Jean

Agreed with Stephen, the only thing we can say is that is a "slightly" suriage machiokuri katana

Hi Koichi, I do agree with you, Muromachi with its single handed swords have a short and stubby Nakago particulary Bizen swords. In fact, nagasa starts to increase again starting Tenbun and in Tenmon we find long Nakago with currently 70cm + nagasa. A 66cm nagasa sue Koto Bizen sword has a stubby and short nakago.

Hi Peter, Kongobei is a bit apart in the Chikuzen schools. To simplify (a lot), before Masamune, almost all Kyushu schools are (more or less) under Yamato or Yamashiro influence (Higo, Satsuma, ...). To be short Chikuzen shools can be roughly split into 2 schools after Masamune : - Samonji school (one of his Juttetsu) -( Before Masamune, strong Yamato influence) - Kongobei school which is a mixture of Yamato/Yamashiro (High Shinogi, mixed Mokume/Masame, hiro-suguha). This style mixture brings Kongobei school to be classified as a wakimono school. It was not unusual during Koto period that schools mixed 2/3 Gokkaden, even in the same province you can find at this time orthodox and wakimono schools (Higo: Enju/Dotanuki)

Sorry guys, I cannot resist, as an addict to advertising, I'll shall say as Nike : Just do it!!!! Congratulaions for this idea

I have noticed, but what can be the reserve price for such a blade? I hope that the dealer is not greedy

Thanks a lot Brian. Just a reminder to NMB members, please if you are looking for an advice, don't forget to paste the whole link in your thread Considering the blade : I am very indulgent about old blades and their wares but there is a big tateware in the hamon much worse for the sword than the Mune/Hi one. What surprise me is the length of the blade quite unusual at Kamakura period. This kind of Hi was quite frequent at this period. There were 2 noted smiths at Ka-gen era : A yamato senjuin smith and the first generation Bizen Norimitsu, a Nagamitsu pupil - both are rated very highly (Jo-Jo, Juyo level).Should I have such a blade I shall try to have it papered. Unfortunately, this niji mei does not fit the usual mei of this smith (It does not mean it is a false signature, I have got a papered Muromachi Tadamitsu nijimei katana - signature quite rare at this period). IMHO, if the blade is from Kamakura period and Norimitsu 1st generation, though it has been abused, it is one of the biggest year deal. Try to find a signed ubu Kamakura blade by a noted swordsmith at this price ...... These are the reasons why I would not buy this blade : - Uncertain of the end Kamakura period - Length of the blade very short for the period - Unpapered big name - Much abused blade I am not saying that there is something fishy about this blade but too many uncertitudes. I'd like to hear Darcy's opinion on this blade ....

Very good idea, I'll try to give an answer to these conundrums, I am not very good at reading but I have the Koop & Inada and can work at spare time. I must confess that Koichi astonished me more and more, not only by his fantastic culture but by is ability at reading mei on out of focus picture Quote "Do one's best and leave the rest to Providence." Koichi, my friend, Providence must be starving by now!!!!

Brian, It has been in store for more than 25 years, it can still wait several months/years

Count me in, I could spare an Heianjo tsuba for the raffle (not a great one but a big one : 7,6 x 7,6 cm)

Dear Sencho, Sorry for the late reply, but I had a week off. A new ordeal for UK Yesterday night, my wife was reading a magazine and saw an advertising for Dior, she was so upset she told me that since within a week Mr Sarkozy will be the new President, no dpubt his first action shall be to send Mr Galliano back to UK. :lol: :lol: Jean Jumping Jack Frog

Hi Milt, If your son has the same taste in food as yours, you won't have to sold too many tsubas for his Paris trip :lol: :lol: :lol:

Yes, You are right Rich, wire transfer is cheaper and safest but I choose to buy from Dealers listed in Dr Stein' website. I have been dealing with Aoi Art, Seikeido, Fine swords, Big Mo, CG Fine Arts, Darcy, Yamabushi. Satcho, AFU Either by Visa through 2 separate mails or by transfer or by paypal, I never found my trust mislead by these dealers who are all of them very friendly and trustworthy. But Wire transfer is my favourite for the reasons explained by Rich and believe me it is part of my daily job :lol:

Hi to All, I have already ordered from Aoi Art (at least 4 times). I never bother to pay in hard currency, I ask my bank to transfer the exact corresponding amount in yen and that's all. I'll do the same when I buy something in the States. Wire transfer is much cheaper. For those who have already ordered different items from Aoi Art you can try to bargain (I got once a 10% discount on menukis+F/K) Kazushige Tsuruta (as all dealers in Japon) is swift and very professional at shipping goods.

Merci Paul

I love this discussion. It is only an opinion, Nihonto is made of exception : - It is impossible to judge a blade from pictures I am wondering why are all these Japanese Nihonto books full of pictures published!, I am sorry to say that I do not agree having a lot of admiration for Darcy and its pictures kantei. - Nakago : I dislike the bohi ans its shape, it should follow the curve of the sword, the signature has red dust and does not match any oshigata on my Nihonto Zuikan I dislike the way the bohi ends near the mekugi ana - Sorry for the contradiction, but the signature (I doubt it's genuine) and the nearest mekugi ana show that the sword has been shortened only once

I have already contacted him on April, 10th (Thanks to Rich/Henry to have mentioned the book to me) but without any acknowledgement as so far

Sorry Milt but John Galliano is Brirtish even if he works in France. It must be probazbly casual Friday wear :lol:

Agreed Rich, Look at the nakago rust and at the tsuka same ....

Reinier Tough luck

Hi Reinier, Three things to consider/check : Where do you leave in Netherlands? Is the air very damp? How is your blade stored? Shirasaya or scabbard If the air is not damp (like in most of our western country when not living by the seaside) If your blade is in shirasaya, an advice : don't oil your blade. I am living in Paris and I have never oiled any of my blades and none got rust. If you can avoid it, never oil a blade. Generally with central heating, the air we are living in is very dry.

Hi Rich, I thought it could be a joke but I did not succeed in getting the meaning of "graci"

Hi Rich, I am better at Spanish than at tsuba : Gracias is feminine : It is "muchas gracias" :lol:

Reinier, Everybody on Board :lol: :lol: :lol: That's my best pun for today .......

Hi Reinier, I have already ordered from Fine sword Co. I am directly dealing through Ginza Choshuya : Mrs Akemi Tateno Fantastic swift service - you can pay with Visa

Hi Jon, It indeed seems ubu and a Norimitsu signature, The filled mekugi ana seems to indicate that the blade has not been shortened. What bothers me is that some of the tosogu seem to have been thoroughly cleaned ........