Jacques

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 ?　

And others :D http://ci.nii.ac.jp/naid/110001457670/

Hi, Stephen, You will find these 4 kanji (ä¿å­˜åˆ€å‰£) below I don't think they mean "retention sword" Online translation is really not reliable

Hi, I wonder if this nakago is ubu... And i can't see the start of the nakago.

Hi, Only paper rank Stephen, Hozon in this case :lol: I don't like the ware on the hamon near the hamachi

Hi, That's true, but Nidai Hisamichi wasn't the son of the shodai only an adopted son. His father was Sandai Rai kinmichi.

Hi, Nice first and second generation Hisamichi jointly made work.

Hi, Anne, First welcome on the board :D , Concerning the sword, it was forged by Omi no kami Minamoto Hisamichi, one of the best swordsmith of the Mishina school (lived in Yamashiro). This sword was made after the 12.27.1662 (date of his title reception)

Hi, That must be discussed with a good polisher, None here has the solution.

Hi, Anybody knows that are men who wear the pants :lol: :lol: :lol:

Hi, The most beautiful girl in the world, cannot give more than she has. I suppose this mei difficult to read with blade in hand, so it will not be easier on photos (which are not so bad).

Hi, NTHK papers says nidai daimei.... I'm dubious concerning the validity of the Akihira tanto mei, i know this one was faked.

Hi, Attribution is made on a line or group Quote from here

Hi, I think that sword shows some good points, nevertheless, it is very difficult to be sure on photo If you own the book written by Mr Robertshaw look carefully at the page 51 - 54. You must find some substantial informations. For all who want to try to elucidate 30$ for the book on Cd is a real bargain, this book is a must have and Mr Robertshaw a very nice guy.

Hi, This kind of mei indicates a machine forged blade not a traditional one. In this case it is not a gendai-to but a showa-to. To be sure, some close pictures of the blade can help more. Please, forgive my frankness

Hi, Should be nice for Milt to make a scroll hook

Hi, Yamashiro no kuni = Yamashiro province Ju = living in Minamoto = family or clan Tsunahiro = swordsmith art name should be read like this; Minamoto Tsunahiro living in Yamashiro.