mywei

The black dots circled appear to be ji-nie Good pickup for $200 IMO!

It's not ubu though!

By the way if this goes to any of the big hitters on NMB my only request is to share close up pictures of it when in hand Thanks in advance

Might not be what you're looking for but https://nihontou.jp/...gu/nagae/053/00.html Elegant naginata signed Heishiro Yoshimasa (not sure 1st or 2nd gen.), lacks papers but looks like a active work in his style in good condition

For those interested, a Hosho daito just got listed on Aoi One of those once-in-a-blue-moon type of blade that don't come for public sale that often I wouldn't think (and priced accordingly 😔) But a good reference piece with that niiicee masame hada https://www.aoijapan...nd-nbthk-juyo-token/

Hi Jon, It would also help to clarify what you are wanting out of these blades. I think if it is for a financial investment you may be hard pressed to recoup your investment on resale let along make a profit imho. But if for learning purposes etc then to each their own! It may be worth waiting however, and going for a better sword later! Not having photos of the blades but just going at face value: Blade 1. Late Omiya school, may be an interesting blade but Tokuno papers are a liability in the market. Also not ubu Blade 2. shinto from a mid ranking smith - but less desirable in the market generally as there will be a lot of shortened/not ubu Shinto blades around Blade 3. Mumei wakizashi attributed to Takada school - I suspect may be overpriced if asking similar prices as the other blades. The fact that it is, unsigned, not ubu, a wakizashi and Bungo Takada will all make it hard to resell.

Hi Steve I did wonder about the discrepancy in the Ki 記 on this tsuba, but perhaps wrongly assumed it was just a variation given the same pronunciation! Interestingly I found another tsuba of this design and inscription but just signed 紀宗政 without the Myochin. This was a probably a popular design that had a few copies made at the time? Which would make them at risk of having gimei also ... https://ginza.choshu..._3200/3165/k3165.htm

See this for reference - Myochin Munemasa, looks like your one https://www.shoubudo...il.php?product_id=54 Hachiman Taro - also known as Minamoto no Yoshiie, a military figure from the Heian period, whose Mon was that of a dove "鳩" Hope that helps

三 -- 住武則 Maybe 三戸(Mito)?

牧川 Makigawa Edit- according to this thread, 牧川 pronounced as Bokusen in this case

I think Matt is correct that it is Kanenao and not Kanemichi (ie the website is mistranslated)

Hi Ian Yes Miboku is the artist name, but it's a pseudonym used by some artists of the Hamano school Perhaps one of the fittings experts on NMB can give you a more in depth opinion on which artist/authenticity This thread might help

Aviation troop leader Fukuda June 4, Showa 19

乙柳軒味墨 Otsuryuken Miboku 行年七十一才 aged 71 years

Yes torokusho from Showa 31 July This Tomohisa I think is a Bungo smith

1. 紋散図 - Mon Chirashi zu 2.四方牡丹雁金 - Shihou Botan Karigane 3. 変り形 - kawari-gata Hope that helps

Looks like it's signed Sukemune

Shizu Saburo Minamoto Kaneuji

Ordered for a Sagawa Akira (佐川晃)

Maybe it was worn by the Japanese version of Two-Face

There will be many here who are much more experienced in the nuances of what determines market price. In my understanding these would be the key variables (one may outweigh another depending on sword) Age of blade - koto>Shinto>shinshinto Popularity of school/maker (there is a heirarchy) Condition/attributes of blade - ubu, suriage, signed, nengo, cutting test, polish Papers attained (Juyo + will generally not go below a certain price as stated above) Provenance (daimyo owned etc) As to how important each variable is in relation to each other is where nuance and experience comes in

Aoe?

守次 Moritsugu?

Hi Brian, The only similar smith I found that worked from Echizen was an early signature of a Shimosaka smith- Sadatsugu, but he signed with a different Sada (貞道)

I'm getting Shinto Mino vibes