LakeBum

So darn excited to hear the book is still moving forward. Thanks for all your hard work!

Ok, just checking if he mentioned it on his website and I missed it. Thanks Chris!

Just seeing if anyone has heard how the progress of the book was going?

I agree Ray, that is a great looking set. Normally I don't like tanto koshirae, but that set speaks to me.

Right on! I'm just excited to hear you are still making the book. This has been my most anticipated reference book release for some time now!

Thank you all for the information! Like I said, it looks like a great sword, there were just some things that were unique to the package. Sorry for the feathers I may have ruffled, you just can't learn if you don't ask.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SPECIAL-ORDER-Japanese-WW-II-Army-Sword-KIKUSUI-CREST-Old-Antique-WW2-Samurai/362254859846?hash=item5458127e46:g:~-sAAOSwluxalf1V Granted I have not been looking all that long but this blade has a seki stamp and a kikusui crest. My question is, does this make it not traditionally made? It looks like a decent sword to me, or maybe the crest was added later and i'm fooled? Special note, I'm not going to buy it, this is just for personal curiosity. Thank you for your time! Jason

The Connoisseur's Book of Japanese Swords Jan 17, 2017 by Kokan Nagayama $60 Facts and Fundamentals of Japanese Swords: A Collector's Guide Mar 28, 2017 by Paul Martin and Nobuo Nakahara $27 The Samurai Sword: A Handbook Sep 15, 2008 by John M. Yumoto and T. C. Ford $20 The prices are from amazon. While your thinking it over, these are a few books I read when I was just starting in. These books should give a good overview of Nihonto and what all is out there. That way you can start to pinpoint what you want your first to be. These are some deeeeeeeeep waters lol.

Ray you hit it, that is exactly what I was talking about. Thanks for enlarging it! The blade itself actually looks OK, but that one spot just looked off to me.

I'm not buying this sword, just purely for my own curiosity. The nakago looks like it was added on after the sword was forged. Wondering what your better trained eyes would see. http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW2-Japanese-SAMURAI-ARMY-OFFICER-SWORD-LATE-WAR-KATANA-/222668947215?hash=item33d81a7f0f:g:xvwAAOSwCbtZ1wDX Thanks for your time, Jason

Agreed, I've been reading books and cruising through the site for a few years now. ALWAYS something new to learn and figure out that these waters are as deep as the Mariana Trench. This site seriously and graciously puts up with us younguns though :D. The next book up pumped to read is Mr. Sesko's book on Gendiato. My wife just rolls her eyes when she sees how excited I am to study this hobby.

This will probably be the first thing I have ever crowd funded. I have several of your other books and cannot wait for this one!

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/17425-new-book-out-modern-Japanese-swords-the-beginning-of-the-gendaito-era/?do=findComment&comment=179694 I had the same question :D. Here is the link.

Thank you for the pictures!

Wow, you don't see these up for sale often. I do not have the cash flow to give an offer, but could I ask for pictures of the blade? I have a love for Minatogawa swords!