Mark S.

Found the story in Joly's "Legend in Japanese Art". Will give others a chance to investigate/answer before I give answers I found on theme.

Peter, Not sure if you are aware, but there is usually a Chicago Sword Show each year near the end of April (next to Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg). It's a good time to have items looked at, get advice and questions answered, check out people who do restoration work, and see LOTS of other blades. Of course last year's show was cancelled due to COVID. Maintaining good thoughts for a possible show this year. Mark

1. I really enjoy looking at the hada (especially when it has that wet, 3D appearance), but honestly I also really like looking at the 'hamon within the hamon'. All the 'other activities' that make up a basic hamon that you really have to look for and study, and how they interact, play off each other, and move within each other, especially in suguha where they can be very minute and reserved and difficult to see at first. 2. The 'color' of steel that is mentioned and I just don't have a clue yet. Blues and blacks, etc. I have read that you need excellent examples of each type all laid out at the same time to really compare and contrast to learn, and I just have not had that opportunity. To pick up an individual blade and say "the steel has a blueish hue' is currently beyond me. 3. Well... to be boring (maybe?)... the gimei/mumei issues we all deal with and whether or not all the reasons we believe swords are gimei/mumei are accurate.

What is nagasa measurement please?

Brian, I did not wish to bring this up in Mr. Davidson's thread and appear as insensitive... and I do ask this question with the most honorable of intent. Have you ever considered an "In Memoriam" section?... maybe in the members only area like the Izakaya? It would be a wonderful way to remember/memorialize those who have 'gone before'. Details of what it would look like can be discussed later if you and others think it is a good idea. Mark

Almost asked a question about the rankings and award names... but then realized the SEARCH function is our friend... if anyone is interested, here is a link to the .pdf that explains them and a little bit about the processs:

Now there is a company name I haven’t heard since my high school Dungeons & Dragons days... ahem... cough... cough... just a few years ago...

So can anyone expound on the Tamba-ball in the kissaki of Osaka blades? I’m guessing it is a clue but not a rule? Started with which smith? Osaka only? If sidetracking thread I apologize.

Markus has discontinued this service...

Well... remember the old saying... "a pessimist is never disappointed"

I’m in for Chicago meet up! Live 15 minutes from O’Hare airport. I can only offer my less than desirable blades... but they are what they are.

There are a couple interesting features (to me) in the attached pic. Overlapping hamon, and haven't seen the large square hamon pattern indicated by the ??? in the pic. Wonder if it is supposed to symbolize something like the flowers or Mt Fuji in more artistic hamons?

One of mine

I think it's ok but wouldn't be hurt one way or the other on the final decision.

So I have reached out to a couple very knowledgeable resources who agree that the smith is Meikan-more. One thing I have seen, at least as far as on-line references go, is that most Sengo smith mei's include the term "Seishu" in the the mei and few documented mei's are in the "gojimei" (would this be the correct term for a 5 kanji mei?) form as found on this blade. The only documented mei's I could find in this gojimei form that begin with "Kuwana-ju" are Fujimasa - Bunki era (1501-1504), Masamori - Bunki era, and Muramasa - Bunki era. I found another gojimei example on Reddit signed Kuninaga but no other reference to that smith either. Not sure I can make anything of this information yet, but just documenting the on-going research. If anyone has any other examples of Sengo smiths who signed in this way that I missed, I would be interested in your comments.

I would keep the green papers as a part of the blades history. And even if the green papers are invalidated by a follow-up Shinsa, it would be interesting to see what they tried to pass the blade off as vs. what it is now thought to be... and to have a historical copy of green papers showing your blade was a part of the 'great controversy'.

If you haven’t already read it, Darcy had an article about green papers in his August 2017 blog. Look up “Green Papers = No Papers”. Interesting read no matter what your view on these papers are. https://blog.yuhindo.com/2017/08/

My guess is Brian is too much of a gentleman to bring up a very nice, appreciated, gift that was privately given and I would assume meant to be kept private... until now when it is publicly thrown in his face. Well done. I guess elitism doesn’t always = class... some things money just can’t buy. I guess he was speaking for all those who share in his current financial situation, yet still try to enjoy the hobby of nihonto.

I was just shocked I got it right! I think this was my first translation!

Please don't... same end result as the vinegar and sandpaper. I highly encourage you to hang out here at the NMB and READ and ABSORB as much as you possibly can. Over time, you will most definitely learn and come to hold a deep appreciation that polishing blades is not a 'hobby'...

So... to increase your knowledge, please never do this again. No matter the condition of the blade, as a general, blanket rule on the NMB, such amateur restorations are not supported. You have no idea what you might be destroying and in no way is sandpaper and vinegar an 'improvement'. I know it is hard to hear and you may not believe it, but honestly, it is ALWAYS better to do NOTHING until you REALLY know what you have.

Tsune... something... Tsune Yasu? REFERENCE: Mr Sesko's Nihonto Compendium Tsune: page 19 (9 strokes) Yasu: page 25 (11 strokes)

Brian, I am sorry I did not see your ‘move on’ post before I posted my comment. If you feel the need to remove, please do. I meant no disrespect.

I’m going to try to tread lightly so as not to push my luck with Brian when he is clearly already dealing with a difficult situation... and please accept my comments with a grain of salt and a bit tongue and cheek as they go against what we usually speak of around here... but I’ve always wondered what should REALLY happen to the blades that collectors like Rayhan feel are beneath everyone? Should they be melted down?, used to chop weeds in the garden?, thrown in a pit?, can I sharpen them just for fun to see what happens? We tell people all the time around here to not touch ANY blades for good reason... but then we are told by our betters that these blades are useless and have no value... so should we REALLY care? Did Rayhan never buy lesser blades? Was he always the perfect collector? And if he did, did he later destroy everything that was beneath his collectors sensibilities rather than inflict them on the great unwashed? Or did he sell them at the time?... and then have the added benefit to denigrate those that bought them for being uneducated? Being critical, dismissive and judgmental about the blades you want to collect is perfectly fine. Being critical, dismissive and judgmental about other people based on blades they have is rather... you fill in the blank. I guess we seem to be a slob if we own them, a crooked thief if we sell them, uneducated if we discuss them, and clueless if we cast our gaze upon them. So what should happen to them? And what level blade is it finally ok to not worry you will get a kick in the nuts from the Illuminati?

Just working on that patina!