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Exciting! I for one will be looking to see the results of the polish. I have heard some state that Bob Benson didn't complete a full apprenticeship in Japan, so they would hesitate to send him really high grade (juyo type) work (just repeating what I read). Please keep us informed as this sword is brought back to life. maybe you can ask Mr. Benson to weigh it before and after so we can get an idea of how much metal is removed. The pits looked pretty bad, but I wonder what that means for % metal removed. Good luck! To be honest, Mr. Benson talked me out of buying a real 'Lemon' of a sword off ebay, about 4 years ago. He told me I was about to spend $1000 on a $500 chance. I was planning on having the thing polished and submitted to shinsa too, so he actually may have saved me a few thousand. Then he sent me a signed copy of John Yumoto's book, and an oshigata of a beautiful mino blade which I built a frame for and its hanging by my desk (all for free). I think I needn't say more about my sincere feeling of admiration for him (though that never stopped me). He is tops in my little book.

To Mr. Bernard, Yes, even the ana's have the same slight tilt towards the ha (or am I wrong). Must have been the same artist. I guess now we know the way the patina would/should be.

interesting unique tsuba. Appears to be copper plate base. looks like it underwent some oxidation and was "cleaned" of its patina on the raised portion. The workmanship, while not stellar in execution, is very pleasing to my eyes. It would be even better if the raised portion had a bit darker color (patina). I don't imagine the piece is worth the cost of re-patination, although I don't know what a craftsman would charge for it. Sorry I don't know about tsuba schools so cant say anything more. -Grant

If sea-snakes are black, and the rest of the saya is black, won't the finished product not look as interesting as the work could be if using a different colored leather? What does the sayashi say? Why not use shark or ray (that isn't black/dyed black), then you get the contrast of the nodules after they are polished down and the spaces filled with black urushi. with the snake I'm wondering what you are getting from the added costs and labor. Maybe the spaces between nodules would be filled with another color urushi so the skin would show off? I just don't know, so sorry for the post if it is just another waste of time, as this would be my norm, or giving out plain old bad info (sorry guys, I have a hard learning path it seems). One thing is for sure: the idea of creative embellishments on saya is very good, so I hope I'm not discouraging you in your efforts for such. -Grant Just googled snake saya and this popped up, but im wondering how an already black skin would show off.

Alec, A number of bizen munenaga nanbokucho and muromachi, just google the name and google docs show up of Sesko's book which then gives some details of the blade characteristics for the smith or the teacher who you can look up separately. The wide mihaba and big kissaki sort of remind me of nanbokucho style. The nakago looks really old in pictures. Also, you say mint but eBay photos do show a deal of polishing has been done. If this is really 7.5mm at hamachi, then it must have been over 8 when made. A beast like the nanbokucho blades. Why the new thread I wonder? Seems like quite a signature in the hamon, so you should look up munenaga and try and match the blade characteristics. The koshirae fittings are not great though, and likely not have been original (I mean the first this blade has worn) if the blade is koto, or even Shinto probably. The fuchi and kashira are mino work copies, and not too good ones. Don't get me wrong please, not saying you got a lemon or anything (in fact the ensemble appears quite nice to me) just want you to know what absolutely wonderful fittings are out there to be enjoyed! Also, Japanese lacquer work can be breathtakingly amazing, you will find. You are going to have to do some digging by your lonesome, I wager, to get close to pinning this down, and then you may begin to think gimei and maybe it's shinshinto, who knows? AT least the blade itself is nice, and that means infinitely more than the signature (thanks Jean for the continued schooling me, You da man!) experts with material on hand to verify Shoshin/gimei are probably too busy to spend hours trying to help out a noob like you and I who aren't even willing to buy from a respectable dealer. Just guessing though. Maybe you will get lucky though. Buena suerte!

crane's leg? {edit} nope found a picture and it doesn't seem to match -Grant

I didn't try and verify the mei at all, but this looks like a nice blade and ok fittings. I especially like the hamon in the boshi with the masame lines. 7.5 mm thick for a 400 year old blade is impressive for mokume hada. Either the smith knew how to forge tight, the sword was made super thick originally, or this has been cared for very well over its life. The big question is: do you think you got a good deal for $1500. Everyone here wisely assumes gimei w/o papers. Does that matter to you? Everyone around here would say that eBay is not a good way to go for a bigginner, but in my VERY UNKNOWLEDGABLE opinion you didn't do poorly, unless there are flaws we aren't seeing. The temper seems reasonably controlled and the ha-masame has me hoping multipart construction. The big kissaki is nice but the boshi isn't super spectacular (but probably cooler than any of my blades). Again the question, do you (still - as you made the bid), think it's worth it. If you found out it isn't gimei (gotta assume it is though), then you did freaking phenomenally. Anyhow, again it's pretty damn nice in my noob opinion. I think maybe only a couple hundred of your bid was gamble, if any, but it's is a nice blade In battle mounts. I just want you to be happy because after all: it is nihonto and I do really like your new blade.

I wonder what the recesses in the tree held? Maybe gems that were of value enough to remove? -Grant

Wow! some really nice pieces there! This one from the group (picture attached) is a notorious cast fake (you are the best Ford!). Saw an identical one but in awful condition go for $900 on ebay a couple months ago. Looks like even dealers are human and make mistakes. When you get a refund you may as well let the person know they sold another POS and may want to get a hold of the buyer before they find out on their own. -Grant

Excellent job Tom! I haven't come to meeting in forever. Missing your lectures, damn. At this rate I'll never be able to kantei. -Grant

If you are willing to spend some real time scouring over ebay, there are some decent items once in a while for great deals. I found this tanto (actually small wakizashi length) for $550. The lines of the nakago are so beautifully cleanly done, and the shape I find to be very elegant. It also has an extra facet in the mune (mune-machi). Also the laquer work on the saya is stunning: There is no way to reproduce it without knowing the technique: no machine or skilled hand could do it, I think. I have even seen katana length blades going for around this amount, but being in good enough condition to enjoy and research if desired. Just make sure the seller has a return policy, or makes it known if the blade is too tired or has fatal flaws. It is risky buying on ebay! I got a wakizashi for $400 and the blade turned out to be WAY polished down. When communicating the issue with the seller and asking how this blade could possibly be listed "good condition," he told me he owns 400 blades or something like that. Now my case was made that he was trying to fraud me! He knew exactly what was going on with the blade and intentionally left out pictures of the nakago vs blade thickness, and also didn't mention the kasane measurement, I started a case and the seller was actually very gracious about the return. Ebay is very buyer friendly these days. If the description contains much, you can usually find something wrong in it that will allow you to get a refund. Don't discount fleabay because of treasures show up there, and even some very knowing collectors frequent ebay for the good deals you find there from time to time. IT IS RISKY though. -Grant

we would need measurements to understand what the actual size of the thing is, or maybe placing objects of known size next to it as you take pictures. All I can tell is that has signs of being forged (weld openings). it is in really bad shape as you say. It looks like it has been hit with a wire-brush wheel at some point. What is left of (shows signs of amateur polish/destruction) the edges seems sadly mistreated, so that (if I am right) it will never be quite like it was when it was made, if for some crazy reason someone wanted to try and bring it back to life professionally (a Trained Japanese Polisher). Hard to say anything else without measurements; and even then, given the state of polish. Probably best you continue your education with something that will leave you with less conjecture, but rather more learning. You need to study the best blades or books. I know, you are probably like me and can't afford nice blades, but maybe there is a club you can go to and see some really nice blades with known history. Good Luck! I think the people around here with knowledge about nihonto (not me BTW) are probably tiring of seeing this blade by now, at least without something new coming from you (like measurements or better pictures). -Grant

Appearances can be decieving, as forgeries get trickier. From that photo alone I wouldn't know if it's real or not. Looks funky. -Grant

Josh, Not qualified to give advice on damaging antiques (sorry for the ramblings before) People around here don't want to even think about home polishing, because they have seen too many examples of how wonderful art has been damaged. Home polishing simply means disgracing what they have come to love and honor. I hope this helps, -Grant

Maybe ford was talking about the MOP being amateur, not necessarily commenting on the metal work??? The Tsuba doesn't look that bad to my eyes. Maybe a little overpriced for my tastes (any master work out there for free? Anyone?) but not terrible. The MOP could have been done better though, as you can plainly see the fit is not that great. Maybe this is what Ford is stating??? - Grant

Very nice of you to post this. Tons of info in these documents! - Grant

http://www.namikawa-ltd.co.jp Ford Hallam pointed me here with same question. I ordered one of their "high quality" boxes (they have a base model and nicer one), and I was not disappointed. You can't order directly, but must send an email and arrange the purchase that way. I paid PayPal. Shipping was fast. They have many other parts that may be of interest as well! - Grant

Very good idea! Too poor to polish but very curious. Also, some before and after precision micrometer readings would be similarly interesting. I assume only blades requiring foundation work would show much relative loss. I wonder if this info is considered in the yearly contests in Japan. Me thinks it is important to consider though, regardless. There are people getting blades polished all the time, so this info wouldn't be hard to come by if dealers on NMB wanted to find out. - Grant

Wow! Now that is excellent looking to my eyes (drool). The scales are not done as well as could be. I really like this motif though. I really Love the Tsuba and would jump at it if it was around $500. Maybe worth more since it is signed though. Thanks for posting this little gem. -Grant P.S. I'm a novice in the nihonto collecting game so this is pure opinion at best, or total garbage at worst

Very very special post! It reminds me how critically important our relationships are. When recalling a past job or school experience, it's always the people that we miss. Thanks Chris for this post! - Grant

This seller specializes in armor. There is a NMB thread about them. I bought a showa (?to?) katana from them a while back which has a somewhat similarly strange hada, albeit with more foldings so not quite as odd. I always thought the same as Steve above, that other than tamahagane was added to bring about contrast in the hada (probably never was a lick of tomahagane in it at all). I also assumed an "acidic" additive was used during polish to add to the effect. I am very curious as to the degree of differential hardening on my blade, given that oil quenching was so prevalent during showa (this based on the assumption that showa oil quenching doesn't approach the degree of hardness differentiation that water quenching typically does). Speaking of the blade in question, look at a photo of the nakago (see attached pic of suriage looking nakago). It seems like even through the patina and yasurime you can still see the hada sticking out and snaking its way down the tang. Maybe an acid treatment is an incorrect assumption, since the hada is there in the nakago too??? I doubt either mine or this one would pass shinsa, but that is just my uneducated opinion. -Grant

Ok thanks guys. No worries Stephen, I get it.

Whatever Stephen. You gonna tell me why? you don't want to hurt my feelings? I have no idea why you are saying this. Conjecture is going to lead me to say something more stupid than normal. -Grant G.

Pictures of the blade would be nice, though still may not get an answer. Maybe the generations are distinguishable via more than just varying signature, or at least noticed mei variances could be better confirmed if there are other variances that go along and match the mei. Just a thought, but I don't know s**t from shinola about blade schools, but rather like pictures of nihonto : ) -Grant G.

goes to die, or goes to retire? As this piece was never really a 'worker' anyway (the original owner probably hardly knew how to use a sword), it has likely spent its entire life in retirement. Anything is better than locked away in my safe, although this would be the traditional place to keep these things (kept put away according to Ford). This piece may have the mass appeal to attract some interest, and help bolster value of this art form, and tradition in general. Some of the guys in the sword club write and/or have written books, so maybe this can wind up in a book or two eventually. It will likely be displayed at the annual cherry blossom festival in Japantown SF, at least. What is there to do with it, anyway? I have a blade that could use it, but to what end? No plan to start swinging old blades/fittings around, as I don't know kendo and my free time is spent with jujitsu, (amateur) saya/tsuka-maki, a plethora of husband/dad duties (labor of/with love, of course), and our friendships take maintenance too. Don't want this piece to die though... -Grant G.