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Hi all. I have this little tanto that I have posted before and people thought maybe sengo or shithara. It still amazes me how you can look at a blade time after time and still see things in it that you missed before. Today I was cleaning it and noticed this sparkly diamond like feature flashing back at me thoughout the hada. It just looks like sparkles that you may see in granite or quartz. It also looks like it has utsuri in it as well. The blade has some masame on one side and a tightish mokume hada on the rest of it. I have tried to photograph it but to no avail. Not sure what this may be called or if it is particular to a school/method of forging ?

Hi. There is a tiny knock and lost lacquer and it is timber underneath, no same. The saya is quite lite.

My koshirae has almost exactly the same fittings which appear to be silver and brown lacquer saya. It has an iron tsuba. When I got this it had the remnents of a brown tassel on it which is why it was described as navy when it does not look like kai gunto at all. It has been remarked that the ito has been re wrapped but it has been mentioned that these sets have green ito and the other posted picture is green as well. I wonder if mine is original even with the flecks in it.

Thanks for that guys. Another question. If the Naga character has two or three strokes, what does this mean ?

Nagasa is approx 26.5 inches Suguha choji No openings. Tight itame O-maru boshi Chris

Hello all. Just a question about the values of gendai Nagamitsu blades. The one I have seen is signed Bzen Nagamitsu, is average length, quite clean and straight in medium quality gunto mounts with war time polish. What are the values of Nagamitsu blades? Chris.

A couple. One more.

Over here we call that striped timber fiddleback. It is usually formed at the base of a largish tree that has some weight in it and over the many years compesses the timber at the base in a wave pattern giving that tiger stripe look when dressed. Chris D.

Hi all. Not very good at the photography but here are a few more photos. Quite nice. Chris D.

Hi all. Just received my latest purchase from AOI Art. Tanto attributed to the shimada school muramachi period with hozon papers. EMS Japan is particular when shipping to different states in Australia so I have it shipped to my brother in Queensland and then to me in nanny Victoria. Two days from Japan to Queensland, seven days from there to Victoria. Australia post, love 'em to bits ! Anyway, I am very happy with the blade. Chris D.

Carl. Apologies for leading you down the garden path but I thought I would give it a shot just on memory. Alas it is not as good as I thought.

Hi there. something something kami kuni sada. Someone will be able to fill in the rest for you. Chris D.

Hi all. The tsuka is a perfect fit, no problems there. I have considered all replies and determined that my blade will not get scratched for the sake of a couple of mm. I am now happy that my polished blade will not get scratched. Chris D

Hi all. If the blade is not seated properly and is sitting out a couple of mm, isn't the rest if the blade not held by the shirasaya properly and subject to rattle and therfor scratching ? If I take the tsuka off the blade will slide in a little more and will not rattle. As it is sitting up a couple of mm, the blade rattles. Chris D.

Hello all. Wondering if someone would be able to translate this for me. The bottom bracketed one is Shimada and the kangi to the right is the length. Just the furst bracketed kanji would be great. Thanks in advance. Chris D

Thanks for the replies. Mine also has a 1-2 mm gap pnsshogun (John). So this is not a problem then ? Chris D.

Hello all. I have a wakizashi that is a little tight around the mouth of the shirasaya and habaki. I have had it a while and it hasn't changed between winter weather and warmer weather. Any suggestions so it seats properly and doesn't let any air in. Thanks in advance. Chris D.

Hello all. Just musing the other night on typical tanto conctruction. Did they use the kobuse method with the soft inner core and harder higher carbon outer skin to make tanto or were they made mostly with just harder skin steel ? Thanks in advance. Chris D.

It says in Sloughs book medium to high grade gendai. Doesn't say anything about showato. Sloughs book usually says if they made showato as well. Noting that Sloughs book is not "THE" diffinitive on these war time blades. I owned one by this smith for a while and I believe it to be genuine hand made non showato gendai blade. It did not have a star stamp or any other stamp on it and was not dated. The signature was identical to this one. Maybe if the OP can have a window opened up and then you would know ?

I think all the crazies from NZ moved to Australia and now work for customs/border security !!!!!!!

Hi all. Thanks for the replies. The blade has TH papers and has a start price of AU$8500 ish with koshirae. In the blurb. Special feature: Generally speaking, Hizen blade and Masatsugu is different quality. This sword is first stage of the 2nd generation Hizen Munetsugu. The sword is engraved Uramei(nengo Meireki era on the tang). It is rare item sword which has Uramei on the back. The blade looks first generation Masahiro which is very active Gunome midare hamon. In Hamon, there are sunagashi, kinsuji work. Chris D.

Hello all. Does this nakago look altered or messed about in your opinion. Hizen Kuni Ju Minamoto Masatsugu. Chris D.

Kirst. I once had a blade by mori kunitoshi, undated. He worked as rikugun jumei toshi during the war and my blade was deffinitly hand made and quite a nice blade. I also live in Australia and are approx 2.5 hours out of Melbourne. Chris.

It's basically the blurb on the web site printed off and lamenated with a picture of the nakago and the listing pictures on the back. the oshigata comes in a scroll.

A couple more.