drbvac

Are there 60 or 32 ? As several folks have said, in this market and considering the quality, IMHO wouldn't allow much more than a couple of hundred bucks per and even then you could be a long time making 10% on a resale anywhere. If I had 8 grand to drop in Japan - not so sure it would be here !

Practicallity eh, function over form? "though it is somewhat unsightly, it can be managed with perfect ease." Yep they are all butt ugly !!

Gents: I know less than either of you about tsuba however if you check my avitar I do have a dragon themed one signed Kinai of echizen that is really much better than the one for 140000 Y and I doubt I could get half that for it. I would say they are all priced about double what they could fetch on the market "if" they are not copies!

I believe you are correct and as you mentioned it there must be some reasons why you think so?. The squared off end on the nakago is usually indicative of one that has been cut off, as they are normally not finished that way. The 3 mekugiana are there because the sword has been shortened to allow the placement of a new tsuka. It seems to be a nice blade, and as due to the shortening it is now mumei, there is another whole discussion you can get into>> :lol:

Looks very similar - funny the fake cost more than the real one!

Well he is very suspicious of attributions - especially for big name smiths on mumei blades - the tachi at Christies only got 197 grand so I guess at least some bidder seemed to think it fine

Had "thank God" mumei katana, poor polish - not great so hit a 2x4 with it to see how far into it would cut = about 1/2 inch

IMHO and with all due respect Marius I am not sure he would disagree that the mumei blade doesn't stand on its own for what its worth - I believe his point is any blade worth anything had been signed or the mei carried on if shortened. He is really not keen on shinsa attibuting blades to famous smiths as he feels there would be no circumstances where they would be unsigned. Thats one guys opinion mind you and only in the latest book on nihonto to hit the market. BB

I will take some pics when back from polish of the whole package and get some opinions with all measurements etc. Thanks Chris

Chris: Could be other than the length is pretty good for school. but these areas of the nakago do look a liitle odd and then I have a mumei, of a possibly gimei blade Opinions on these part of the tang?

Have no idea why unsigned but it is papered and besides its unbelievable as are the mounts, If you read all of Nakahara's comments he's not crazy about papers for mumei blades either

Wasn't my call - but when returns from polish - should be soon will re=take pics and maybe see if anyone can give it an attribution other than the one I have which is NaoeShizu. Does it not look suriage to you though?

Mumei, maybe O-suriage, but some don't think so - I happen to think it was cut down tachi ?- That said I dont think it was ever signed - hope not !~ It is out for polish - will re=post new pics but this isn't too bad a blade and whomever mounted it agreed, I hope it may be a late apprenticeship situation as it is late kamakura - early muromachi. Mumei or not - I still like it!

John: Any chance the "filler" is a positive model from an impression that had the gold foil worked on to it>??

Well I am glad I am not alone in that thought if for no other reason than I have several mumei blades only a couple that are not suriage. That said - under what "normal" circumstances would a smith that went to all the trouble to create one of these works would he then NOT place his mei on his work? Thought it not his best, dropped dead on completion, bulk order , felt at the time utilitarian, apprentice work ?

Keith: The quote was a paraphrase of the thoughts expressed in Nakahara's book where he makes the point that no --one would ever remove a true mei and there is really no reason for a blade to be mumei "other than trying to pass off second class blades as first class" which is similar to the reason for gimei. He really doesn't like them and makes the arguement if not suriage there is no other reason for mumei and if suriage the actual mei would be transfered. All that said, even thought he is positive there is no reason why an unshortened blade would be mumei I still personally do not agree but what do I know other than what I read! I also have several mumei blades and some of them are my favorites and I suppose and unshortened mumei blade could be very early work and teh smith felt it unfit for his signature or some other such explanation ! :?

IF that is in fact the case and I can see no reason to doubt that it is true, removing one of the gimei signatures and sending it to shinsa one has to wonder a couple of things. If the blade passes and is attributed to another smith it would seem, it is a pretty decent blade in its own right and why would the smith rather add a gimei signature other than to increase its value at the time it was forged. IF it passes shinsa as mumei it is really unfortunate he didnt think it worthy of his own mei in the first place. The other is I guess it would be heresy to doubt the accuracy of the shinsa team

I always have another - to make a gimei blade mumei or even with a blade that is mumei to begin is one not then in the position that is outlined in NOKAHARA;S new book. He seems to state that there is no valid reason why any blade that is worth anything being mumei even if greatly shortened as the mei would have been moved as well. IF the blade is ubu and mumei one would think it a lesser blade to start with even if the blade itself exhibits great characteristics. DO others feel mumei is a mark against to begin with - I quite like them myself if for no other reason that they are often not as expensive if not been through shinsa.

George: There is a little bamboo peg through the tsuka (handle) near the tsuba (guard) , Just tap it through and holding the handle with your left hand just smack your hand with the right to see if it loosens up a bit. If not tap on a piece of wood on both sides of the tsuba holding the blade wrapped in a towel and it should loosen up. OR http://www.thesamuraiworkshop.com/_arti ... irae-nuki/

Help?

Obviously of Kaneiye School ? Not to ruin your question - what makes you think so - I know less than little about fittings. This look like similar work>?

Crows - I have a flock of several hundred that flies over every late afternoon on the way to the area where they all spend the night. They don't flock to fly south but they are fairly communal birds - could be crows as in one they are together but seem to be pecking at each other - which they do as well .

Love to see the blade - for gimei, which it probably is - someone went to some considerable trouble to put the signature on a shin gunto mounted blade. It is gold inset is it for sure?

heres some more - different angles - flash-no flash, macro -regular and they all look a little different especially those from one side or another.

Thanks gentlemen, as I stated I am positive there was no other way to put the yokote back on without really wrecking the whole kissaki.This is a 37" tachi and worth a fair hunk of change so I am happy - And Peter - I can't take pictures worth a damn either and forget about scanning which I understand is better. The chance of getting a straight on shot of the Kissaki is tough so I may try tonight. I can't get over the fact it was taken off with a wipe of silver polish which will tell you how much it is on the steel - not a line - just a change of direction. I have wrecked some pieces of steel, not nihonto- trying to get a "polish" change of direction line - not a chance !