obiwanknabbe

yes..still in war mounts.. wood saya.. leather sheath... i was thinking cut down for a tank or aircraft.

34.5 inches overall length... 23.75 inch nagasa...So i think i'm 99.99% correct in thinking that this is a cut down Mantetsu (which honestly i dont think i have ever seen before)... The placement of the mei in relation to the mekugi ana, in conjunction with the yasuri mei variations, seems to indicate it was a katana cut to wakizashi size ... but... i'm .01% curious.. is there an off chance this is a factory wak?

Would the Mei be a give away as well? seem unevenly "worn" with no evidence of an uneven surface..

I picked up this set a while back at an antique show out of a jewelry box. I know exactly zero about menuki. Any thoughts are appreciated. ideas on school/maker/value? (. just curious how i did ..paid $80.00) Thanks Kurt K

While cool the quality of the steel is a complete unknown... Id pass.

It's pretty amazing to see Mantetsu swords selling for this much... I have to wonder how many are still around seeing that so many were destroyed. Are they rarer than we think? Kurt K

Thanks guys... The " hara" and "nao" were stumping me.. Now that i see it im having a "duah" moment.. ... So showato... hum.. not seeing a stamp on the nakago.. did he ever make gendaito? Two holes in nakago and older mounts on the tsuka. Pre war?

Hello everyone.. I have been tripping over these two nakago for a few days now.. I know that one is Ishi ? kane ? something.. but im struggling to make out the rest. I did not see a stamp btw.. im thinking its early showa/gendai period. The wakizashi seems interesting.. has huge menuki under the ito which im thinking are prob worth the price of the sword. Any help is greatly appreciated.. I have the opportunity to get these both on the cheap. Kurt Knabbe

Im still working on the details.. as it stands.. its likely going to be small scale. As more develops, i will keep you all posted

thats just coooool

As for the blade, i think all that can be said has been... I would have passed as well.... BUT .. that being said.. let's have a look at the tsuba, menuki, and fuchi/kashira... Could be something there?

i think it's going back.. The money is not what's important.. even getting a refund, ill have a 2700 dollar sword that i don't love... Tsuka is cut oddly as well. like it wasn't made for the sword. Mekugi holes are unevenly placed. Pin sits at a slant. No, this won't do. I will write them back and thank them for the offer, but respectfully decline.. One day i'll find one that suits me.. until then.. The hunt will be on again.

well here is the update.. not really sure what i should do.. They will take the return.. shipping and fees on me... option one.. OR... they will refund me 50,000 yen (440 usd) for the inconvenience and i keep it. Does anyone know what the reg fee is in Japan? I would like to justify the math.

Thanks for that piece of advice Ray.. I don't have photoshop anymore but this is a good technique for getting a better feel for swords being offered from afar. Live and learn. I'm going to return it and take the 150 dollar or so hit. Cheaper than a college credit and a better lesson all around.

As john said, the magic of hindsight.. i look back at my old post and can see it this time around, but it's easy to find Waldo when you already knew where he was. I'm not mad about having paid what i did.. otherwise it's a really nice sword and the fittings are sweet.. I am upset at the fact that it was not pointed out at all in the listing... If it has said i would have seen them for what they were .. and moved on..... Further, i'm disappointed at how it's being mischaracterized now... especially seeing as everyone here seems to agree that it is a quench crack. I may return it with lesson learned.. anyone know what the registration cost is? Just trying to figure out what this lesson will cost. and no.. there is no Noigiri.. its totally solid otherwise. just a slightly raised eyebrow.. did ANYONE catch those cracks the first time when i posted about this blade? Not at all to say it's not totally my fault for missing it (it is and mea culpa).., but i think i get a few less points off if the pros (which i am not by any stretch of the imagination) missed it too.

Original page with description is gone.. but it did not say anything about this.. They are saying its Kitae, not hagiri.. it's a crack.. no question. They will give me my $ back.. - shipping, insurance and registration. This is definitely leaving a bad taste in my mouth... especially after having done so much business with them in the past.

I wrote them a respectful letter and included the pics.. I guess i'll have to wait and see what they say.

Kizu or hagiri? I want to make sure i word it properly when i write to them. So angry.. waited almost 1.4 months to get this sword.

Not all the way through.. but as stated, into the mune... about half way across.. not papered.. it was not super expensive but then again, im not rich. this is the best shot i could get of mune.. point and shoot does not want to focus on such a small surface.

is this a deal breaker? It does run over into the mune.... It was delivered this afternoon. Should I be asking for my money back? Got it from AOI and this was not in any description. Kurt K

I have one ... not antique in the historic sense .. Picked it up mid 90's when the bug first bit me. This close to what your looking for? Kurt K

Hey everyone.. A good friend of mine gifted this tsuba to me and I was wondering if you could tell me anything about is as i know just about zero about iron tsuba. It has some engraving on it that i am struggling to make out. . Kinda looks like a fish.. or rope.. or fish bones.. Its very faint after all these years and does not come out in the pics. Looking forward to learning Kurt K

Anyone else have any examples of this mei?

Come to Texas.... When I import a sword the customs office sends it to me with a note asking why i didn't get more and Wazimono rated? We have no state income tax.. property tax may as well be free (im from ny where the taxes are more than some people elsewhere make per year). We have open carry, class 3 ownership (full auto and suppressed) and extremely low home/land cost. Oh, and jobs.. jobs everywhere. Need more? Well ok, steak comes from here.. You can get fillet Mignon for as low as $12/lb. Kurt K

See this makes it harder.. That bottom one posted by steve shares some similarities with my top picture.. especially the curved kanji for saku. further study needed.