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is it me or does the handle look extra long compared to the blade? Yeah look at the dimensions: the handle is damn near 1/2 the blade length! Strange responses from the seller (could be oddly asked questions from the asker too ), maybe caution IS wise here. who knows?

You are just being cautious most likely, and with the quality of forgeries today, rightly so. I'm sure your eye is plenty good enough to see quality in front of it. Don't go too far pal.

real is my guess. Do you know if the stainless navy blades have much differential hardness? I don't like the color of the kashira at all, but the tsuka-ito and hishi-gami make me say real. maybe lizard skin under the ito??? You love that copper tsuba huh? Seems like a lot of money to me (im super cheap), but I don't go for Showa era swords myself, as the prices seem high.

John and BaZZa, Thanks so much for looking that up, and taking time to help me. You are the best! Franco, I didn't think of removing them? Maybe If they ever get restored (I doubt it)... I think they are glued in with lacquer, as the kashira has a gob of it that seems to have oozed from under the insert. The inserts are very nicely done as you say. Maybe I never did look up the symbology of the subject matter, because it seems not easy to find such information. I know that myoga is medicinal, and have read that bow and arrows are Shinto symbols of divine protection (and obviously they are a really smart way to defend oneself: at a distance), so maybe the symbology evokes protection from the divine and corporeal as well. I'm giving up. Thanks fellas!

Hello everyone, Snagged these a year ago for a quick $150 on ebay. They look to be ?iron? and copper, with copper/shakudo aftermarket inserts (which are sort of nice themselves). I looked up the symbology of the ginger and bow/arrow, but can't recall its significance (but will look again now that im posting them, and then ill update the post with hat info). As I am too lazy to look up the kanji, will anyone be so kind to do this for me? Also, once we find out what the mei is, maybe someone will be able to say that they have read about the supposed artist. That would be excellent! Thanks everyone for looking, and those that will donate their time are especially thanked!

I think those menuki (the one on the way) are quite nice! (maybe this is because I own/treasure a very similar set though). They arrived very corroded and by the condition I assumed they were about 150-200 years old. I gently cleaned off the corrosion and coated with wax so they look newer now, but since I actually have them on me at work.... EDIT: After reading Jean's next post I'm starting to see another learning opportunity for myself, and I think your menuki are actually a little nicer than mine. Oh well I still think they will be useful and enjoyable for me. About the first blade not having the lowest portion of the blade unpolished (ubu ba?), that may have happened in the blades last so called restoration, but that would involve some serious grinding so probably not case here.

The OP is trolling, or otherwise has some nefarious aim I wager. Still fun reading what you guys have to say!

That is a REALLY nice first Tsuba! The patterned deep inlay is such a beautiful frame for the main subject. While the floral inlay work is completely intact, the artist may have been going for an aged look with the iron, because the texture makes it look ancient. if corrosion was the cause, maybe the brass alloy has some gold in it, because it has aged so well.

Sure looks like a lovely naginata!

To continue with what Chris was writing (or what happened in my head after reading his post) Why save up for posh living/vacations in retirement when you'd probably enjoy them more in youth (and your children would become more 'cultured' maybe)? I recently stopped my 401K/roth contributions (I still have a very descent gov't pension) and started a euro-trip fund. 35 years old w/ a 15 year loan on the house and I'm scrimping to save an added $1200 per month 401K, therefore my family can't afford to go eat sushi but a few times a year! HOW STUPID! The conspiracy theorist in me thinks: The oligarchy would rather me scrimp and save up (so my cash, makes others get more cash); but there is something to be said about enjoying the here and now too! Sorry my posts are always off topic. back to Alex's original question: if purchasing is becoming a problem and draining your funds, there are support groups and therapy, like for other addictions that are damaging. If you are still financially comfortable but spending all your time away from your family or something, time to get help. If you aren't really hurting anything with your addiction, than its just YOU! at that point it is a endearing quality! You are really serious about collecting! Maybe you are secretly interested in delving into another aspect of these arts, and learning some sort of craft involved like tsukamaki or something. Maybe that will curb your appetite? Then again you may end up with drawers of tosugo after that!

good idea to be cautious about signatures unless NBTHK/NTHK paperwork is attached, or you need a lot of knowledge/books and really good pictures to figure it out yourself. you can wait for someone to look up the name in their books and try and verify the mei based on what is included in ebay pictures, or try and google the mei and you will likely find out known characteristics of this smith and check to see if the blade has those. Also you can maybe compare signatures using this method, but that seems to be an art in-and-of-itself. Good luck! Wait around and some folks will likely help you out way more than I

How would your collection look? The same, if you believe the swords came to you be cause they belong to you (in your care is their home for now). A romantic notion but who knows... since no future blade purchases are planned, no big rush to learn kanji (till I retire in 20 years I guess). I do feel like a noob all the time because I don't translate. For me: I just want to experiment in saya-maki, tsuka-maki, and lacquer crafting. To me the whole package {blade, shirisaya, and koshirae(s)} is really desirable, but ill never have the money for the real deal. A blade without its outdoors clothes is just missing something. so not being adept at kanji is no big deal really. Maybe one reason you are attracted to signatures is the fact that with shoshin blades, you have a (positively known as possible) known piece of history, whereas for a mumei blade it takes a leap of faith or more learning than myself and most collectors may have, to know for sure who made the piece. Maybe its a desire to have a good grip on things and no guesswork or doubt that you find enjoyable. The thing that is probably bothering you is the plethora of mumei juyo. My best piece is unsigned. What if the smith had some noble tendencies for modesty or something, and rarely signed? Another reason to look at the blade first then the nakago, I guess. Cool topic!

Sorry having electronics issues, can't delete the post

Deeply chiseled signature which is nice and indicates confidence of the signer, but I'm way too lazy/tired to translate kanji. What does the signature say? You must have already translated and looked up characteristics to say gimei, or its a big name and you didn't need to look it up. I like the nakago shape. Anyway, from the looks of the nakago I'm guessing made in the 1700/1800s (with an element of older blade sugata being made a boys day sword) maybe. Pretty cool piece! about the token-kai: I had better make it this year, since I haven't yet after these 7 years living so close. I will look forward to meeting you there John!

Patina on the original section of the nakago: dark w/ original tang filing slightly obscured to rust = Shinto era (1600- 1764), or maybe earlier shinshinto. small gunome hamon that seems regular (well controlled) looks nicely done, but photos leave out all but near the kissaki (where some smiths showcase the hamon). Too bad about the rust pocket/hole in the horimono/groove. Experiment with photos of the hada and hamon and folks on the board can speculate better about the blades providence. Also, people like to see shots of the overall sword to get a feel of the complete shape, but your photo leaves out some and the diagonal angle makes it hard anyway. How much did you pay at the estate sale? what are the measurements (motokasane is important to me)? try including a pic. of the tang and the back edge so we can see how much the blade has been polished over the years. Seems like it could be a really nice blade, if the hamon continues the way it shows in the picture, and there are interesting features to it (we cant really tell from the photos). I've always wanted one with bohi grooves, because the blades are so light and must be easier to whip around. -Grant

Stephen, That katana is pretty thin (0.5cm motokasane), and the pictures showing nakago to mune thickness variance quite significant (many polishes = tired = unfit to wield in battle). original fuchi/kashira gone, and the saya splitting away. Id say the katana is less that acceptable, for the OP's price range = fatally flawed tired and cant even be studied due to the polish (and it never will be polished again because its too far gone). I'm sure you were just illustrating the fact that the OP is WAY over-reaching, not that the blade you mentioned was actually a good idea to go and buy for anyone. Who knows though, maybe the seller in question has some cheap nihonto that would be 'right' for the OP??? Rob, I'm pretty sure you aren't looking for such a tired old blade. Don't go buying blades from a 'junkyard,' (unless they aren't all the way junk) because this may only make you want to spend more $ (to get one that is fit for use at least). A main feature of Japanese blades is their ability to do what they were intended for (and take relative abuse etc), so you had better get one that isn't fatally flawed. Good luck (with your price range you will need it)! Be patient and I bet you will find one that you are thrilled with, can study, and will be useful if you ever really need to whack somebody's arm or leg off with it (you all know that if you use your $5000 katana to chop an intruder in half, the blade value doubles even if the cut doesn't go all the way through...right? :-) -Grant

Good Man Greg! Since I bought my first really nice tosugo last Christmas, all nihonto/tosugo purchasing has stopped for me (this was <$100 so doesn't count ). I hope you get such a nice piece that it turns you away from buying crap (not to say the daisho is crap at all), as I hope my nice tsuba does for me! My best regards to you, -Grant

A member of our sword club, likes mounting kashira as necklace pendants. She (yes this is a way for another member to get his wife more fired up about nihonto) collects what look to be medium and high quality pieces, but they look to me modified in a non-destructive way (done by a professional jeweler). there appears to be a right way (jeweler who is aware they are working with high value art that isn't to be modified) and a wrong way to go about making jewelry out of sword fittings. Tom can chime in as he actually knows everyone's name in the club, and I haven't attended meeting (or paid dues, damn) in forever.

another reason to study nihonto: get the NMB jokes. Are you guys making fun of KPS again?

nice fittings for and interesting blade. masame in the shinogi ji (in the burnished edge facet away from the ha), accompanying mokume in the ji, is common Shinto hada. Your repairer thinks possibly its the cut off/broken off and nakago added to an old tachi (I think that is what you are saying). Who knows? Your picture of the nakago (or lack of a decent one) is limiting the discussion. Also, the polish/pictures don't show off the hamon well enough to confirm profuse nioi or nie that would lead to speculate this came from an old tachi. a mystery here, but a nice set of fittings made/modified for this nice small blade. I especially love the tsuba. It appears to be have some gold in the brass alloy maybe (don't even know if this is done or not). The menuki look to be nice. The same looks old and lovely, although since the koshirae is miniaturized the same nodes appear huge/higher quality than they actually are, but its old and lovely anyhow. Whatever its providence, quite a nice boys day example.

Didn't even get a bid at $310? Hopefully Greg got it for even cheaper.

Thanks Stephen!

Stephen San, What if we have allergies to facebook (Like me, I refuse to join the herd/ get with the NOW, man)? What's his NMB username? -Grant

Saw this and wanted to pass it along in case anybody was interested. Of course with my luck both gimei. Here is a tsuba that has a very similar signature, but came with "DEALER" certification papers (worthless almost). NMB had a topic dealing with this school/smith (hyperlinked here). Picture below is of the topic daisho. Enjoy, all you cheapskates like myself! Sorry if any cats escaped any bags (if this post drives up the price). -Grant

He's gonna give it to you if you figure it out. You can do it!