Jason Williams

Does anyone know which of the 5 schools he can be traced back too? Sōshū ,Bizen School, Yamato, Yamashiro School or Mino School? Thank you, Jason

Thanks guys, I just got my first Katana from Japan that recently passed the NBTHK hozon Shinsa. I don't have the papers yet but Art Aoi indicated that the smith was Mito Sukemitsu. I just wanted to get a head start on the research before the papers get here. Thank you, Jason

I wounding if anyone has any information on the smith (Late Edo) Mito Sukemitsu? School, Ect… I have reviewed some of the older posts, but there is not a whole lot of information is about this Smith. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you Jason

Thank you for the information. I reached out to Dave and I should hear from him tomorrow. Jason

Guys, I need to have my Tsuka re-wrapped. Can someone suggest a good vendor? I am really looking for quality, without over paying. I live in the U.S. Please excuse this request if it has been covered multiple times. Thank you, Jason

Thanks for the information guys, as always your opinions are appreciated. The katana is from the late Edo period and my impression is that the Koshirae is not the original. I wish I had a better picture to accompany this message.Not one hundred percent sure about changing the Tsuba, but I thought it would be worth checking into. Thank you, Jason

I am thinking about replacing the current Tsuba on my katana and replacing it with a late Edo dragon Tsuba to fit the dragon theme on my Koshirae. My question is how will I know that the Tsuba that I purchase will fit my Katana? How will the Seppa and Habaki play their part? Thank you, Jason

Thanks for the compliment. I have included the spec for review. Katana in Koshirae Signature: Mumei The blade was polished. Blade length : 76.2 cm or 30 inches. Sori : 1.3 cm or 0.51 inches. Mekugi : 1 Width at the hamachi : 3.03 cm or 1.19 inches. Width at the Kissaki : 1.97 cm or 0.77 inches. Kasane : 0.85 cm or 0.33 inches. Era : Late Edo period. Shape : The shape is rather wide and thick with ample sori. It is long and tough looking katana. Jitetsu : Itame hada well grained with jinie attached. Hamon : Nie based gonome Gonome midare mix with ha mixed with ashi attached. There is active streaks of sunagashi and kinsuji seen with Mune yake. Boshi is round shape with yaki(burnt mark) on the shinogiji. Special feature : It is a fine piece which which reminds the wide and thick Gonome midare, Sanbonsugi Mino pieces. There is no kizu or flaws. From the blade, it reminds of MIyamoto Kanemori, Inshuu Aizu Ju Kunimune, to Sekizentei Chikanori Second Generation. Koshirae : Tsuba : Oval shape iron tsuba with ear standing up with pattern of hammer mark　is engraved with openwork. Fuchikashira :Shakudou Nanakoji base with mantion and flower design engraved. Saya : Dark brown detailed ishimeji saya(a rock like surface.) Menuki : A dragon is engraved with gold inlay. Jason

That makes sense. Thank you, for the information Hoanh.

I am new to collecting and I have question about a recent purchase. I purchased a late Edo Katana through Aoi-Art and it is currently in NBTHK Shinsa(Japan). I noticed in the pictures of the Katana that the rayskin under the Tuska has a line running down the middle. My fist impression is that it is a crack, however the line is perfectly straight going from top to bottom(including though the tang hole in the ray skin). I have seen this line in the ray skin's on many of the older Katana's, so I have been second guessing the crack theory. I have referred to all of the books I can get my hands on, however I have hit a brick wall. Any thoughts? Sorry, I would have provided a picture of the Tuska, however the picture did not meet the requirements for the post. Thank you, Jason