Jean

Nick, You are absolutly right and that the best truism I have read since years

John, I wish it were miy pictures :D :D . All credit is on Big Mo ; http://www.nihontoantiques.com/gallery.htm My heart is bleeding

Eric, I can't say anything about these swords but taking into account the quality of the pictures and the upper part blades pictures, Simon and Reinhard are absolutelly right, you shall have to bring them to a polisher or a good Nihontophile to get an opinion. It is very very difficult to give an opinion on poor swords (I am talking about their condition and not their quality) from poor pictures. I'd really like to learn how to make good blade pictures. I have tried with different scans but I am not satisfied with the result

Simon my friend, We discussed privately the topic over, so fare well, will keep in contact via private e-mail. I must confess I have witnessed so rude posts, harsh, I have several time reported them to the Moderators. Harshness and rudeness are easy but have no place in a Forum. I have an example : Darcy. I have been in contact with him from time to time for afew years now. I have seen him giving up a forum for the same reasons. I had a discussion with him several weeks ago about one of his post, he told me he re wrote it 8 times before submitting it just to keep factual and not be hars and rude towards one of the so said expert. I am not an expert and will never be, life is too short too focus on one topic and let pass others as much interesting. Conclusion : People harsh and rude should have been spanked a lot more by their mothers when young just to learn how to behave

Guido wrote : As a fly fisherman who gives freely his time and experience to teach others (even to elders) casting and fishing, I tell you not to pity them, my friend, but envy them , for being able to do it reveals a capacity of abstraction that few can achieve :D :D :D In fact, it is much like love, the excitment always precede the conquest but seldom comes after

Thanks a lot Guido - interesting links indeed

Brian wrote No yokote, no kaeri, too regular hamon (from pictures)

Simon has written Totally agreed Simon, even if the saya seems quite new.

In fact there were quite a lot of Mino Kaji in the 15 C. who were named Kanetomo. mainly Seki smiths who can be sorted by the "Tomo" kanji, this one is "友", with a nijimei could lead (according to Malcom E. Cox) to a 1532 smith. It suits the suguta as Mino Tanto blades after 1550 tend to have more Sori and be a bit longer (sunobi to ko-wakizashi): http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/wakizashi/07559.html http://www.aoi-art.com/sword/wakizashi/05237.html

Hi Piers, In fact it is far above my expectation and much like Naoe Shizu school. It is incredibly healthy. Sue Koto, late Muromachi, I would place it, from the suguta, beginning of 16th century (circa Eisho), masame near hamon and mokume, typical boshi. From the translation of Koichi san, a serious/solid blade not a kazu uchi mono. In fact, I prefer short blades - tanto - though my small collection is made of katana :D :D

My dear Brian, I am afraid not. A fortnight ago I went to a gun show where there were 3 swordsdealer. One of them had a signed tanto, it was (dixit) mid- Kamakura he has checked the mei by sending a copy to NBTHK (he was not sure or perhaps NTHK) who replies the mei was good. He did not want to put it to shinsa and was selling it for 6k€. The blade was almost brandnew, easily Juyo perhaps more. Who is going to believe him. It is almost your :

Here it is

Many thanks to you Piers san and Koichi san :D :D :D Piers, the day when I am thinking about such details, my Japanese shall be almost fluent

Thanks a lot Piers, I always worry that it could be : "That was a booby trap, you fell in it" Ok Brian, I'll slap my hand

Already paid but I have a special discount :lol: :lol: I always worry it can mean : "to hell to the one who decipher this"

I bought it from Aoi Art and as usual, I asked Tsuruta san if Tanobe sensei would accept to put a sayagaki on this unpapered sue Koto Kanetomo tanto. He agreed. I have no translation problem for the school/smith, Nagasa, date of kantei but here are Tanobe sensei comments . What does it mean ?

Could it be a Chinese fake?

Hi Ford, I have seen this kind of tsuba months ago, it was part of a set of fitting - mitokoromono (Tsuba/menuki/FK) on Fred Weissberg website Some of NMB members could remember it

Thanks for the precision Mike, you have always been my reference :D :D :D

You should thanks Rich T, after all it's his website :D :D

http://www.nihontokanjipages.com/person ... -biwa.html

From what I have seen

Hi Stephen, Only reply I got after clicking on the link :

Reinhard, unless it is a secret, where do you find all this information (tang pictures ...) you seem to have a fantastic library

Piers has all rights to be angry and to express it. I have already seen, in the past, posts where some members had already the answers but were keeping questionning / poking as to test or trying to make a laughing goat of other members. It is a waste of time for people who gives freely their time and try to share their knowledge. (BTW, I am not including myself) That's only a "reminder" of what must be courtesy.