DirkO

You mean http://www.ksky.ne.jp./~sumie99/ :-)

Thanks Moriyama-san ! This would explain Jean's translation of the date (lesson learnt - always trust Jean's judgement!) - is there anything in the nakago description except the mei and the nengo - I think the mei is partially unreadable ? Or any more info regarding this nidai ?

Hi Jean, That would be an issue, because Mishina Kanemitsu died in 1732... 宝暦 Hôreki would date this blade to 1763.

Hi, I translated the smith on this paper as Mishina Kanemitsu. I never heard of him, but apparently it's another name for the sandai Kanemichi. Kanemichi, 3rd generation, 1711, Settsu, Tango (no) Kami Kanemichi 丹後守兼道. He's the adopted son of the nidai. Fujishiro listed him as Mishina Tajima (no) Kami Minamoto Kanemitsu and died in 1732 KANEMITSU MISHINA [HEI 1704 SETTSU] SHINT CHJSAKU He is called Mishina Monday, is the adopted son of nidai Kanemichi, and he died in Kyh Jshichinen (1732). Signature: MISHINA TAJIMA NO KAMI MINAMOTO KANEMITSU The date to me seems 享保 Kyôhô 12 so 1728 (which would fit the description). Can anyone give me more info about what the origami says about the mei ? It's being sold as a Gassan blade strangely enough, although if you look at the hada, you'll see why :-)

Could it be ato 後 ? From ATO MEI - 後銘 - signature added at a later date

To everyone and their families all the best for the New Year !

Hi Eric, The koshirae was my favorite of the auction too : http://www.lempertz-online.de/gldet.asp?v=k1026400009730053300001&mkat=0&mablos=533&msb=&martist=0

Hi Grey, I've played around with the Bizen Taikan index and made a .pdf sorted by pagenumber and further on sorted by name. For those interested : BizenTaikanIndex.pdf

This somewhat contradictory message on JAC : Nov 17, 2010: Japan Post restriction for parcels weighing 453 grams or more to the U.S.: Since Japan Auction Center already has a service contract with Japan Post, this restriction is NOT valid for us but for individuals and companies without a contract. So, we continue to ship to the U.S. up to 30kg as usual.

Here's a direct link to the catalogue : http://www.lempertz-online.de/glots.asp?v=k1026400009730000100000&mkat=000069&mablos=&martist=0&msb= I especially like the aikuchi koshirae :D lot 533

Just as a nice addendum : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_van_Meegeren

Hi James, I think you can find the info you need here : http://www.jp-sword.com/files/wazamono/wazamono.html

Hi Henry, I think you'll find more info here : http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb//viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1444 There have been a number of topics on this subject.

Hi Arnaud, I think you'll find the info you want here : http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=8743&p=72089&hilit=bezen#p72089

Hi Joe, After looking on the web for a bit : http://www.thejapanesesword.com/gallery/Kunimasa.jpg http://www.murakumokai.jp/matuba/a_matubasakuhinkaname.htm http://www.tousyoukai.jp/17th/Kunimasa.html

I can't read the kanji without breaking out the books, but it looks gassaku ?

Yimu, Having a quick look through koto-hen and shinto-hen : KUNISHIGE ENJU [EITOKU 1381 ND HIGO] CHKOT CHJSAKU He is the son of Enju Kuniie, his works include tant, ko gonome ha. Signature: KUNISHIGE Plate I: KUNISHIGE The only one I could find with niji mei.

Hi Kevin, There are sites that offer this service to bid the last few seconds. I for one use this : http://www.justsnipe.com/ It also saves me from staying up at the middle of the night, and it prevents me from bidding more than I rationally would. You don't get caught up by the whole bidding frenzy.

After looking at it a few times it does look similar to a crab claw ?

Has a nice look and feel to it and it works nice and fast. Congrats!

As an absolute beginner book I would recommend the following : It is very visual and covers the basics (also in English), I also believe there's a revised version nowadays ?

For those interested : http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/searchresults.aspx?intSaleID=22636#action=refine&intSaleID=22636&sid=454172c1-1ccf-4b16-9196-2fc2a272b5db&selectedids=8919

Could be this one (I think it's Toshimitsu as well) although I don't have my Fujishiro's with me to compare mei at the moment : SUKESADA GODAI [HREKI 1751 BIZEN] SHINT CHJSAKU He was called Yokoyama Hichibei. He changed to Toshimitsu in Hreki Ninen (1752), and died at the age of 85 in Meiwa Hachinen (1771). Signatures: BIZEN KUNI TOSHIMITSU BIZEN KUNI J OSAFUNE SUKESADA

Hi Steve, Norishige has nothing to do with it, that was just the smith's name from Darcy's example

Here's a bit from Darcy's excellent site which might put it into context :