Curran

Chris, Thank you for explaining. Got my brain determined it was a place, and went charging off that way. If it were entirely in my control, I would set about considerably more time studying the Japanese Language and practicing Cello. In my relatively novice understanding of both, there is the greatest respect for those of you who know so much more. If you tell me you play the Cello well.... then I doubly humbled. Thanks again, for the Kishu assist and this.

*Sigh*. I was reading the description of a tsuba as best I could (hence the sigh... for what Japanese I learned and how much I have forgotten, -shame on me...) The description says "桜花の図". Going through my list of Kuni, I did not see this one. Given my recent experience with the alternative read for 'Kishu', I guess this is another where I need ask for help from the better students of Japanese or the native readers. What kuni is: "桜花" ? The tsuba looks like Higo derivative work, but it isn't quite up to snuff in terms of execution. Curran

I haven't been able to find the thread where Morita-san says that the use of the 10-stroke 'Ki' is an alternate read for 'Kishu'. Morita-san also seems to currently be on vacation or MIA. Photos should be attached. One photo is mid-clean up. After a bit of minor cleaning with ivory- I think Chris is right that the second character suddenly looks a lot more like "-shu" to me. Not sure what cleaned off, but my eyes see it differently now. Anyone else able to suggest a different reading? As the tsuba looks like a little late Edo Bushu-Choshu mix of work (like Kiyotaka or such work), I am wondering why it is signed 'Kishu'. If Kishu is the final vote, then I need to take it to the Kodogu discussion section and reason out why it looks nothing like the Kishu examples I've been able to find. Anyone have more information about Kishu work? I only have two sources.

Kinai would have been the easy answer, but tsuba hardly seems kinai to me. I could be wrong as it a school I tend to avoid. Will try to post a photo tonight.

Chris, Thank you for the clarification. I had not seen the previous discussion by Morita-san. The second character is hard to imagine as 'shu'. It is basically a deep cut two stroke character with the second stroke being a strong J. I will try and take a picture of it.

Chris, Bear with my limited Japanese for a minute: Can you elaborate how you get 'Kishu'? The first character is clearly cut, 10 strokes, as per the references (Haynes Index and others) It is the second one I am having trouble with, and how to read them together???

I've been looking at a curious little tsuba of Iris theme. Sorry I cannot provide a photo of the signature. Signature is very small and thin but deep strokes. Attached is the signature. The first character is clearly that which see as part of the 'Kinai' signature, and can be read many ways. How would it be read in conjunction with the second character? Please see scan. Forgive the poor handwriting, as I clipped myself while cutting the yard and hedges yesterday.... not all fingers functional today. Curran

Whale menuki exist. I've seen them, just as I have a nice whale tsuba and two or three nice whale kozuka. I don't collect menuki at all, but on some level have always been tempted by this set: http://js-samurai-art.com/SHOP/30006.html Maybe just makes me hungry....

Interesting design as the tree branch nearly 330 degrees the tsuba. Usually it is 270 degrees at most. If you are willing, please share measurements... especially thickness to as precise as possible. Don't knock the 4th and 5th gen guys, as the school bifuricated. You have heavy hitter Tadashige and a few others in there.

Doesn't seem to be much Nihonto in it, other than a Juyo Norimitsu.

Yep... no mention of "Ko-Akasaka" or a specific attribution. In NBTHK parlance, take this to mean they think it is 4th generation or later. I went and took a quick look. Papers for 2nd generation hereditary master would probably read 'nidai Tadamasa'. **Would love to see a photo of the tsuba if you want our peanut gallery opinion.*

Odd menuki: The very very first sword I ever owned was a wakizashi in koshirae falling apart. The menuki were not high grade, but the theme was "foreigners drunk underneath modern street lamps at the cherry blossom festival" I kid you not!! Hilarious little menuki. I sold them, not knowing how unusual a theme that was....

To some of the people more experienced with the NBTHK: Have you seen before NBTHK papers to "Ko" Myochin? Unlike Ko-tosho, ko-katchushi, and ko-kinko, I do not recall seeing older Myochin tsuba papered to anything other than "Myochin". Recently a tsuba popped up with "Ko-Myochin" papers and it prompted this question. Anyone have NBTHK papers or has seen before an NBTHK paper attributing to 'Ko-Myochin'?

--sorry-- . Had to pull the photo. Pending owner's permission, I'll share the waterwheel Yagyu tsuba photo then.

Someone was looking hard for copies of Fujishiro a while back. They wrote me a few times, but I didn't keep the emails. I wasn't (and still am not) looking to give up my set yet. I did notice this set in Japan that seems to be going at a good price: http://www.bidders.co.jp/item/141157617 Anyone want it, go for it. Just trying to help, as I here these are wicked hard to find these days.

Peter, Al lives in Florida now? No friggin way! Your coast, my coast, or the panhandle? If over here, he's welcome to some cigars out of the humidor if he wants to drop by. An open show should be much better. I know the antique firearm aspect will bring some collectors down from the NE. I'll bring the great great uncle's Civil War Police Revolver for the gunnies.

Best post today. Thanks Sencho.

Don't know. Been in Florida for a number of years and a member, but either get nothing or 2 copies of various mailings. I thought it a stretch that Bardi could manage it from Hawaii, but hoped he could prove me wrong. Be a hero to me for that. So I hope you are wrong and someone educates us soon.

As Jean said, everyone please follow the name protocol. Some semblance of respect for Brian's invaluable NMB please... I followed this thread because it was a boring day and I had a few minutes... CPU Kill (Erik): When it comes to arkwork I don't much care about money, but it isn't my sword to decide its fate. If dude offered $10k.... get him on the phone right now and sell it. You can buy the owner several like swords for less. I reserve the word *dude* for special use and for when a friend is being a particular bonehead. Be happy to get $10k from *dude*. Even if he is a total asshat that karma wants to serve a lesson, some do-no-harm part of me would hesitate to let him be such a brain dead monkey as to buy it for $10k. Forgive me, but I must raise an eyebrow that dude even exists. Then again, I live in a place where I am reminded that such people do exist in great number. Blade looks very clean. Fittings are crap. Everyone has advised well. I don't think it would even garner $2500, but eBay is a weird thing and the nice temper activity might get some to bid it up.

Tarted up skin deep tsuba went for over $600 ?!

G- I do not believe I know the gentleman behind the website. Nor am I given to tilting at people and think I can count that I do so less than once a year. I do Don Quijote a windmill considerably more often. With patience and understanding for nihonto newbies, it was best to make humor out of it to jossle his common sense. If he has checked back with this post, he probably gets the idea. If the hypothetical fellow I met the other day truly believes he owns the Brooklyn Bridge, the result is still the same to me if I were to buy it from him. My comments were intended for Magic and I hope he has read your post if it wasn't perfectly clear to him. Not sure where Magic is posting from, but with the Yen through the roof and the US still being the tremendous post wartime repository for Japanese swords; short of jumping headlong into a Juyo pricepoint- he would do best to find an NBTHK or NTHK papered sword stateside/Canada. Relevant cost of papering a sword as a % of its value have risen so much such that it hardly makes sense to buy an unpapered sword unless he really knows what he is doing or gets extremely lucky.

magicx50, To save the moderator, please sign your name to the extent asked per the forum rules. The website: signed Masamune and a Muromasa on the same page. Be still my beating heart. Also a saya made in woodshop class. No papers anywhere. The irony is I think one of his attributions is correct. I met this guy the other day who offered to sell me the Brooklyn Bridge. He seemed sincere. He also claimed to own 84% of Facebook, but he had a cash emergency where he needed the exact amount I had in my wallet.

This would be one of the book sets I was thinking about. I think I purchased it for the Bizen section, but found other sections very informative. I recall the Shimada writeup being good.

Given shape and what I can see of it, Shimada is not a bad call at all by Mr. Bowen. I tend to think of them when coming across late Muromachi o-tanto. There is a fair bit written on this school in English, though I have sold most of my publications that I recall having this info.. Someone else might have them and be able to further yes/no the Shimada call by consulting them. What little of their work I've seen in person, I have often liked.

With a bit of help and advice from Brian and Rich T., hopefully will post now the Katsumi works. (see acrobat file attachment) And here is the image of the Ito Masatoshi and Masasada work that got me interested in the Katsumi story. The signature for Ito Masatoshi doesn't match what I have in a few reference books, but he did have a very long life/career and only 2 or 3 reference signatures in my books. Tanaka school style work done in the Bushu Ito school. New to me, though maybe old hat to some of the veteran collectors here. Katsumi-Tsuba-examples.pdf