bullpuppy

Thanks, I fliped the pictures.

Happy Holidays everyone. I can make out one character as 10 but not the rest. Any Ideas?

More Stamps. Looks like showa http://www.fototime.com/inv/DED50886B279DEA If you keep clicking they will get larger.

Can anyone identify the stamps on this sword?

If the guy is included and is still alive after shipping I could put him to use around the house so the price is not that bad. Of course if is DOA then the return shipping cost would be too high.

I did some searching and found this link http://japanesesword.net/eng/fitting/t3.html This is a copy but much lower quality than the one I have. I like to know what the original was?

I was thinking of putting this on one of my Gemeis. Do you think that it is a Japanese knockoff. It does not look like a chinese paper weight.

I am new to nihinto and even newer to tosogu. I bought this tsuba and was wondering if it looks authentic and what time period was it made. It is made of iron and the Dragon Fly is in silver and the tail wraps around to the other side of the tsuba. It was bought from a dealer in Japan.

I really didn't mean that I would remove it. I would have the polisher remove it. I restore old single shot rifles as a hobby and I know how to apply various types of rust blues.

I am considering removing the mei from a sword myself. Is it really necessary to do put false surface rust?

Is it rude to point out these points to them. I am new at this but I would not want to insult them.

I just got a response from the NTHK and it is below. He did miss that a mekuiana was filled with iron but never the less it would not make a difference to the outcome. NTHK Comments: I'm afraid the signature is bad. The reason for this is, if this is a cut down blade, why isn't there an original hole just above the Tan character in Tanba, where you would expect the original hole to be. There is no Edo Mishina Yoshimichi, and from what I could see of the hamon, it does not appear to be sudareba, which was Yoshimichi's trademark hamon. Finally, notice that the carvings stop at the "new" habaki area and not further down the nakago, where you would expect them to be if this were a cut down blade. Don't worry about a payment, this was an easy call. Just a note, this is an Osaka Yoshimich style signature, but it does not match any of the three Osaka generations. The "kami" character in particular is not correct.

Thanks Ludolf for the research. I still have not heard anything back from the NTHK on authenticating the signature. I find it strange that someone would sign and date when a sword was shorten if the sword was a gemie from a prior generation. Very weird.

Does anyone have the email or contact information to have a signature authenticated by the NBTHK? I emailed the robsongo@swu.ac.jp of NTHK several times but have not received a response. Any info would be most helpful. The posted the sword in question at http://www.militaria.co.za/nihontomessa ... .php?t=298 Thanks

I received an email from a polisher in Japan and his translation is as follows: The swordmaker who produced this sword is 'Tanbanokami Yoshimichi'. This sword shortened by Suriage in Busyu Edo(Tokyo) in February, 1721. this sword shortened by Mishina Yoshimichi. Thank you pleasure. Mitsuhiro.

Usually from GI's playing with the swords after they captured them... Also Tim your pictures are quite good, send the images of the nakago to Gordon Robson and pay the NTHK $50 to judge it. Then you'll know for sure if its real or not. :lol: Ok, let me have my little fantasies........ Those Gi's must have been fighting over someone. It was a pretty good hit. Thanks for the advice on the NTHK. I will contact him.

Picture number 17 shows that. It sticks out enough to give one a nasty cut. Someone gave it a good wak.

Thanks Petter for looking it up. The polisher made some interesting points though.

I just added a new sword to my collection. The seller, who acquired it from an estate, believed that it is gemei. I did send the pictures to a polisher and his insights are with the pictures at link below. The sword needs polished so it hard to make out the details The sword speaks to me (along with all the other voices) in that it has seen some action. It has a sword cut on the mune with a piece of the blade still protruding (an encounter with someone with very bad intensions). I wonder if he won that battle. It is light and balances very well and feels like it was build for real use. Any opinions would be most appreciated. http://www.fototime.com/inv/FE69C51204FC0D4 The seller Description is below: Blade is Keicho Shinto ca. 1600 & Signed by 2 smiths, the first and 2 second generation Yoshimichi big shot Dared keian 3 = 1648 + 3 = 1651 Anyway sure gimei otherwise big time ! Anyway the blade is very nice and very attractive & well made, there is quality in it, nice Hamon and hada with good Hataraki, after polished will be day and night with no question ! Double bohi/gomabashi on 1 side & single big wide bohi on the other, both running from the habaki, so from the notch 15-3/4" up, well cut horimono on both side. 26-1/4" nagasa Tang is 8-7/16" , 1 hole Blade is wide 1-1/4" at the Habaki 1/4" thickat Munemachi Healthy blade with no kizu no blister no hagire/crack, no bend. Strong monouchi with a lots of temper and strong kissaki with big Boshi, Kissaki is crisp ! Mix with some nicks/chip/nail-catcher but nothing major, temper is wide and all will polish out. Generally clean old polish mix with scuffs/scratches/stain here and there, 1 small sword cut on mune/edge nine decoration from battle souvenir, someone got the a stroke....

I wonder if he is a famous polisher. I would think that the well know polishers would want to leave a mark. Stephen - Thanks for your email address. I was looking at a sword and wanted your input without posting and competing with everyone. It was sold however.

Thanks for the feed back, just what I am looking for. The pictures are horrible but it's the best that I can do at the moment.

I read that some togishi may mark their work. How is this done and are there books on these marks. I am attaching a photo that claims to be such a mark.

I have not seen one that looks like this. Any insigh would be helpful.

Thanks for the feedback..

Looking in my books and online I can't find anything the matches this. Any ideas?