kinko-tsuba/

     

    Beginners can ask for help, that's what folks here like to do. Don't go out spending your money on something lacklustre when for a bit more you can buy really good tsuba, i agree you don't have to spend a lot.  Even i buy cheap tsuba because the ones i like just happen to be cheap, lucky there.

     

    Some folks might know of good cheap tsuba that are great examples of their type and p.oint you in the right direction.

     

    A very good example of its type here, if still for sale.  I bought it from the well known Shibui swords website for quite a bit more than what John is selling it for. Edo Amida Tosho with Mon, a great example of its type at a very good price, cant believe its still for sale. I need to point out that i am assuming its the same tsuba i sold John, as it was Tosho with Amida Yasuri.

    https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/46292-birmingham-antique-arms-fair-sunday-17th-september-2023/

     

    All personal taste though, i suppose

     

    Anyways, no matter what, enjoy the journey. We all go about it in different directions but some can take short cuts.

     

     

    PS, as mentioned recently. You can learn a lot just by reading through old threads. Jeez, didnt realise this thread was so old, where is time going?????????????

     

    https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/18592-show-us-your-high-class-tosogu/

     

     

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  10. What i would mention about keep buying tsuba for 200

     

    With 3 or more x 200 you could get something really special

     

    What im saying is, would rather have one exceptional tsuba than a drawer full of mediocre

     

    Same goes for swords or anything else collectable.

     

    Those 200s mount up.

     

    Sooner or later you will want to trade for better and have all the hassle of selling those 200s.

     

     

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