FletchSan

Okay - I couldn't resist and googled Yasuyoshi and found this example. Separated at birth? There are a few differences though... This image is from a Christies auction with the following description. I need the experts to step in now and put me out of my misery A Chikuzen Sa-School Wakizashi Nanbokucho period (14th century), with signature Choshu ju Yasuyoshi and dated Joji go hachi (1366. Sugata [configuration]: hira-zukuri, iori-mune with a wide mi-haba and slight curve Kitae [forging pattern]: o-itame in ji-nie with hada-dachi and chikei Hamon [tempering pattern]: notare-gunome mixed with choji of nie, with deep nioi, sunagashi and kin-suji Boshi [tip]: midare-komi, tsuki-age with a deep return and some haki-kake Horimono [carving]: bo-hi ni tsure-hi on both sides Nakago [tang]: ubu, slight kuri-jiri with three holes and suji-kai file marks Habaki [collar]: two-piece, gold Nagasa [length from tip to beginning of tang]: 13 5/8in. (34.4cm.) In shirasaya [wood storage scabbard] With Yushu bunkazai (Very important cultural asset) certificate no. 82 issued by the Nihon Tosogu Bijutsukan (Museum of Japanese Sword Fittings), dated 1999.6.1

Trying not to let the mei influence me - though a few things line up (or maybe I want them to). Nanbokucho period Hira-zukori Nagasa - too long? Rounded fukura thin kasane (is 0.5 thin?) Sa Yasuyoshi is a school that matches - does it look that period or is it perhaps later and in that style assuming gimei?

Okay here is what I have so far. Type: Wakizashi Sugata: Hira-Zukuri Mune: Iori-mune Hi: futasuji-hi (take-kurabe) Yasurime: ? obscured by rust Nakagojiri: kurijiri hamon: gunome midare hada: ? Boshi: Notarikomi or Jizo? Measurements Nagasa: 37.6cm Sori: 1 cm (saki-zori?) Kasane at mune-machi: 0.5cm Mihaba: 3.2cm Based on the sugata it appears to be late muromachi. I'd appreciate any corrections and pointers on how to see the hada better - or is it right in front of me? thanks, Ben

Hi All, I received a new wakizashi today that is hira-zukuri in shape and i'd be interested in some general thoughts on the blade also thoughts on the Koshirae which fits the blade very well. Nagasa: 37.6cm Sori: 1cm The nagako is signed though very hard to make out. I get maybe Koreyoshi or Yasuyoshi? Still lots of research for me to do - though interested in a few general comments and perhaps a few Kantei pointers. I want to have my first real go at Kantei on this sword so not too many spoilers please I'll report back after some study and see how far off I am ! cheers, Ben

Thanks guys - glad you got to enjoy them. I haven't actually shown it to many people as it has been locked away in storage for a long while - so great opportunity to post and share it here. cheers, Ben

Thanks Paul & Alex. I'm pretty happy with it and surprised at how nice it is (only paid $660). I just need to find decent fittings for it or get shirasaya made I guess as it only has a saya in very poor condition. Is it fairly common for late koto swords to have a bohi given they were mostly mass produced at that time, or could it have been added later? cheers, Ben

Thanks Alex. I've been reading up on Kantei and have also ordered Markus Sesko's Kantei books so will have plenty of study and reading to do! I've taken a few more photos that show the hamon and hada a little more clearly. Do you think the blade is suriage or is it just a normal rounded Kurijiri end? The nagako is too rusted for me to make out the yasurime. cheers, Ben

Here are a few more - last ones I promise Enjoy! cheers, Ben

In the spirit of ANZAC day this Monday, here is a photo of my grandfather inspecting the foxhole where he found the album. cheers, Ben HALF WAY UP LONE TREE HILL, WAITAVALO AREA, WIDE BAY, NEW BRITAIN. 1945-03-16 SERGEANT F. ELLINGHAM, 2ND FIELD AMBULANCE, ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

I photographed the entire album (99 photos) with a better camera and I have updated the original post and added a few new ones - given the upload size restrictions I just included some of the photographs of people in the original post. I'll attach some of the the landscapes to this one. cheers, Ben

Thanks guys - I'll have another go at photographing them with a better camera and take a few more photos and edit the original post later on today. Yes, I think you are correct Bazza - they would be post Meiji though I believe there are a mix of famous photographers who visited Japan at that time from Europe. The album itself is probably 1880s with most of the photos being 1870s and 1880s. cheers, Ben

It's in reference to the albumen silver nitrate print which actually uses egg white as part of the process. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albumen_print http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/266993 So you can change the title back

Thanks guys. Out of interest, attached are pics of the writing on the saya which is pretty much illegible.

Hi All, I thought i'd share something that i've treasured all my life. My grandfather didn't bring back a sword from WW2 however he did bring back something else which is a Japanese album of hand painted albumen photographs from the meiji period. He fought the Japanese in New Guinea and found the album in a fox hole. There are 99 photos in the album including everyday scenes, cities, temples, samurai and even the royal family. The photos are from the original plates and hand painted and some of them quite rare I believe. I've taken a few photos and thought some of you may be interested! cheers, Ben

What do you think? Am I seeing things - could it be Sadatsugu after all?

Thanks Stephen. Very helpful - I'll see if I can find examples of both Sadamoto and compare. The very last Tsugu example in Yumoto's book does also look close the longer I stare at it

Thanks Stephen - I had missed moto and that does look like a possibility. I can't find much on either Sadahisa or Sadamoto as Smiths and no examples Mei either. Sadahisa http://nihontoclub.com/smiths/SAD36 Sadamoto http://nihontoclub.com/smiths/SAD532 Actually there is a sticker on the Saya that has Sadatsugu written on it though looks nothing like Tsugu to me?

Hi All, I have a wakizashi that doesn't seem to have any significant flaws and is in need of a polish. It came poking out of an old saya from a shirasaya with no other fittings other than a two part habaki. There is very faint writing on the saya which I cannot make out. From the shape - it appears to be a Koto blade. It is also signed though hard to make out - using Yumoto's Kanji mei reference it looks like Sadahisa to me? Nagasa: 53cm Sori: 2.2cm Interested in your opinions as always! thanks, Ben

Thanks Darcy. I had thought that the shaku measurement ~30cm was used in relation to the nagasa not the total length? E.g a Tanto being less that 1 shaku meant that the nagasa was less the 30cm and therefore this blade was just outside that being 31cm?

A tanto - given it's not a tanto I don't have one in my collection - and mistakenly thought this was one. Assume this would be classified as a tanto if it was < 30cm? I'm fairly new to collecting so learning all the time and need to start being more selective as well budget permitting. cheers, Ben

Thanks all. I've sent pics to a local Togishi for his thoughts, though will most likely pass this one on and look for a better example. cheers, Ben

Hi All, I have a Tanto that may technically be a Wakizashi that I am interested in some information on. It appears as though someone has tried to polish one side only and there are several small ware on the blade. Total length is 43cm Nagasa 31cm Nagako 12cm Sori 0.9cm I assume it is authentic? Just a little dubious as the fittings that came with it are fairly random. Could it be polished given the number of small ware on the blade and is it worth restoring? Is it possible to tell what period it is from the photos ? I assume Shinto? thanks in advance for comments (realise it may be beyond or not worth restoring). cheers, Ben

​Hi, Saw this lot of 4 advertised as ww2 military blades. Photos are pretty terrible. The sword with the black rattan wrapped tsuka and saya is unusual - would this be a late war NCO sword of some sort or something else? Also - haven't seen a tanto with the gunto fittings before? The wakizashi in shirasaya looks to be signed Kanemune.

Thanks - agree and have decided to pass on it. Here are the additional pics I received.

Shh they'll find out where we get our bargains Getting more pics tomorrow and will post them. Not in SA.