Ooitame

Fair enough, we are all good in my book.

Well my good sir, I guess so, but that is just an inference. However, I defer to you, as I do not think I could bear loosing friendships/great aqqantice, over petty past issues. @Bruce Pennington same to you!

Does this mean we are cordial again?

@Beater, and all, here are photos of it in war time polish, for comparison. What a difference the polish made!

A great discussion, historical and other references, and thoughts!

Thank you @Beater, glad you enjoyed it. I agree war time polish was not the best, but in time of war you take what you can get I have seen some great swords from him and most good to fair. After the polish, there is actually faint utsuri, and faint hakikake, what a surprise those were! It is definitely a shot at a bizen osafune kanemitsu. The hamon is spot on, as you can see on both sides where it goes sughua for a bit, reason I asked.

@Beater This is mine if you would like to see. As promised, NTHK kantiesho Nagamitsu Saku Showa Type 3, Saka Stamped Ichi 0313, tachi side hada; did a crappy job. But here you go. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/18610-show-us-your-high-class-gunto/?do=findComment&comment=408045

@Beater thank you, I believe it to be legit, congratulations! One more question, at anypoint in the hamon does it go flat/sughua ish?

Hi @Beater, good looking sword! I guess I may be the odd duck. However, patina, me but, mei ridges, nakago and other minor items look off. Might be my eys or phone, but something feels off. I could be wrong though. Is it possible to see the Boshi, as a well as mune of the kisakki top down, also without the habakai, and the end of the nakago? The hamon is very similar to mine, bizend den most likely kanemitsu In stlye and sughata.

@Bruce Pennington here you are sir, and an attached cord

@Kiipu thank you, that is correct.

@Kiipu Yes late war type 100 with upside down Gifu. Thank you, I believe this stamp and smith are 50/50 in traditional vs non traditionally made?

@Bruce Pennington I will try to pull them together.

I was thinking Gifu, but being upside down was not sure. It is on a Hiromitsu, 1944.

@ROKUJURO I believe you nailed it! Apologizes I should have rotated the images.

Hi all, any help on this one?

Sorry I cropped them and reloaded.

Hello all any help will be appreciated.

Wise words Paul! Applicable beyond Nihinto.

Hello Christina, congratulations on the inheritance. Glad to hear you will keep them and take proper care. As Brian, stated these pictures will help greatly. Looking forward to them should you choose to share.

I know, it is always sad to see glue or other adhesives used improperly. However, correlation is not 100% on direct glue to the nakago; only one way to know on this one.

Before doing anything, I think we would all like clean shots/pictures of the fukure; especially the depth. Might be a shadow playing tricks, but if too deep removing the handle may be moot.

If you were to remove the cord, use a razor and cut in line on the mune side. Slowly as you go deeper if needed. If you free you have hit or it sounds like metal stop! If you can get good straight cut the cord might stay intact. Next would be checking for glue. If serperastion is noàt easy it might be the mekugi pin. Either way use a softer material at the end of the handle, and the split is easily seen and slightly tap to see if it opens or moves. If it does easily most likely not glued or worn. If not then there could be a pin and would require removal of the cord to check. If no pin is seen, then assume a glue. It may require cuts on bith sides to get a good split. Either way slow, steady and carefully. Good luck!

Thank you @Grey Doffin, can be done with non metal tools, diffenerent shapes e.g. flat; pointed and rounded ike a punch.... I leave it to Grey, has generously offered guidance. Too be fair, even if wiggling and so on the cord wrap may not ne a big loss. However, preservation and best practices should be followed. In any event, good luck and looking forward to any updates.

Hard to say if the Saya was for another sword. Fittings can lose grip over time rather then re-attching in a traditional manner, seems Zip ties were their choice. I would take a closer look at the ware in the mune, shinogi-ji.