drbvac

I have a kanemitsu of mino tachi and I don't see any similarity and I know of no kanemitsu smiths who did or that I can surmise would use a stamp. Could be - but IMHO not likely any smiths working in an era that the nakago seems to be from. I wonder if some other person or arsenal stamped the tang at a much later date?

You are right it is strange as it looks more like a hot stamp than a chiseled mei.

TRADE YOU

Thanks for all the information and based on your vast knowledge and comments I think I will simlpy have to buy this work of art . I figure it is by Art Chan from Shanghai circa 05.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... ST#GALLERY

Ha: See there can be information and levity without making someone look dumb (even though they are!) NO PHOTOCOPIES from me anyone they are still in print and under copyright law - whats wrong with u

I have only been on here for a short while and I agree that the comments at times (not necessarily to me) are indeed quite caustic. I have read every thing I can my hands on from Robinson to all the little green paperbacks from Hawley which I have managed to get nearly 30 of (anyone wanting a photocopy of one let me know as I dont think they are even in print anymore and I don't think the copyright is still in effect) but I digress. The point I want to make is the knowledge base is from neophyte to true expert and in any group you will always find those who know more ( or think they do ) and those who know less ( and know they do) . I have posted some questions that some may think I am taking the lazy way out but that is usually AFTER I haven't been able to find anything especially related to Tosuga which just happen to be on my blades and I know nothing about. In addition reading Kanjei - dates aren't bad but smiths names, even with Hawleys brown book there are thousands that look alike, and for mumei blades the odds on my being able to attribute anything other than by a semi educated guess are zero to minus 4. So i really appreciate any help, any time and after being shown the way several times I may start to get it. I guess the big thing is to treat others with respect and as my grannie used to say " if you got nuthin good to say keep quiet"

By jove I think you're correct Harvey, amazing what the board gets on about and it is often something as harmless as what do you think - Nothing like a good discussion to let the rest of us learn a thing or two even if the conclusion is less than definitive@

I figure the price is probably $950.00 too high. That said several years ago in the rush to get into these I may have looked at this and thought ?? If you look and read as much as you can eventually you can see and a couple of hundred spent on books before a couple of thousand on a blade is money well spent

May I give it a try - may be wrong but: thanks - this is actually harder than it looks!

additional photos -- Bitchu matsuyama ???

Koichi Moriyama has kindly assisted with the translation to the point where we can not figure out the smith as it is probably worn off the nakago. I enclose his thoughts on the nakago and some pics of the blade. It is an Ubu-no-kubi-dzukuri wak, torri-zori, nagasa 37 cm., sori 1.5 cm., nakago 13.5 cm., motohaba 3 cm., Dated as you can see 9th month 1848, But it is the other two inscriptions that are not understandable as they seem to be related to who the blade was for and the smiths name is?

Thats what I thought so maybe with the date, and the inscriptions that we know if I put it on general Nihonto and ask for possible attributions I may get some luck! Arigato Domo for your expertise

Thank You !!! I will keep trying as well. The photos are certainly less clear than the blade and I may try to ermove a little of the red rust on the nakago. I did read some inscriptions that did have "ertainera' in them as the smith worked specifically for a daimo but will have to continue looking. Wher do you feelt he smiths name would be in the list of characters?

Does the filling material in the groove on the sides of this naginata look OK to those who may know- I f original what exactly do they fill these with? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=004

I have tried by looking at the nakago and the pics to highlight what I think the chisel marks are! The writing beside the date may be a who the blade was made for? the smiths signature is a mystery - and I am assuming it is on the side opposite the date and owners. The blade is slender ubi-no-kubi-dzukuri, long turn back of the hamon on boshi and gunome midare hada I "think". Any assistance greatfully accepted!

I thought I might post some pictures of the blade which i belive is edo. It is 58 cm long with 144 mm nakago . I have some better pics but I am just trying these out

I have this and several other tsuba's I got when I bought a nihionto from an old guy 20 years ago. Never had much interest in tosuga, but this is one I haven't seen many like. I may list some of them for the tsuba collectors so I can get another blade! Would be nice to know something about it

This is the other side of the nakago which I believe states the blade was made in the bitchu - matsuyama -han

These may or may not assist

I found that if the last three Kanji are Bitchu Matsuyama han - this is the name of the Japanese domain in Bitchu during the edo period. I suppose this could be simply the area where it was made. So the smiths name is next to the date on the other side of the nakago?

Matsuyama in Hawley is Mizuta group from 16th century, so I hope the school continued into the shinshinto period and /or at least someone did!!:? As a point of interest, Okayama Bitchu-Matsuyama-Jo (Takahashi) is the highest castle in Japan<

The moderators will probably move this post as I didn't know where to put it and if moved will allow more to see my appreciation for all the assistance I have gotten on the forum. When Kantei are given it allows me to go to Hawley and look them up rather than trying to find it out of 60,000 name and hopefully I learn as I go! Having spent 20 years collecting British military swords, Nihonto is a "little" more difficult - so thanks!

I believe this is masa?? ? The nakago is pretty rusty and the inscription on the other side is the date I think BUT if I could read this I wouldnt have it here!!

Any idea of school, maker and/or date of these shakudo menuki?