ice-hot

Well if I squint really hard...no just kidding! Yes, now knowing what it is and your description, but Yuki looks just like the kanji I see most for Yuki, good thing he didn't "stylize" that or I would still be browsing pages and squinting. LOL!! Take care, John P.S. Thanks for your help Steve, Its people like you that make this forum as respected as it is and keep Kohai like me coming back.

Then again Jo is in a lot of the names, but same story I don't see it in what I have to reference. Ok, I get it... Fired again. John

Hi Steve, Well they all seem to have Mitsu in one way or another in there names? But if that's what you see can you show me in a book, because I have about 500 pages of kanji with about 50 variances of Mitsu and my eyes don't see anything with the two horizontal strokes three vertical and then another two horizontal. (then again my eyes are 58 years old) If that's not it just disregard the above ramble and hit me with another hint! LOL John

Well I have to give up! There is no kanji like the 2nd character on this fuchi. The first is YUKI? But the 2nd... how about a hint, I mean what the #^%$ Ive already been fired, showered up, got my check and cleared my locker before noon! LOL!! Thanks, John

Showed the blade to my sensei, he lived and taught school in Japan for 15 years and he thought it looked like fire damaged blades he had seen in Japan. He also mention the tsuba looks odd it may have been damaged from fire. Added some more pics. John

Hello, and thanks for all the reply's. Sorry for the delay between post, life and family got in the way. After reading Franco's post about re-tempered and fire damaged swords, I did some research on the effects and look of fire damaged swords. I'm sure Franco is right about this blade. The slight blue tint and the cloudy swirly look of the hamon are the descriptions I find on fire damaged swords and that is how this blade looks. But the most telling was that the blade loses its temper and wont return to straight when bent a little. Well you can see by the pic. That is what happen after a slight push against the blade, nothing more than what might happen at Iado or during cutting practice. I was also able to bend it right back to straight to. So it's a blade that has been in a fire, does that make it completely worthless? I don't think so. It may have been a decent blade before the damage, the tang is strong and well cut by the smith that shortened it, there is much damage to the blade, chips on the ha and kirikomi in the mune.(pics). It was used and depended on by someone or...some kids played Samurai or pirate with it. That we will never know for sure, but any way you look at it I now have a new blade to study and that's always a good thing. Anyway to put it to a school or a time with the damage? As for the koshirae I'm sure the saya is new or newer it is in perfect shape and I love a Mother of Pearl saya, and in green, beautiful. The tsuka is lacquered so it came very clean with a little soap and water, looks newer. The fittings are what Ray thought, Peony's and the menuki is exactly what Ray has pictured, the one numbered 320. I have never seen menuki quite like this, a straight bar with three straight bar Mons, maybe someone knows the family? Grey, I will bring it to the show in October and if you would be so kind to look at this and the few others I have that would be much appreciated. Flitz Mark, um what is that again? Ok! Ok!...used a little on the mune and under the Habaki. Never do it again! Shessh... tough crowd! LOL!! Thanks again for all the reply's, John

Hello all, Found a pretty decant Wak. koshirae at a local gun show and as a bonus there was a blade in it! A bit of a strange one though to me. I have never seen one with this color tint to the steel. It has a blue tint when in the right light and angle (that of course I cant catch on camera) also the hamon seems to be in two places , very low on the ji and also right next to shinogi. Looks like old polish that someone tried to brighten up. Jihada looks odd to, with a kind of swirl or wave look to it. Hard to explain with my limited sword knowledge. So I have posted some images, any Ideas on what I have? Thank you, John

Thanks for the replies. So after reading Stephens post and seeing the pictures as a comparison, It does have some similarities but some differences to. The size and shape are similar but in the third and fourth pic. I see O mokume where mine is very Ko mokume. I would agree with Jean that mine leans closer to O kissaki but what I see on that sword is smaller Chu. Similar shinogi,no nakago pictured so...I don't know . Thank you Uwe, Before I posted I thought I had narrowed it down to Shin-Shinto Mino tradition. Paul thanks for replying, It does look like a lot of corrosion on the Nakago in the pictures I posted but in person you can see lots of file marks, some very clear and easy to identify as Sujikai. So I dont know what to make of the corrosion?. Diego, Its not the camera,looks like that even in person but in those spots, are clear file marks that lead into the corroded portion of the blade and in the file marks the same color rust as on the rest of Nakago. so if a Gimei was removed it looks like it was done quit some time ago and done well. IMHO Thanks again for all your expert opinions. I am starting to think it is Shinto now, found pg. 226 of Nagayamas "Connoisseur's", features of the swords of Shinto times is a very close description of this sword. What do you think? Thanks, John

Well...don't know what I can blame that one on. I don't like the metric system? Thanks again Jean. I think I should start to proofread my posts more often. Thank you Chris, no plugged mekugi ana that I recognize. The color and shading look off in my pictures, like Jean said the Nakago looks much more corroded then it is. Thanks, John

Thank you Jean for that correction. You are right, Nagasa is 70mm. A mistake related to my inability to type and read a tape at the same time. You may also be right on the kissaki It looks a bit longer than"Chu", but I did not think long enough to call it "O" in comparison to the blades length and width. Could have been reshaped at some time. Regarding the Nakago I think the picture enhances the corrosion more than it is. Yasurime is visible in many areas and there are spots of red rust sprinkled around the nagako. So... would you lean towards Shinto, Kanbun or Keicho? The discription I see now now with your input Jean is Shinto, Yamashiro tradition? I gotta get more books! [ Thanks, John

Hello, Shinshinto for certain. Well that's my best guess. I am struggling to identify a smith. Kanesada 11 or 12th gen? Any help is greatly appreciated. Mumi ubu nakago, One mekugi, Yasurime sujikai from what is visable, Nagasa 94mm , Sori is shallow 10mm, Chu-kissaki, Suguha in nie deki, Jigane fine a little weak, ko-mokume,Boshi maybe ko-maru sagari. Thank you, John A

Steve, Thanks for the help, last try tonight (late in US) OMI NO KAMI ? John

Not Fuji Wara......TAIRA NO KAME?

Hi, I must be close on this mei.... 1st character- hard to see but AWA makes sense 2nd-TA 3rd-GUCHI 4th-FUJI 5th-WARA 6th-TADA 7th-SUNA Thanks for any help, John

Hello, There has been a auction on eBay for Shsai-Komi Kenma by a Togi named Nakajima Jr. living in Okland California. Has anyone heard of him or seen his work? At $35.00 per inch and not having to send to Japan it could be a good deal. Thank you PS If you see this Mr Bowen I would would like to thank you for bringing the sword show to Mnpls.MN I hope you can do it again. John