Kanenaga

Wow indeed! Fabulous things, too much for me to take in at one sitting. And kudos on the photography, Randell, considering the less-than-optimal circumstances.

John, Here's the kai-gunto, from one of the NCJSC Cherry Blossom Festival photos (see Tom's post in General Discussion). I'm no expert about these things, but the mounts appear to be in wonderful condition, the saya is same, the tsuka has "honest" wear. I can do better detail photos if you wish. The bonus blade is 26.25 inches nagasa, has typical Mino features with togari hamon, a few ware, and the boshi is ??? As I wrote, I thought I was buying the mounts. They came from a very experienced dealer who told me, as I walked away with it "oh, by the way, there's an old blade inside." Les

Thanks so much, Ray and Jan. Blazing fast answer. What a great resource this message board is!

I need some help with kanji identification on the corroded and worn tang of an old sword. I acquired a nice kai-gunto koshirae at a SF show, and this "bonus" blade was inside. It looks to be an early shinto sword in Mino style, machi-okuri (to fit the wartime koshirae, perhaps), with very little boshi remaining. It seems to be signed TANGO (no) KAMI FUJIWARA something something, and maybe something else. The last two (or three) kanji are hard to make out, the first may be YOSHI. Not easy to see or photograph, but here's my best shot. Any assistance appreciated.

Well, thought I had an auto payment set up, apparently not. So how do I renew? The "Store" is empty.

I seem to have lost my gold koban, even though I recently renewed. Help!? Les

So I tried to comment about this once before, but my post mysteriously disappeared. I'll try again. If you are not already familiar with this issue, you should read about the relative merits of papers from the NBTHK or from the travelling North American shinsa organizations. There may be archived material on this site, perhaps someone more savvy than me can direct you to some relevant previous discussions. Les

I thought there were many quality inro in this auction. Don't see them in the results. Did I hallucinate them?

So this one is also Juyo Tosogu (Kanshiro) and is available for purchase. https://iidakoendo.com/10840/

Here's a daisho version with foxes. Wedding procession -- the bride is in the palanquin.

Excellent memory, John. Old-timer??

I seem to recall an article about this sword from many years ago, possibly in the JSSUS Newsletter, and possibly by Han Bing Siong. Does this jog any old-timer memories?

Thanks Mark and Franco. Shannon, I seem to recall some discussion(s) about the metallurgical aspects in the remote past, but not sure how to track them down.

Can anyone recommend a book (or website) about utsuri? Ideal would be a discussion about the different types, with examples, and something about the metallurgy. Bizen style utsuri. Osafune Kagemitsu tachi. Photo by Darcy Brockbank. Copyright Darcy Brockbank estate.

Seems he liked it!

Kanayama?

Another take-home point may be that when Aoi-Art uses the phrase "transmitted as ..." it suggests that the attribution (in this case, to Aoe) is being questioned, tactfully. BTW, nice tachi koshirae with this sword. Late, but handsome.

I think Aoe is in Bitchu province, adjacent to Bizen. There are generational issues in Aoe Sadatsugu. Sesko lists two in 1184-1227, i.e., ko-Aoe, and three more later. The video would be more interesting if I understood spoken Japanese...

Dragon a frequent theme on Shimizu Jingo tsuba. Usually a vajra on the back (but that's another story). Likely 5th Jingo master

OK to tell us where you saw this?

So perhaps the punch marks were on the original model tsuba?

https://www.way-of-t...-to-tie-a-sageo.html

Hi Henry, The tanto is likely sue-Mino 16th century, the mounts younger of course but very "shibui." I particularly like the sageo. Overall a very handsome package! Consider bringing it to the next meeting of the NCJSC? Feb. 17 @ 12:30 at Japantown in SF. Les

There is also a large one on the other side, lower down toward the nakago.

FWIW, these signatures all look different to my non-expert eye.