Whitegryphon70

Can anyone help with the name on the Tsuba also?

Thank you again John I greatly appreciate your help

So I have picked up another blade and I could use the assistance of the members of this board to help me with the translations.

Thank you again Steve, I greatly appreciate the time you take to answer my questions.

Thank you Steve, from what I have seen online prices are all over, I am having trouble trying to figure out what is and isn't a good deal I have seen stamped blades for over 5,000 and what I think are nice traditionally made blades for a lot less and I don't know how people are coming up with the prices they are asking.

Can I ask how you guys would judge the value of these 2 blades?

Thank you for the replies. Thanks, Sean O.

How can you tell that it is partially machine made? I am not able to tell and would like to know what to look for. Along with how to tell the difference between water quenched and oil quenched blades. Thank you for the replies they are greatly appreciated. Thanks, Sean O.

Are these better?

Can I get opinions on if these blades are a decent start of my collection or if they are too low quality. And is the 2ND blade traditionally made or not. Thank you for all the help. I am learning a lot from this site and appreciate all of the opinions of its members. Thanks Sean O.

Hi, I found these swords for sale, but am unable to tell if they are Japanese or fakes, and if they are Japanese are they worth buying or not, or if they are in too rough of shape.the bottom one looks similar to gunto mounts, there are no pics of the tangs unfortunately, I have not seen them in person and wonder if they are worth driving to go look at them. I highly value the opinions of the members of this site and thank any one who can offer advice. Thank you, Sean O.

Thank you very much Sebastien and Steve. Sean O.

Hi, I have just bought 2 swords ,and would greatly appreciate your help in translating the mei. Any and all help is appreciated. Could I also get any info on the tsuba? The first 5 pics are the 1st blade, the last 3 pics are the 2ND blade. Thanks again to everyone, Sean

I apologize for my poor description. By blade I only meant the cutting edge, not the entire length from tip to tang. You are correct, the machi were moved upwards. I will try to be more descriptive and use proper terminology in the future. I thank you for the reply John. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply to all my questions. Thanks, Sean O.

So it appears that the tang has been lengthened, where the blade and the tang meet the blade has been cut. Thus making the tang longer and the blade shorter, the blade still measures at 27 inches now though. I can not find anything about why this was done, I am assuming to fit the ww2 handle, but that would mean it originally had a shorter handle possibly a single hand handle? But I can not find any info about this was it common or rare? How does it effect the value of the blade? There is lots of info about tangs being shortened but I can not find anything about blades being cut to lengthen the tang. There is also only a single hole in the tang, and I would have thought a new hole would be drilled for a new handle especially if the tang had to be lengthened to fit it. Is there any information anyone on this site has about this being done, and the effect on the value. Or if you could point me in direction of where I could find this info myself. Any help would be appreciated. And thanks again to all that have already helped with all of my previous questions, I greatly appreciate it. Thanks, Sean O.

Thank you John, that is very helpful, and greatly appreciated. Thanks Sean O.

Thank you for the replies. And yes I am planning on investing in books now, thus my last post asking for book recommendations as there are a lot out there and I am looking for another nice condition preww2 blade. I gladly except all advice I can get either positive or negative to help me starting out in collecting this very nice blades. Thank you, Sean O.

Hi, could someone recommend the best books for translating mei and listing swordsmiths with their signatures. Also what are the best books in general to have for collecting Japanese blades? Thank you, Sean O.

I thank everyone for their replies. I am trying to find out what I can about this sword and any info is very much appreciated. Thank you Steve for your response to both of my posts. I am having trouble trying to figure out which Smith made it as there where many who used that name. I asked about the Mon because from what I have read it links the blade to a specific samurai family that used that Mon, please correct me if I am wrong. And I didn't know if that affects the value art all. Thanks again for the replies, Sean O.

What would you estimate as an age of the blade? Does the mon add to the value of the sword at all? Thank you Sean O.

So I finally made my first Japanese sword purchase and would like to know what you guys think of it, and your help in translating the tang and help in identifying the mon on the handle. Thanks, Sean O.

I would like a pre ww2 blade the older the better. How do I get in touch with Mark and Joe to see what they have?

I am just getting into Japanese swords and would like others valuable opinion in hopes i wont pay too much or end up with a junk blade or some chinese junk. I hope those on here with vastly more knowledge then myself could let me know what they think of this sword, on ebay item number 111861134673. Asking $3000.00 US dollars. Do you think it is a real mei or a forged mei? Good price, overpriced? This is a samurai sword Katana blade manufactured on the year 1623 by the sword smith Kinmichi from the Iga province, which is where the Ninja warriors originated. Mr. Kinmichi received the honorary title of Lord of Iga province. The blade is in great condition. No dings to the edge. No fatal flaws. Retains a good amount of the polish. measures 24 inches. Beautiful pattern to the Hamon. Straighter design (not as curved as usual Katana blade). outfitted in WWII attire. The fittings all have matching numbers. handle remains nice and tight. Shaking hands pommel loop. Very difficult to find a blade of this age in this condition.

I thank you very much John for a very helpful and informative post. Thank, Sean

Thank you for the replies, just wanted to educate myself further was all