Fuuten

Seems like a nice blade (o-suriage?), at a very reasonable price. Good luck with your sale

I don't think i ever hear about doing something extra with the rayskin. Its dry and shaped during adhesion to the tsuka, i don't think you have to do anything to it. I could be wrong of course, lets wait for someone with more information.

This might help you. https://web.archive.org/web/*/muramasa.us Saved 22 times between May 17, 2014 and August 12, 2018. So after exploring the wayback machine some of the snapshots aren't working. But i did find the one in 2016 - january works. You can see all the swords (i checked a few and they loaded - though with screwy layout).

Pretty sure the titles are bold by default if you haven't read them, refresh the page afterwards and it'll no longer be in caps (F5 for refresh).

From the one photo i'm not sure if i could give a valid opinion on authenticity. But that sure is a warfan.

For what its worth, i have ordered some items from them which arrived without issues. I haven't send them anything for that though.

Why wouldn't or shouldn't someone with a dilemma or simple question be welcome here? Isn't it all voluntary communication? Isn't it meant to teach and enlighten others? That is the reason people come here. To share and absorb.

I just stumbled over this one. https://www.seiyudo.com/tu-050416.htm

Hi Chris, i found this one. I think its quite nice. https://www.aoijapan.net/tsuba-mumeiunsigned%ef%bc%88kyo-kinko/

No sorry, its honestly been over 10 years ago. I will give it a go though, say tomorrow and report back. edit: Ah i think it was this page: http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/12-devas.shtml

I read about this a looong time ago, iirc; its a subset of 4 gods old Buddhism, if I'm not mistaken they were also (somehow), related to the 4 elements.

Surely wrapping a tomobako is a skill you can learn! I was thinking to myself yesterday, just how many times have i retied boxes at home. I'm quite curious to see what you got, personally i can't control myself when i receive a new package The way i do it; 1. Put the box in front of you with the calligraphy pointing your way (its generally on the front of a box or on the outside or inside of the lid) 2. Now generally the connected ribbon will coming from the top and left side 3. Insert the cord coming from the right, and pull it towards the left bottom corner (over the cord coming from the topside, below the one coming from the left) 4. Insert the cord coming from the bottom over the 2 from the left, under the top cord to the right top right corner 5. Now you can use the bottom one to make a loop and tie it like your laces:) (best to keep the folds in order so it comes out looking neatly) Also curious to see who the maker is, the box looks pretty!

After posting earlier I dug a little bit further and found some more. Menuki Moon and the flying bat carved on Shakudo plate with gold and silver color - mumei Bats in shakudo - mumei Bats in silver or shibuichi - Noriyuki Kozuka On Shakudo Shukumen-JI (wrinkle-Ji) plate, bat and fan is engraved and inlaid with gold - Yanagawa Naomitsu (Kao)

Quite the unusual koshirae as well, i like it. The shinogi ji looks a little weird in the photo's though.

I think i saw this in the past on some kind of sabre style mounting. Or a late unique type of formal dress.

A quick search through my archive turned up the following pieces. Menuki: (appears to be) shakudo - Ohtsuki Mitsuoki Kozuka: Copper plate Ishime-Ji Kozuka with bat design engraved and inlaid with gold - Kanehara Isso

They appear to be high quality pieces, but i have a real problem with spotting the faces, i think this design isn't really my cup of tea. The workmanship appears to be excellent though.

Someone will surely chip in, but finding a saya to fit a random sword isn't really doable. You'll most likely hear to have one made for your sword.

If only i had some money Joe! edit: If your auctions are still going i'm going on a serious money quest from now till my next paycheck..

If it came in shirasaya i would've snapped Nice blade.

He's not descended from the Tokugawa clan is he?

Now that is a pretty good gift.

As shady as it gets? Also the nakago incl. signature looks terrible, run fast.

An inro is usually described as something of a pill-box. Or basically storage for small objects.

Always love these kind of finds. Amazing stuff like this survives.