Peter Bleed

I missed the arsenal stamp... P

Sylvain, I think that "meito' is an open ended referent to something that might rendered as "really good swords." I see it as a word that lets dealers say that all their stuff is good,... but this one, is special. Peter

Could it be be as simple as that smith's name was MARUHARU? P

Ron, You always come up with interesting challenges and expert observations.But... Frankly I am just always suspicious of swords signed "Rai Kunianyhting" and this nakago doesn't show me a lot of character. If you can go beyond that, why are you looking at Bungo rather then one of the Yamashiro guys who actually did sign "Rai Kunihisa"? KUN 272ff How much masame is there? Peter

Dear Lingonberry, You are acting like a good academic. If that is what you are and wish to remain, good on ya. I wish you well. In fact, however, I think the academic paradigm is NOT the way to become a satisfied sword afficianado. I think there may be a sword program at one Japanese university. The reality is, however, that swords are politically incorrect in Japan. Trying to treat them in bookish/academic terms in Japan is very difficult. Telling Japanese academics that you are interested in swords is comparable to telling German academics that you are really interested in 3rd Reich daggers. I would also say that interest in Japanese swords in a NOT a 4 year program. We're talking a life-long addiction here. sonny! In place of an academic program, I would encourage people interested in Japanese swords to follow a street hustle approach. Yes, yes, all the books and sources that have been listed are worthwhile. At least they won’t hurt you – much. My recommendation would be to look at those books, AND spend time LOOKING AT SWORDS, - GUNTO, SHOWATO, FLAWED JUNK, GREAT SWORDS IN ANY COLLECTION YOU CAN FIND. Ask prices, get advice, , but LOOK at swords. If you do this you soon realize that YOU don’t need to own every sword you see, KILL YOUR GREED! Learn 100 or so common characters found in sword signatures. If you spend time with that (great) kanji chart in Robinson’s book you WILL become able to read signatures. LOOK at picture books! If you look at pages and pages of nakago you WILL learn to use the kanji you are learning. Developed a network, meet other collectors, go to sword shows, join organizations. If you wish to you MAY join a Japanese group, but there are other networks out there. Decide what YOU like. Peter - who knows what a lingonberry is

With no hint of modesty, let me suggest that National Treasure by ME includes reference to the samurai era as well as to the history of sword collecting. It is also available on Amazon for only a couple of bucks. Peter Bleed

dazzling, Steve. Peter

Terrific tsuba.. A real lust bug! Hirado Kunishige. Peter

This is a great thread. Thank you. Let me add that the Japanese sword market may in part be supported by echos and recollection of the treasure hunting that marked the 1960s-1980s. There are still people who either remember those times OR have heard the stories of that era. Those beliefs encourage some people to buy things that they are SURE will make them money. The old treasure hunting paradigm no longer works. But there is enough life in the recollection to support the low end of the market. Stuff that has NO real value can still be floated out to where it will be bought by somebody who wants to take a chance. At this point there is also a an amazing reservoir of stupid people who know enough to support a flawed market. Look at the appearance of fake gendai and tarted up gunto. I assume that such items are being bought only by dorks who have read a few web pages. Whatever the case, this action supports the bottom of the Japanese sword market. It adds to the froth and bulk of the sword market. Peter

You make very good points, Kirill. It could be that daito did not survive well. And how come there are no (well so very few) Shinto tanto? Peter

Most theories of sword quality and evaluation ratings were developed by dealers. That is, men who made their money SELLING and SERVICING swords. Most of the men who BOUGHT swords, on the other hand, wanted good weapons, i.e. blades that would preform well. Their challenge was assessing quality.How do you know that a sword will preform well? Around the world, blade makers developed techniques for demonstrating quality. I love the European approach of "Warrenting" blades. That means, it says right there, that if this blade breaks, we'll give you your money back.LOL! Many smiths around the world also developed systems of proof marks that a soldier could see as evidence of skill and testing and - thereby - effectIveness. What Japanese smiths developed was very careful attention to shape and - especially - tempering. These were supported by both careful polishing and regular testing. These practices let Japanese smiths SEE was they were doing AND it let swordsmen SEE qualities they could consider when buying swords they were putting their survival on. The individuals who organized these observations - and developed all the vocabulary we use - were the guys who formed what we're calling "Schools of Appreciation." They invented terminology. They observed evidence of effectveness. They saw features that let swords cut. etc etc. The goal was not "ART" or aesthetic assessment, It was - at least intitially, aimed at helping warriors make life and death assessments. P

This has been an interesting - if also challenging - thread. I collect shinto so I am largely outside this discussion. Essentially, I can define my interests and desires in light of rather easily understood social and historical trends. I do NOT have to consider the aesthetic preferences of "authorities". Now, if I lived in Japan, i think I would enjoy the company of a sword community. I also think I COULD learn the categories and characteristics they recognized. I have all the major books that have been discussed here (and many more) so I suppose that I sort of DO understand the categories and standards addressed in this thread. Approaching sword collecting in these terms OUTSIDE OF Japan and without easily accessible sensei is, for me impossible. Peter

Ray, You ought to send thus piece to Token Bijutsu. With your graphics it would be clear to the whole readership - even if the text were in Eigo. P

And then it got tested to prove the that nakago was sturdy enough for work! Thank you Ray for a wonderful object and a fine analysis. Peter

Why are we discussing this sword? It is what it is (and seems to me to have an intact nie-deki kissaki). Peter

Oh, I see, you had already figured that out. I just looked at the pictures... P

Looks like Sekihara Kanenao. No idea who that was. P Well, mebbe its Ishihara...

This looks pretty seriously bad, IMHO. P

In Tokyo,the obvious answer is NBTHK,but lots of us ain't in Tokyo, so the real question is which flavor of NTHK do we prefer, the Tampa flavor of the Chicago (NPO) flavor? IMHO, I think that for somebody seeking an opinion about a sword they have thought about and inspected, EITHER would be worth the cost But I would consider neither a "guarantee". Peter

Yoshiteru Tsuneshige Peter

kanemichi Peter Later with a bit of research Well, that would be a fair first guess, but it looks like this fellow went by Kinmichi Peter

I am sure that the Kanazawa reference will enhance the "collectibility: of this little sword. Kanazawa is the kind of place that must have a collecting community. It will also enhance its historical potential. The Nobutomo line doesn't seem to be famous, but it was one of the enduring Shinto lines. Neat! Peter

I looked at it and thought, 'Gee it looks like Komai' and almost didn't move on to read Steven's assessment. Peter

Looks like a nice toppei tanto. Your babies will not starve at 2K. Peter

Yesterday I saw (and was NOT at all tempted by) a late War shin-gunto wearing this types of tsuba. The blade was dated 1945. It had a "last ditch" look to it but as I recall, the tsuba was the only "odd" fitting. Peter