Walter

OK - I'm the new owner of this cute, little tanto - really like it a lot! Here some photos - maybe someone will be able to shed some light of approx. period (Shin-Shinto? Meiji?...).

I think, it's all depends from the steel itself. From centuries, since Hattie’s discovered the iron, many smiths from the different regions of the World tried to find the best possible material for the edged weapon they forged. Obviously, so far the Japanese sword smiths are the best on this field. I collect the swords and daggers from many countries and always just out-of-curiosity take a look on the tangs and other parts very carefully. Just can say that all well maintained swords, sabers, daggers, stilettos... etc... doesn't matter where they came from and how old they are have some dark, oily looking rust/patina on the tangs. I'd agree with Remzy: BTW - very interesting subject and maybe someone more familiar with metallurgy could add more professional point of view.

I remember this waki from eBay. It's from "toyamasamurai" right? I was just a step away from buying it but had some other deals to finish. It's a real beauty! Congrats!

- Blade has some "combat wounds" but no fatal flaws = my grandson used to play “samurai†on the backyard and the blade is one big fatal flaw - Blade is razor sharp = recently sharpened on wheel grinder by specialist - The photos are blurry but can’t make them better with my old camera = Chinese fake sold as “Real Japanese Sword†The last one have learned in hard way on eBay.

That's right, George Lucas has produced the whole "Star Wars" saga - at least IV-V-VI episodes under strong inspiration of Akira Kurosawa samurai movies. There's an interview with Lucas in "extras" on Kurosawa's "Yojimbo" Criterion Edition...or was it "Throne of Blood"? Bungo - stunning pre-Columbian samurai armors display! ...just kidding. This guy has a real museum in his place.

So, it's Hiromitsu. Thank you very much, Stephen! What says inscription on the other side?

Friend of mine has show me this gunto sword and asked me for help to find out the meaning of the inscription. All I can say it's the (most probably) Seki arsenal stamp on 2nd photo above the mekugi-ana.

I'll wait until finish few others deals and see what funds will be available. Thanks for head-up, Stephen.

Stephen, I kid you not - have just sent email with question about the price. Let's see.

Stephen, Would you negotiate the price for me?

There's the nice gendaito on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... :IT&ih=007 I'm not a big fan of gendaito, but the sword is really amazing - just stunning hamon! What do you think, is the price correct for this piece or it's somehow overpriced? What would be the right price for this sword?

Occasionally I check the garage sales and thrifty stores - sometimes you may find a real "treasures†among the garbage. Some 3 weeks ago have found in local Salvation Army store very nice katana-kake - old one with minor repairs. Nobody had idea what the hell it is, so it was priced accordingly ... $5.00

I bet all Nihonto fans have seen this documentary... But just in case if someone hasn't see it or would like to save it on his PC ... I've found it available for download in Divx format: Nova – Secrets of the Samurai Sword: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=6XEP25A8 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5FC3I3OX http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OE2MUJ1M http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YXY8C31B Pass: muchaco It's four files to download and extract using the above mentioned password. You don't have to be a Premium Members to download it - just download the files one-by-one and use the password to extract. I don't watch the TV (sounds weird ...neh?) so I missed it, but yesterday have found it available for download - What a GREAT documentary!

Peter, That's EXACTLY what happened on eBay on January 17th 2002... or 2003 (can't remember exactly) with German stuff. Ebay has banned all "Nazi" stuff showing the "hate" symbols (swastika). I can fully understand that policy since the propagation of swastika may be offensive to many people who suffered enough under the Nazi repressions. Me myself I'm Polish and I think that all neo-nazis are just the bunch of dumb freaks, but I collect the German daggers just for their outstanding Solingen craftsmanship and see nothing offensive in keeping the history alive ... Besides I have a lot of Jewish (who suffered most) friends collecting the same stuff and thinking the eBay policy is just stupid. The guys playing the "Nazis" today (being just the stupid rednecks) simply can't afford the REAL German daggers - BUT they are eager to buy the fake, cheap stuff. TODAY if you type on eBay search "German dagger" you may find the bunch of 3rd Reich fakes offered for sale as "original" without any restrictions - en-mass. But if you dare to list a GENUINE dagger for sale, you are suspended or banned right away!

As usual the fleaBay is overzealous. There is a ban of samurai swords imitations in UK with exemption for "more expensive samurai swords which are of interest to collectors and martial art enthusiasts". However FleaBay.uk opted to ban ALL samurai swords which is ridiculous indeed. http://www.tamebay.com/2008/04/samurai-swords-banned-on-ebay-uk.html From other hand I can understand them - how on Earth they would tell the difference between so-called "practical katana" and real Nihonto sword? Yet from other hand you can`t buy a cheap "samurai" sword, but you can walk into the same shop off Yarmouth seafront and buy a "Highlander Claymore", "Klingon Battleaxe" or "King Arthur's Excalibur" ... "Dark Lord Razorsharp Sword"? No problem. I also wonder if any martial art enthusiast would use for training his $5-10-20K Nihonto or even $1K Gunto sword???

Being the shortened/reshaped is it possible for this piece to receive the shinsa paper? I also wonder how would be considered this signature - as atomei, gakumei, gimei or simply mumei???

Thank you very much for your comments! Much appreciate! Reassuming, the blade (or tang) was shortened by someone who left this mei and kao certifying that this blade originally was made by Kanenori? Is it safe to agree with the rest of description saying that it's indeed o-suriage shobu-zukuri shape tanto, Muromachi period? Have browsed some books but can't find any reference ... Yes, it's from eBay - As and unexperienced (read: totally novice) collector I'd rather avoid the eBay deals but ... just couldn't resist. About polishing - Mr. Nagamaki, do you know how to contact Takeo Seki (BC Canada) or any other polisher in Canada? I tried the Google without success. BTW - the paper attached to shirasaya ... what could it be? I guess it could be some permit for shipping out of Japan...?

Have received yesterday my first tanto - Here's the seller description: The blade is signed "Kanonori with Kao 兼則", o-suriage shobu-zukuri shape tanto, Muromachi period Ca.1550 made. The blade is in old polish, no scratch on surface and in good condition. The temperline are wavy gunome temper pattern throughout the blade and has deep temper at the point. The forging grain is itame-hada mix with masa-me hada and no loose grain. Will appreciate your opinions about this piece - Here some pics:

There's no photo of the tang but I'm pretty sure the mei says: People Republic of China Saku

Like this one? http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Samurai-Sw ... 0199247875

Short and simple reply for all (A-B-C) questions (if money wouldn't be a problem at all) is: REAL MASAMUNE (not the one on the eBay) ... do I ask too much?

Just kidding :D I would bid more if I wasn't in the middle of the deal for two katana.

Whoever has outbid me - CONGRATS!

I've been watching those two swords since few weeks (or months). Looks like there's not much interest (is there something wrong with them?). Maybe the seller is a member of the NMB? What are your opinions? 1st - NTHK 28" Koto KATANA : http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170190329168&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007 2nd - NTHK ShinshintoKATANA full koshirae SIGNED: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170171978510&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007

Just wonder if a REAL Masamune blade would be ever authorized for shipping out of Japan?