Curran

Have you a photo of the entire koshirae to share?

I don't think this one Yagyu. However, I have seen a near identical one papered to Yagyu by the NBTHK. I didn't think it quite Yagyu either. Why no photos or images of the mimi? If it doesn't show the Yagyu layers in the mimi- just safer to assume this one is not Yagyu.

I agree. I would always like to talk to him more, but it seems this past decade has had many of us in survival mode of different degrees during what some are now jokingly calling, "the Not so Great Depression". I envy those who were able to go to San Fran and have long discussions over those topics of mutual interest. I would have liked the Goto display very much. I hope Craig's next pursuit is more rewarding to him and those he cares about. Curran

Mm. I agree.

Martin, Probably as Christian said: signed Saga Kaneiye If there be mountains (probably 3) in the background and they have pointed tops, it pretty much further supports Saga Kaneiye work before you even check the mei.

We have three or four Northern Irish on the forum now? Seems like a growing little community. In this Nihonto University Pub, names are useful and polite up to first and family name initial. Our Ulster man in Tokyo, Henry W. can probably best be found on this forum if you search under Ulster Breakfast? Since I'm the only Curran on this list and been around since Stonehenge was built, I'm a bit lax just using my first name most of the time. Welcome. Curran

I disagree. I see too many later Mino traits in what I can see in the photo. I won't explore it too much more without considerable photos, but definitely lean towards Mino. A calculated shot in the dark: take a look at Mino Akasaka Senjuin School (?) and see if that is a better fit. Curran

Rabbit, Welcome to the NMB, the e-citadel for collectors. One or two shady types hang outside the gates, so be wary of unsolicited emails from Pawel or such (search the forum for notes on him). Also please remember the forum rules to use your real first name. :D Grey: The sayagaki reads 'Kunimitsu' to my eyes. Just stylized so. But you read better than I do. Rabbit: as said before, unpapered sword out of Japan. With the US$ having cratered against the yen, you'd probably do better to find a papered sword at a US sword show or from a seller in the US with a solid reputation. That said, at least you purchased a real one. It has its flaws and looks to probably be gimei from Grey's helpful post of reference signature. BUT gimei is relatively common event in Nihonto..... and you are NOT one of the MANY people to come through having purchased a chinese or other fake. Real blade with some age and personality to it. Needs some proper clean-up and TLC. If there is any legit sword club remotely in your, visit or join them. Curran

Ken, Kozenji: There was very little in English. One of the Japanese speakers here has helped me translate a few articles from Japan books, and at home I have a small folder of Kozenji fittings images. I own a tsuba and a f/k from this school. Their work can often be top grade in execution, but conservative of designs. An odd mash of Kaga Goto, Ko-Mino to early Mino, with a dash of Yoshioka-ish nanako work. It leaves me begging that it was signed. Their tsuba tend to be small, and you are more likely to see their work on kozuka, fuchi & kashira. I don't think I've seen a Kozenji kogai. I'll post an image tomorrow, and maybe a few more when I get home.

Doctor Liss., Thank you for confirming. Yes, stock and options markets has been like wading through severed limbs on the dance floor the past decade. Ed, no harm at all. You can call me Surely, you can call me Susan, or Betty, or Claudia.... but please don't call me 'Retentive' again. Flash backs to slang from 1980s movies. While I'm at it, let us use more smiles to grab a beer and popcorn to see US Congress muffs it up this weekend. Tick tock tick tock prats legislating around the clock....

When it looks like cross between Kaga and Mino, a good guess would be Kozenji work (Owari Kinko from Nagoya). But Kozenji work is usually incredibly precise. The nanako is tight and flawless. And the shakudo is very good black. This doesn't feel Kozenji, so probably best attributed as Kaga kinko?

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=6818 Nobody-san signs as he does, but autosign still gives his signature. Many or most of us have auto signatures. In fairness I should use my last initial too. I like Bizen, especially O-tantos with good (or interesting) signatures. At the length you have given for the blade, I guess I was more curious about the shape. We've got the "Ichi" implying Ichimonji. We've got what looks like "Ichi XXX MuneMori"(? faint writing), which I have no idea what to think without hitting the books. Mine are currently about 1200 miles from here. Quite the pleasantly casino (chaotic) nakago with an unusual signature dating the shortening of the blade. Infinitely more interesting than reading Business Law here at 10pm. I'm bored, and your nakago doesn't suck. Probably worth shinsa gamble at some point, though immediate gratification might be to see if NTHK still has that online service for some feedback. It won't be papers, but would green light whether to shinsa it. Curran C.

Ugh. Just trying to help newbie. Surviving nearly two decades on trading floors and trading ops with guys so scathing in verbal abuse that it would be preferable any given day to take multiple soccer kicks to the manhood, I don't know if offense is possible for me in this kindergarten. Ludolph was very helpful, yet I would think someone posted Haynes or confirm student relation in Baur Collection. Yes, the Hiro with that sort of cursive feel does seem to be a distinct to school.

KizuKazu, Love that name play there, but remember forum rules to sign with proper name. This looks like a very interesting sword, with the bonji appearing well done on one side, not so sure on the other side bonji, and then that odd handwriting above what Morita-san has translated. Would you be willing to share photos of the blade with us. Whatever the condition, it looks like it has had a long life.

With US$$ going into the toilet, and so many good collections here, yes the US is the place for the international community to buy Nihonto. But memorize those first two characters.... when you see them, drop it faster than a hot plate.

I thought I addressed this in the Translation section. Hirotoshi had quite a number of students, most using Hiro in their signature. Hirotoshi was a popularly forged signature, with about 7 out of every 8 I have seen being gimei- including at least one in a published America museum book. However I don't know if I've ever seen any of his student's work forged. Flowchart can be found in the Baur book, under flowchart "Mito Part 2". I won't be back any time soon, so maybe someone else will check it or scan it for you.

Going off Richter-san's examples from database, it looks good. Haynes 01300 ? Curious to look him up when I get home.

Impressive. Liked the poem.

Hirochika with kao I am traveling, ie. no books and I don't know this guy. Maybe someone else can look it up in Haynes and type or scan in the info. Hiro is the same version of the character as used by Hirotoshi (aka. Hironaga) and his dozen students in the Uchikoshi school. If someone has the Baur collection, they might see if Hirochika is one of the students listed on the family tree.

Wakayama-san's work was mostly published in the late 1970s, with his main set being c. 1982? Probably the bulk of Dr. Compton's collecting predates it and was sword centric. At his level of collecting, if he knew- he probably didn't care and enjoyed it for the workmanship. The longer I collect, the more open I am to owning a gimei or two if the workmanship is excellent. As for Christies, well... not my cup of green tea unless it has papers and I can go to the auction and inspect the items in person. Sometimes incredible items come through, but it certainly is Buyer Beware and there is significant legalese involved.

Hamano Naoyuki.

Have we not seen this habaki before in another thread a while back? The koshirae in the corner of photo 4 looks interesting, though the whale baline has seen better days.

Dear Ed, I regret to tell you I am fairly sure it is gimei. I heavily rely upon Wakayama's 3 volume set to confirm signatures. Even allowing for the variation of signature over Mitsuoki's long career, there are certain key points in his signature that remain incredibly consistent. I find yours has a few not large but distinct faults. As it has been noted, he was a very popular target for forging his signature. If it matters to you or anyone else, I've seen too many Mitsuoki signatures that were relatively close to 'correct' and show some familiarity with the particulars of his style. Given that he had so many students running around in his workshop and whatnot, I believe either some students signed works in his master's name (per workshop direction) or were responsible for the forgeries that are on the market. I don't have use of a scanner at moment, so I cannot scan in pages of Wakayama for comparison. Here is a kozuka for sale with a page from Wakayama: http://www.nihonto.us/OTSUKI%20MITSUOKI%20KOZUKA.htm Disregard the kozuka and compare the reference signature to your own. Focus especially on the second character of his name and the stroke order and directions of certain strikes. _________________________________________________________________ I do like the Ishiguro looking tsuba you have up. I'm not particularly strong on the Ishiguro school, and am not too confident it is Ishiguro work. Rather, it just seems a very good work- whatever it is. Keep them coming. I will be away on work next week, but will stop in NMB to see what you post. The exercise is good, and you've posted some good pieces so far. I'm hoping for a great one or two.

Piacere. What is the attribution of the blade, if we may be so nosey?

Q80: Mitsuoki, (of Otsuki school) eh? A popular name that is often forged. Without checking, my instincts looking at the signature think it is gimei. If you can provide a close-up, I will give a better yes/no on whether signature is legit. Never the less, the tsuba looks like a good nara-derivative work. If unsigned, I would think it from the Uchikoshi school of Ichijosai Hirotoshi and his many students. When a tsuba is nicer like this, I wouldn't mind owning it even as a gimei...but value is diminished. Q84: Will look at Haynes Index later. Nice enough tsuba, and description seems correct. Just the name is a bit of a mystery. Q86: At a glance, it seems correct to me. Nice well made little thing.