Lee Bray

Hama-mono would be my take on this tsuba. http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/hamamono.html

Maybe an ill squirrel?

Apologies for trying to help and be humorous, Stephen.

It's called 'daisy chaining' in rigging terms. But I guess you need to be a rigger to see that and not have to rely on fancy pant PDF's to tie a knot. (apologies to non riggers and Guido)

Looks like it's just half of the 'standard' sageo knot. When you have the sageo equally pulled through the kurikata, instead of tying either side of the kurikata with an individual end of the sageo, you need to double up the sageo and tie the knot as normal in the direction of the kojiri. I've attached a pic which will hopefully get the point across. In case you were wondering, that's not a real saya and sageo, I just have some crazy 'paint' skills.

Thanks, Grev. I went with my strange call for Akao for 'T238 - abstract' because the design reminded me of this piece I own. Live and learn...

1 - Ko Shoami 2 - Naokatsu 3 - Tosho (Edo) 4 - Akao 5 - Tosho (Edo)

Congrats, John. Yes, Chris, something like that. I doubt the corresponding hole through the shaft as that would weaken the pole but something along those lines.

The socket appears to be friction fit only(no hole for it to be pinned) so potentially a lanyard attachment?

I think the swords are currently in transit, Ken, so no images as yet. The owner on FB commented that he had been notified of a pass rather than having any details. Have to say, the decision will make me question this organisation's papers from now on.

I believe they were originally fletched with eagle or bird of prey feathers but generally now it's turkey feather. 3Rivers sell a turkey feather which is cut in the Japanese style - https://www.3riversarchery.com/kyudo-feathers.html Doing it yourself is not hard. I shoot regularly with a traditional recurve bow and have to refletch from time to time. Fletching jigs are readily available or it can be done by eye and very small spots of superglue to positiion the feathers. https://www.3riversarchery.com/search.html?w=fletch+jig Never heard of anywhere offering the service for old Japanese arrows but most archery shops offer refletching though I doubt they'd do the whipping.

If you click on his username, it states based in China.

Up to three swords can legally be hand carried into Japan at a time. I've done it myself, twice. That said, I was with my sword mentor who organised the paperwork so my knowledge of the process is limited. Essentially you need an agent in Japan who will be the recipient of the sword for whatever reason, be it restoration or shinsa. From them you need a letter agreeing to receive the sword. You declare the sword at customs and they will lead you to the police registration area. A chap comes and measures and inspects your sword and checks that you have somewhere to take the sword(your letter from the receiver). He then gives you the registration paper and away you go. I believe you can only do it at Narita airport, not Haneda. You mention Roger Robertshaw...find his email and send him photos of your sword. He's happy to give his qualified opinion on whether your sword is genuine or not. He is also the mentor that took me through Japan airport with swords so may be able to help with that.

Enjoy... http://educators.mfa.org/search/site/Ishiguro%20Masayoshi

Shoto being wakizashi. No polish, no horimono, no habaki, just rough blades. I wasn't clear in my original post but the 'seller' was Sadatoshi, ie. that was the price quoted to make a daisho. But no, the commission didn't go through so maybe his prices have lowered.

Hamish is probably not far off the mark. A friend of mine looked at a bare blade daisho with no horimono and was given a preliminary quote of US$50,000. That was five years ago.

Sadaroku had a very bold signature and generally produced suguha hamon, though I've seen(on the net) a choji hamon or two by him. Your nijimei Sadaroku seems to have the same boldness of style though the Sada kanji is slightly different. Nengo seems to share similar characteristics. I'd take the gamble that it is shoshin Sadaroku, for what that's worth. https://get.google.com/albumarchive/108386006718265402653/album/AF1QipMqJPcLLfrJRW2PCt7Xg6QU9cc11nIwpmtvpw2F This was one I sold for $1800 a couple of years ago. With Gunto koshirae, 'war trophy' papers and habaki. Polish was poor. Fairly long nagasa at 27 1/2".

Always have wondered at their purpose. If nata, why not just a nata? A fraction of the cost compared to the silk, lacquer and rayskin clad, horimono adorned blade above. Bonsai pruning with something that size? As likely to remove your fingers as you are to make a clean bonsai cut. Shears have been around a long time and much better suited. An exclusive head cutter? Just how many heads does one collect in ones Samurai career? A Daimyo nata might be the case but their quality never seems to scream Daimyo, although it is a gardening tool so perhaps best not to commission Natsuo to make the fittings.

You're trying to message the deleted account...try messaging the other.

I don't know Nagatsuna but Tadatsuna was known for centering his kanji on the shinogi, as does this mei, so that would be one tick from me.

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/6412-echizen-shigetaka/?hl=%2Bshigetaka+%2Broku This is a low value wakizashi that I own. Shodai and nidai Shigetaka are worth a fake signature but the sixth is unknown. And considering the sixth worked in 1740's and this is dated Kanbun...that's a large 'mistake' for the shinsa to make. As I bought this blade, and paid accordingly, based on the sage advice of 'buy papered and in polish', it definitely soured my opinion on kicho papers.

One came up today. https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-khusyu-higo-dotanuki-kazusanosuke

Car = Cart (wheel)? Maybe typo or lost in translation?

Carefully... Kiyondo. Gut feel based on the fine jigane and control in the hamon. Gorgeous sword.

He means the smaller hole in the seppa-dai next to the kogai slot. It's possible that it was used as a hiding place for a small sliver of 'emergency' gold or silver or some sentimental memento. Sandwiched in between seppa, it's not going anywhere, whatever it is.