Preachere

Stephen, I was always of the impression that David HAD trained as a professional togishi in Japan. Having said that, who should I turn to and what is the process? Regards, Eric

Greetings one and all! I have a tsuba and fuchi I need help with. Whatever questions you may have I will be more than happy to answer. Also, is it proper etiquette to part tsuba and fuchi from a blade? I am hoping to be able to have the blade properly repaired and polished by a skilled togishi, and my thoughts are that the new owner (when I decide to sell the blade) will want to put his own fittings on it. Is this how it is normally done? Thank you all for your help. Regards, Eric

Is this a good match or a bad match? From what I could see it would appear to match the legitimate writing and not the fake. Am I correct in this? Regards, Eric

That is my intention if the blade warrants the cost of a professional restoration and polish. I have David Hofhine in mind because I have seen the magic that he works up on blades in far worse condition than mine. Your help is very much appreciated. We are all but caretakers of history, and I hope to bring this back from disrepair as my part in its path forward. Regards, Eric

Thank you Ray! Who is Choshu Akikuni and when was he making swords? I will go and practice my Google-fu and see what I can find out. Any idea as to when the attribution took place? Regards, Eric Seavey

I was directed to this site as being the go-to place for assistance. I collect and deal in militaria and have for years; every so often Japanese items come to me, but not nearly as often as I would like. Recently I was offered this sword and a Type 30 bayonet with scabbard. I purchased both and now need help. Upon disassembling the sword to look for a swordsmith's inscription, I came across gold lettering on both sides of the tang. Whenever I have found a signature at all it has been chiseled into the metal. For all I know there are chisel marks underneath the "gold" but I have no intention of altering this in any way to find out if that is the case. The blade is, as you can see, well out of polish and has been abused in the past. Nothing is beyond the skills of a good togishi to repair, and it is my sincere hope that, should this sword be worthy of the expense of a full and proper repair and polish, that is the route I would like to go with this. Even in it's poor condition it is still extremely sharp! I also would like help with the tsuba and fuchi, because if the blade/swordsmith be identified and deemed worthy of consideration for a polish, I am sure the fittings will be sold separately and the new owner of the blade would like to have fittings of their own properly installed. So, without further delay, here are the pictures of the sword in question, and thank you for any and all help you may be able to provide. Regards, Eric Seavey