Jean

That's what tells me my wife each time I sing under the shower :lol: :lol: :lol:

In fact, in French idioma, there is a tendency to assimilate very good craftmanship to Art : When you need a plummer or an electrician (a specialist) to do something, he is called "l'homme de l'art" or if something has been done/achieved correctly following the procedures, we say that the work has been achieved following "les règles de l'Art" Probably referring to Cathedral Time and "compagnons"

Ford, are you a sleuth?

Hi mates, That is really a topic I am going to print and think over. From a brief survey, it seems that for swords there are 2 trends : 1 - Swords can be art vs 2 - Do not mistake superior craftmanship for art

Fully agreed

I fully agree with Ford and I disagree with "the knowlegeable person", as Jacques says , art does not begin with Jo saku smiths, art is art whoever has done it, if a juyo blade can be qualified as an art sword it can be achieved by a chu saku or a chu jo saku smith. Now does a Kanteisho qualify a blade as art object? and if yes at what level? Tokubetsu Hozon, Juyo? In fine, who is going to decide where start art sabers? the market?

I am talking about value/investment After Nambkucho, period was peaceful for a few decades, you can easily find swords dated and signed, During sue Muromachi probably Hundred thousands were forged, no problem to find typical signed blades by listed smith. Get away from the charecteristic from a given school and the blade will lose money. I don't even talk about Shinto, shin-Shinto. Now, it is very easy to verify, go to Dr Stein's commercial site and check the prices what is worth a Tamba no kami Yoshimichi wakizashi unsigned and not in Sudareba?? Now, why papered? because I don't speak Japanese, I am not amei specialist and I don't want to buy a Gimei blade. I buy/pay a mei, only if certified

To stress what has written Paul, there are a lot more Tokubetsu Juyo koto mumei suriage blades than signed Shinto/Shinshinto. The quality is in the blade and not the mei.

http://tsuruginoya.com/mn1_3/f00017.html

Thanks Ted for the compliment, It is my childish twin (everybody has a twin, eh Guido ) For Shimada Gisuke I would have had expected a longer kaeri and perhaps some muneyaki (I have just seen them on the oshigata), I am still insisting, could the answer be in the yasurime (that I see kiri) Is it really hadatachi? The Nihon To koza is unclear, it does not even mention the mizukage.

Can anyone see the yasurime, they seem to be kiri

yes, my first reflex was to say Kunihiro but he works in nioi deki - description says nie deki - yasurime seem to be kiri (difficult to see). Can we define the hada as hadadachi gokoro from the picture (kantei point to Kunihiro) http://www.sho-shin.com/sai19.htm You have 2 period Kunihiro blades, look at the kaeri http://www.nihonto.com/abtartkunihiro.html As stated we are all looking to Soshu style end koto/beginning shinto I don't see the famous bonji Kunihiro is reknown for

I could not help it : Perhaps Tsunahiro

I have got a fair idea : That's the first time I use the spoiler thing and I swera it will be the last time

and gin tonic ...

Hi Matsumoto-san, I have been very interested by your post. It seems that in Japan, the Nihonto market is not at its top. Does this trend apply also to Juyo blades?

Agreed

Rich, don't tell me I have to use carbon 14 :D :D :D

Martin, One thing is sure, this mei was not at all made to deceive : opposite side, last kanjis very different from the other mei(s), ...???

Martin, Your mei is so distinct from the other ones that I was wondering if it has not been made by another artist who had a different mei. Even the last kanjis aer not at all the same, could the mei read in another way??

Hi Reinhard, Three mei are on the same side of the fushi, Martin's one is looking odd, small stroke, big chiselled ,too cropped Martin's : Too thick chisel strokes, lack of fluidity (and wrong side?) Ken's one (the last one) is splendid : If it was done to deceive, it is averi good. In fact, Kanjis seems to be larger and going out of the red copper part, Seems that the forgerer had some diificulties too master space

'Morning Paul, I agree at 100% with you. In a kantei I would have kantei it as Ishido but for the hada!!!

That is a very unusual Uda blade, has anyone already encountered such kind of hamon in Uda school? http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/katana/07526.html

Makes me think of a French joke : Question : "What is the right length for legs" Answer : "no matter as long as feet are flat on the ground" It is the same, it will depend on individuals, arm length/strength .. ===> different nagasa===> different weight. The ideal weight depends on each individual. Yours shall not be mine ....

Well stated Paul. We have a saying in France (free translation) ADVISORS ARE NOT THE PAYERS