Vermithrax16

Some really good deals here, nice offer Ray.

Interesting. Seems a motley lot of samurai and swords.

Kirill, Tried to follow along in your post, a bit confusing. A well known guy looked at your (I assume out of polish? What was the state, can you show pictures?) tanto and observed a welded on nakago, polished down horimono, and saw clear flaws, perhaps fatal, in the hamon area? Then you submitted this same blade in the same state and got NBTHK papers to a Rai name/school? If all that's true, well that person is not really an expert all all. Now, if the blade was restored then sent to to shinsa, than changes things a bit, but then what was the initial state of the work and how did you discern Rai from a rough shape blade? Would be an interesting study. Love all these stories, so just trying to get a clear picture here.

Would be a shame for anyone to miss this stellar article written by Darcy detailing, well, the finest details of a Ichijo kozuka: https://blog.yuhindo.com/ichijo-and-precision/

I thought you were a DRAGON man, this was the one I sent you: http://kourindo.sakura.ne.jp/cyosyutuba.html I am sure Ray and Jean can appreciate Naoe Shizu: http://kourindo.sakura.ne.jp/naoeshizu.html My favorite was the Kanenaga.

I am sure most members have seen this one, but it's worth posting just so folks are sure to see it. I can't even imagine how long it would take to do nanako this fine, days, weeks, longer? https://yuhindo.com/yoshioka-inabanosuke-tsuba/

Thanks Chris, will give it a go tomorrow. Wish me luck.......

Looks good to me, and I need to tie one, so if anyone has some tips, feel free to post them!

Luckily my only "horror" story was finding out humidity can REALLY affect shirasaya if there is too little of it.

Love the tale Ed, I am prepared to accept it as fact

Random post and as others have chimed in, not sure meaning.

Steve, I think you have the era correct, shape and stoutness of the blade say Kanbun era or around there to me. As a masame hada lover, I would love to see the grain on this one, but I can't in the pictures. I know how hard it is to capture for sure! So I can't offer any real input as to Kunikane work.

So after enlightenment, what happens then?

3rd gen Tsunahiro worked in hitatsura and it's one of the most well done of the style IMO. Not my type of things, but it is catchy. Example: https://www.nihonto.com/tsunahiro/ Yosozaemon Sukesada also dabbled, and did it well (Juyo sword): https://yuhindo.com/yosozaemon-sukesada-3/ As to functionality? Well suguha is always best, so clearly not every sword make was purposed for absolute combat.

I like it Robin! The inlays are all intact and really grab attention. Motif is complex, very cool!

I just got a book from the UK and that took 27 days to arrive here finally. So don't lose hope, it may well be ok.

Love all my physical books, and appreciate all the electronic ones for easy searching. Always looking to add. Stephen, you supplied me with my set of Fujishiro, thank you!

74 cm O-suriage sword? Not sure why anyone would make that observation on this listing and think a koto sword.

Many Tadayoshi much longer than 29 inches or so? End of nakago is cut off, maybe machi moved up a bit. I don't think the seller is being anything but honest in their ad. They clearly state what the sword is and it has Hozon papers, so no confusion abut anything here. As far as unsigned Edo swords, I don't value them at zero, but it's a serious issue, at least to me. But it's also a way to get one's hands one a better sword for cheaper, only thing is when ready to move on from it, it probably get's a lot cheaper when you have to sell it

EXCELLENT post Ed, great addtition to tale. I thank you.

I don't understand why when a sword show is going on it's like a blackout about it. Reminds me of closed circuit TV a long time ago. You will expand an audience and generate excitement if people can get a feel for what is going on at the shows.

You just missed the Omori Eiman carp tsuba Darcy had up, if you have the means, it was a real stunner: https://yuhindo.com/omori-eiman-tsuba/

Wow Jose! Great art work!

Don't get me started on sayagaki discrepancies from other evaluations.....

Usually I am not all that moved by old iron or open iron works. I respect them and can appreciate their beauty, but it's not my thing. Usually. But I do like stories and legends, that's always true. A member here on NMB (and a good friend) knowing this showed me this tsuba, and I was pretty taken it by it. Irises at Yatsuhashi is a theme that is well represented in iron tsuba, but I had never heard the story. Quick link here: https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/53.7.1-2/ On top of that, in hand the patina, quality of work, and condition were all amazing to me. We were able to work something out and now I am the new caretaker for this piece. Maybe I can come around to old iron works? Maybe. NBTHK Hozon to Higo, I am surprised a more detailed attribution was not made. In my study of this motif and style, it seems a more specific school could have been called? In any case, the patina and detail work in hand are tremendous, and I am excited about the new addition. And what a great story as well. Measurements: W: 7.6cm L: 7.8cm Thick: 0.3cm Artwork of the theme: Tsuba: