Jacques

Hi, Not a high ranked smith. Shoshin? Are you sure Jean? It seems there is no other Kii Yasutsuna.

Hi, You have Dieter Schmidt who is a reputed trader in Germany, i bought him some knives made by Hideo Kitaoka. http://www.fine-tools.com/messer.htm

Hi, I would be careful with the Kanemichi, i have some doubt on the validity of the mei.

Hi, I still find this expression on nowadays commercial contracts, This method was in use 50 years ago but the expression has survived (as crocodiles have survived) It's still in use, certainly the faster way for bank transfer (however a little bit expensive)

Hi, Apologies, It seems i am wrong on my first post. I didn't have seen the asayugi hada mention; in this case, this may involve Momokawa Nagayoshi from Echigo, so the atari in the kanji naga are correctly engraved.

Hi, some samples of Heianjo Nagayoshi's mei. I don't see well atari of the kanji Naga, but it seems they are engraved in a wrong way.

Hi, You can see a very nice nata here

Hi, Maybe gendai,

Hi, Hisamichi worked in Kanbun style but also in Keicho style, this one reminds the old Kamakura and Nanbokucho suriage blade, it has a peculiar sugata with a deep sori. To my eyes, the mei looks genuine the sugata looks keisho and the hamon midareba matches perfectly, the boshi too. Of course this is only an opinion from an amateur with a little knowledge and based on photograph. ps; If it is possible to see clearly the start of the hamon, that could be helpful.

Hi, I think you are right Moryama san, i've forgotten a stroke

Hi, Seems to be

Hi, Bob, Products: here (are the best) Sword care: here

Hi, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l2PbvBeGkE :D

Hi, Anne, Shodai Hisamichi is a good smith (rated josaku), it would be wrong keeping that blade in its present condition. But saying if it's worthy to restore this blade? only a good polisher with the blade in hands can say it.

hi, Keicho shinto style was not scarce in Mishina school.

Hi, My apologies, When i said mineral oil is not good for blade, i was in french thinking, and in France "huile minérale" is oil for engines.

Hi, Higonokami ( knife's name) is like french Opinel. But if in France only Opinel can make Opinel knives, in Japan every cutler can make higonokami.

Hi, Mineral oil is not good for Japanese swords. Vaseline oil works well.

Hi, That I see (perhaps not that it is)

Hi, For fun, i checked the Fujishiro Shinto hen. Below, some Swordsmiths known for using nanban tetsu: IPPÔ SASAKI SHODAI [KAN'EI 1624 ÔMI] KANENORI CHIKUGO NO KAMI [KANBUN 1661] KANESAKI SHIMOSAKA [KEICHÔ 1596 ECHIZEN] KANEHIRO TÔTÔMI NO KAMI [KYÔHÔ 1716 HIZEN] TSUGUHIRA ÔMI NO KAMI SHODAI [JÔKYÔ 1684 MUSASHI] MUNESHIGE HITACHI NO KAMI [KANBUN 1661 SETTSU] KUNIKIYO YAMASHIRO NO KAMI SHODAI [KAN'EI 1624 ECHIZEN] YASUKUNI MUSASHI TARÔ SHODAI [GENROKU 1688 MUSASHI] YASUTSUGU SHODAI [KEICHÔ 1596 MUSASHI] YASUTSUGU NIDAI [KAN'EI 1624 MUSASHI] YASUTSUGU SANDAI [KANBUN 1661 MUSASHI] YASUTSUGU EDO YONDAI [JÔKYÔ 1684 MUSASHI] KIYONOBE BITCHÛ NO KAMI [ENPÔ 1673 MINO] SHIGEKANE NOBUKUNI [KYÔHÔ 1716 CHIKUZEN] SHIGETAKA HARIMA NO DAIJÔ NIDAI [KANBUN 1661 ECHIZEN] HISAMICHI KINSHIRÔ [sHÔTOKU 1711 YAMASHIRO] As well: ECHIZEN NO KAMI FUJIWARA KUNITSUGU [HORIKAWA SCHOOL]

Hi, Seems atabori, very nice indeed.

Hi, You have one here

Hi, However, it was largely used and by some big smiths such Masahide. A quote of Kanzan Sato Sensei:

Hi, I've already posted this link, but i think it can be helpful (it seems wootz was good for forging Japanese blades). http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110001457670/

Hi, +1 with Bugyotsuji For the second kanji, why not "Hiro" 大 ?