PNSSHOGUN

Nice pre-WWII mounts with seldom seen black lacquered Army Saya. Some have hypothesized that this has a connection to the Special Naval Landing Force, the Kikusui-To on the Habaki may offer some support to this.

This does not evoke the impresson of a Hizen school sword.

Common issue, shirasaya will shrink and swell if you live in an area with significant temperature changes. Try and keep it in a safe or other environment with a relatively controlled climate year round.

That is rather exceptional, can't recal seeing a Gendai Nagamitsu with Horimono. His long signature usually indicstes the most diligent work. Do you have pictures of the mounts?

30+, 10 years of proper collecting but a lifelong fascination.

Perhaps western collectors can form their own Shinsa panel, then everything would be attributed to the very best smiths....!

You should also compare the features of the sword, to make sure it matches with his style.

Same credibility as a Ferrari sticker on a Datsun Charade.

Well between these two swords specifically, not the schools themselves.

Likely coincidental, but note similar Bo-hi placement on related schools (Norishige > Ko-Uda).

Trick of the lighting, no flaw there.

Similar Hi termination and placement, on Ko-Uda:

Osafune Tomomitsu, another for the polished down Horimono enthusiasts:

This is not correct, Aoi have been known to sell the crudest of oil tempered swords with stamps removed. It's a valuable lesson to realise that just because a sword comes from Japan, it isn't always Nihonto. Judge each sword on its own merits, rather than implicitly trusting a dealers listing and estimation.

Looks like a Yoshiharu Showato, nothing to get too excited about.

There is something a little magical about a fine Horimono that has been polished down, such as the Kokuhu Kagemitsu Ko-Ryu

Very interesting, could you please take a photo of the silver crest on the bottom of the handle? The mounts look to have been made by Suya Shoten, if you check the Tsuba there may be a small harp logo. Sometimes the officers initials are scratched into the Tsuba and fittings. The blade appears very old, perhaps Yamato-Den. The 157th Division is listed as being formed in Feburary 1945, as homeland defence: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/157th_Division_(Imperial_Japanese_Army) There are quite a few generals by that name: https://generals.dk/...ion/Japan/Yamam.html

This would be a field grade officers sword from the red & brown tassel. Looks like there is writing here, which may be the officers name:

Thank you once again. Could this be part of a surname?

A very small Kanji is on the Habaki, possibly "復"?

Type 3 is like a Datsun compared to the Type 94 and Kai Gunto......

How many artists instruct new owners to keep drawing over their pictures in permanent marker, for the best results.....?

Did the auction house include a complimentary fingerprint scan? I'm sure the new owner would love to track down the absolute blighter that had his grubby little mitts all over the blade...!

You will need to go through an agent for polishers in Japan. Paul Martin and Robert Hughes come highly recommended.

Unfortunately this isn't the forum for such matters: https://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/sword-forum.html