Jacques

Hi, Off topic on once again Partially protected only, the internal side of the wrist is only protected by some mattress, below just under the skin there are nerves,tendons and arteries (it is one of our favorite target). I don't think you know/understand any thing about katori shinto ryu technicals. Now you can believe all that you want, it will not make me worry Off topic of definitely.

Hi, To to speak seriously, the danger of a hand slipping to the blade is near zero, you could more throw the blade away. Look at this vidéo of katori shinto iaijutsu, you will see a hand slipping along the blade (wait for the slow motion). http://www.akban.org/wiki/index.php/Kus ... ken,_TSKSR Otake sensei is Shihan of the school.

Hi, Off topic on: Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu 天真正伝香取神道流 was created by Iisaza Choisai Ieano (1387/1488). This school teach Ken, Kodachi; ryoto (both together), Naginata, Yari, bo (wood stick) and others such fortifications, ninjutsu (espionage) "these two ones are not teached nowadays". this Ryu is the oldest registered in Japan and became Intangible Cultural Asset in 1960. This ryuha was developped for armoured warriors groups not for duel (i would say a battle is nothing else than many duels at the same time and at the same place at least untill the use of firearms). Off topic off. Iron is not hard steel. if i'm not wrong, iron tsuba are made in the same metal than the shingane verily less carbonised. Broken tsuba = unusable sword Do you know what means the term *progress*? Paris ne s'est pas fait en un seul jour

I practice kenjutsu (Katori Shinto Ryu) since some decades and i have always learned that the one who attacks is the one who will die. I have been told the main purpose of a tsuba is to to make the different parts of the tsuka interdependent and ; this is why they are made of soft metal so as to be unbreakable; and also to balance the sword. Slipping to the blade? I don't think, you forget the shimeru which is the action of gripping the tsuka like we wring a floorcloth. A nice "fighting" tsuba below:

Hi, Echizen Nobuyoshi, He is the third son of Yamashiro Shinano no Kami Nobuyoshi. worked in Kanbun/Enpo. Genuine? lack of kiku mon, wrong kanji spacing...i'm not sure.

Hi, If my school memories good, yes.

Hi, I must desagree, horses are in Japan since Jomon. horse bones are founded and carbon-14 tested.

Hi, I can say no, the only right way to learn Japanese sworsdmithing is to to go in Japan and learn near a Japanese licensed swordsmith. Keith Austin did that and actually Pierre Nadeau too.

Hi, What do you mean?

Hi, Modern western blades, has nothing to do with Nihon-tô.

Hi, If you want to see what is Hizen Konuka hada http://www.nihonto.ca/omi-daijo-tadahiro-2/

Hi Sorry Brian, I have fun as i can

Hi, *Errare humanum est* that is my opinion, not yours, i think you are a little bit too affirmative, man has already seen a missing kanji on a mei, so why not an error on a nengo? About Choji i don't know. Reading the Nihonto Koza (Afu translation) i just noticed that he says about a blade signed by Chikakage and date from Kenmu Go nen "This is really unusual, Kenmu was from 1334 to 1336 at the latest" ps have you never signed a bank check with a wrong date?

Hi, There is two blades signed Bizen no kuni Osafune Kanemitsu and dated from Genko three. Coming back to the Yoshimitsu, an error is always possible.

Hi, http://222.146.7.158/sword/katana/07389.html.

Hi, Some mei by Rai Kunitsugu: You will notice, as already stated by Ted, the blade discussed is clearly gimei.

Hi, Maybe you are right. The legimity of the northern calendar is a point of history which is still debated. Nanbokucho is not an official era, it is a part of Muromachi. but this is another theme. Just for fun...For whom worked Yoshimitsu? Kojima Takanori? :lol:

Hi, Maybe i'm wrong, but i've a bad feeling with these blades. Link please?

Hi, My Rai Kinmichi, not the oldest, but my favorite.

Hi, About dating oddness, it exists a tachi by Yoshimitsu (juyo bunkazai) and dated from Kenmu Yonnen..... There are only three years in Kenmu era.

Hi, this blade seems kaku-mune, if it is the case, this eliminates Tadayoshi/Tadahiro.

Hi, I think the left one is shoshin.

Hi, Looking at the whole look of this mei, i wonder if it can't be a kind of 4.

Hi, Eric, the one you show, is it shoshin?

Hi, Just a little remark about carbon date, It can be used only on living things; it cannot be used on mineral objects.