TheGermanBastard

Another approach: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Samurai-Sword/292430367108?hash=item4416354984:g:lPUAAOSwFnxacJ0P

The shape on this one is really good! https://www.ebay.ca/itm/292428365994... if it wasn't in polish it would fool me. Just looking at the Sugata I couldn't tell it wasn't Japanese made from the pictures.

Personally I would not mind at all to get restoration work done in China if the quality and price is right. The market is tough and unfortuantely does not keep up to what a Westrn (or Japanese) cratfman often will have to ask in wages. It is a pitty but reality, If you take an average qualiyt sword there is just no economical way to put 700 USD into a new Shirasaya or 350 USD into a Habaki ... you will be buried. In the end I respect the quality of a craftman no matter where he comes from. This guy has talent and if he was offering good qualiyt Habaki or Shirasaya I would not mind at all using him.

Maybe someone here bought this interesting blade? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Old-Japan-Japanese-Signed-Tanto-Wakizashi-Fighting-Knife-Sword-Scabbard/323030265788 Made in 1911 or 1912 ... don't remember ... but I couldn't read the maker. This grasscript is tough. This was an interesting, solid Gendai blade in my humble oppion. I wonder who made it. Not that many smithes active around that area.

So you will want to buy / obtain more swords from this smith before your proceed with your cutting tests for better first hand comparision. Best buy also a Saijo Wazamono blade for best comparison. Please keep up the great work and keep us posted,

So did you try it on a steak? Was it a T-Bone steak? If yes, how well did it cut through the bone?

It may be just a little swing for Eric but a great step forward for the sword community to see how well this great smith performes in cutting. We need more first hand research from brave enthusiasts like Eric. I look forward to hearing your resulst on the potential Wazamono level your your sword. Please keep us posted.

Don't be shy! Give it a try! This smith could be Sajo Wazamono, too! But it needs verification thus requires more field research! Kee up the great work and make this smith great again!

Hello Eric, if I remember correctly you have bought a Wakizashi. This could be an excellent choice for your cutting pratice.

The smith even got the Ware right! But to be serious, whoever does them has some talent. The best Hada on that type of blades I have seen so far. Good job. If the smith took some training in Japan he could produce really nice modern made swords or offer other kind of services. Sayingit is a Japanese Samurai sword is of course misleading. I bet there would be a good market among martial artists for honest offerings who want to have them for Iai Do, Cutting Tests or whatever.

Modern Made ... likely China but could have been made somewhere else, too. Considering the prices of other modern made blades it is cheap.

I think the wrap is 99% for real

2500 USD is not expensive for this smith.

Well, while I am no expert I am familiar with archeological relics. I think the sword can be well legit. I am just amazed at how low they seem to sell even in this condition!? I thought that they would still be in the thousands ...

thank you ray, peter and jean for taking your time. i will share more details when i have it in hand

it is most probably junk. i bought it

Hello Ray, I can't tell yet. I do not have it in Hand yet. If it is healthy enough to take another polish and pre Muromachi I will take a shot at polishing. If it is "only" Murmoachi the condition would be to bad too keep it in my hubme oppinion.

hello Jean, thank you for your thoughts. I was hoping it could be one of the lower ranked but old Bizen guys. Howeer hower hope is the greatest falsifier of truth. The Toshi Kanji is way off ... this makes me wonder if it wants to be Rai Kunitoshi also since we do not have the Rai Kanji in place. The last blade signed by a Rai guy that I had bought turned out to be Ko-Mihara Aritoshi after the Gimei was removed. This tanto seems to have seen quite a fe polishes. I will see what is left of it and if it is a pre Muromachi piece when it arrives.

Hello Peter, which Kunitoshi do you think it tries to be? I can rule out the Rai Kunitoshi but I am locking Oshigata for most others

I take it for what it is worth

Thank you also Jean. Do you have any cheap oppinion on which one this one might try to be?

hm ... most of them are rather early and above average rated ... so it is likely crap.

Thank you Ray ... My enviornment suffers from my dyslexia ... but I am at a total loss when it comes to Kanji ... hiorrible

Good luck with the submission Bob! Please let us know the outcome! Alos please keep us posted about your Nobokuni Katana.

Hello fellow members, I am looking for some cheap oppinions on this little Tanto Mei please. I had read it as Kuniyuki ... should be a Koto piece ... unfortunately having lost much meat. Not sure if it will take another polish. Any oppinions on who you thik the smith could be is appreciated. Yes, I know hard to tell anything without seeing it in polish. Thank you, Luis