Hello everybody,
Think I posted in the wrong place, oh well better luck this time!!
A Merry Christmas to you all, accepting that this a truly international forum so not all will share my views (on just about anything!!).
I have always admired a stylish blade & have collected a number of knives, bayonets etc along the way. There has always however been a desire to own a 'genuine' (nihonto) Katana.
I studied Kendo for some years as a much younger man & became quite proficient, but (as is the way for many of us) got married which pretty much killed off the Kendo practice. For the record, I am still happily married (before you ask!!).
To cut a very long story short (er) I chanced across what I believe to be a Nihonto at a local auction, it called out to me to buy it (which I did). I am now the proud owner of a tatty Shin-Gunto (WW2) Katana!!!
No I did not buy many books & study (I do have one or two left from 30+ years ago), if nothing my years have taught me that sometimes you just have to go with your gut feeling.
There is always the chance that it is not what I believe it is, but the more research I do (here & other 'free' resources) the less worried I have become.
In time I will post some photos of the nakago, it has 5 character carvings on both sides (date & signature??). I have downloaded what I can to compare, but not being the least bit literate in Japanese I am finding it a tad confusing.
I will continue to follow threads on here with great interest but will probably not post very much as all I have at the moment are questions, questions & more questions.
With very best wishes,
Howard Meredith
(Worcestershire, England).
