Utopianarian

I would generally agree from a sellers standpoint. He’s been a longtime seller on eBay and I personally haven’t bought from him but can say the blades I have seen look Genuine and not seen any Chinese knock offs being passed thru this seller. I’ve seen mumei blades but Japanese made in origin. I don’t know if this blade would pass shinsa but would venture to say it likely is a genuine Japanese made Gendaito as he states it in the description. I wouldn’t think he would stake his reputation by misleading the buyer. He knows what he is selling. Once again only my assumption and could be wrong.

Here is the blade currently still on auction with 2 days left: https://www.ebay.com/itm/165885310033?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=i-cU9RKGRia&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=NqaZZmtNSOK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Just a wild guess. Ebay Seller Komonjo out of Berkeley California. That notorious purple rug is a dead ringer. I would venture to guess the hamon is real and a Gendaito blade.

It’s amazing the range in ages of Ronin age 16 thru age 77!

I am sure this info has been posted before but definitely interesting for those that may have interest of the Ronin blades documented: THE 47 RONIN AND THEIR SWORDS Note: the numbers in parenthesis after the sword smith's name refer to the Kanji tables on this site. Thus Norinaga (1,2) refers to the first Kanji for Nori and the second Kanji for Naga. The information is given in the sequence: name of ronin; age; katana mei and length; wakizashi mei and length; other weapons carried. Only 33 warriors are documented. OISHI KURANOSUKE YOSHIKATSU, age 45 katana mei: Norinaga (1,2), length 2 shaku 8 sun wakizashi mei: Norinaga (1,2), length 2 shaku te yari YOSHIDA CHUZAEMON KANESUKE, age 64 katana attribution: Shimada (1,x), length 2 shaku 2 sun wakizashi mei: Hiromitsu (3,1), length 1 shaku 1 sun naga yari (long yari) HARA SOEMON MOTOTOKI, age 56 katana mei: Hirohuni (3,1), length 2 shaku 9 sun wakizashi mei: Kunisuke (1,2), length 2 shaku te yari KATAOKA GENGOEMON TAKAFUSA, age 37 katana mei: Kunimitsu (2,1), length 2 shaku 7 sun wakizashi mei: Kunishige (1,2), length unknown te yari MASE KYUDAIU MASAAKI, age 63 katana mei: Michitaka (1,2), length 2 shaku 1 sun wakizashi mei: Yoshitsuna (1,2), length 2 shaku bow and arrow ONODERA JYUNAI HIDEKAZU, age 61 katana mei: Michinaga (1,2), length 2 shaku 9 sun wakizashi mei: Kunisuke (2,2), length 1 shaku 9 sun te yari HAZAMA KIHEI MITSUNOBU, age 65 katana mei: mumei (unsigned), lenght 2 shaku 9 sun wakizashi mei: Teruhiro (2,2), length 2 shaku 1 sun ISOGAI JYUROZEMON MASAHISA, age 25 katana mei: Mitsumori (1,1), length 2 shaku 9 sun wakizashi mei: Kunimune (2,1), length 2 shaku te yari HORIBEI YAHYOE AKIZANE, age 77 katana mei: mumei, length 3 shaku wakizashi: none naginata CHIKAMATSU KANROKU YUKISHIGE, age 34 katana mei: Mitsuyoshi (2,2), length 2 shaku wakizashi mei: unknown, length unknown long yari TOMIMORI SUKEEMON MASAYORI, age 34 katana mei: Tomokuni (2,1), length 2 shaku 8 sun wakizashi mei: Mitsushige (1,2), length unknown long yari SHIOTA MATANOJYO TAKANORI, age 35 katana mei: Kunihisa (1,1), length 2 shaku 4 sun wakizashi mei: Kunihisa (1,1), length 1 shaku 6 sun HAYAMI TOZAEMON MITSUTAKA, age 42 katana mei: Hiromitsu (3,1), length 2 shaku 7 sun wakizashi mei: unknown, length unknown bow and arrow AKABANE GENZO SHIGEKATA, age 35 katana mei: mumei, length unknown wakizashi mei: unknown, length unknown OKUDA MAGODAIU SHIGEMORI, age 57 katana mei: Kunitaka (1,2), length 2 shaku 4 sun wakizashi mei: unknown, length 1 shaku 6 sun YADA GOROEMON SUKETAKA, age 29 katana mei: Kunisuke (1,2), length 2 shaku wakizashi mei: mumei, length 1 shaku 6 sun OISHI SEZAEMON NOBUKIYO, age 29 katana mei: mumei, length 2 shaku 9 sun wakizashi mei: mumei, length 1 shaku 9 sun long yari OISHI SHIKARA YOSHIKANE, age 16 katana mei: Tomokuni (2,1), length 2 shaku 2 sun plus wakizashi mei: Hiroshige (3,2), length 1 shaku 1 sun short yari HORIBE YASUBEI TAKETSUNE, age 34 katana mei: Kanekuni (2,1), lenght 2 shaku 8 sun wakizashi mei: mumei, length unknown NAKAMURA KANSUKE MASATOKI, age ? katana mei: Nagakuni (1,1), length 2 shaku 4 sun wakizashi mei: mumei, length unknown long yari SUGANOYA HANNOJYO MASATOSHI, age 44 katana mei: Michinaga (1,2), length 2 shaku 8 sun wakizashi mei: mumei, length unknown FUWA KAZUEMON MASATANE, age 34 katana mei: Norimitsu (1,1), length unknown wakizashi mei: Norimitsu (1,1), length unknown KIMURA OKAUEMON SADAYUKI, age 46 katana mei: Norimitsu (1,1), length 2 shaku 6 sun wakizashi mei: mumei, length 2 shaku 1 sun OHIBA SABUROBYOE MITSUTADA, age 51 katana mei: Yasutaka (1,2), length 2 shaku 4 sun wakizashi mei: Yasutaka (1,2), length 2 shaku bow and arrow OKANO KINUEMON KANEHIDE, age 24 katana mei: Tomohisa (2,1), length 2 shaku 4 sun wakizashi mei: Michinaga (1,2), length unknown jyumonji yari KAIGA YAZAEMON TOMONOBU, age 54 katana mei: mumei, length unknown wakizashi mei: mumei, length unknown OTAKA GENGO TADAO, age 32 katana mei: Tomohisa (2,1), length 2 shaku 6 sun wakizashi mei: Masakuni (5,1), length 9 sun 5 bu OKAJIMA YASOUEMON TSUNEKI, age 38 katana mei: Tomokuni (2,2), length 2 shaku 8 sun wakizashi mei: Tomokuni (2,2), length 1 shaku 4 sun YOSHIDA SAWAUEMON KANESADA, age 29 katana attribution: Mizuta, length 2 shaku 9 sun wakizashi attribution: Mizuta, length 1 shaku 8 sun long yari TAKEBAYASHI TADAHICHI TAKASHIGE, age 32 katana mei: Hirokuni (1,1), length 2 shaku wakizashi attribution: Mizuta, length 1 shaku 6 sun long yari KURAHASHI DENSUKE TAKEYUKI, age 34 katana mei: Hirokuni (1,2), length 2 shaku 8 sun wakizashi mei: mumei. length 2 shaku HAZAMA SHINROKURO MITSUKAZE, age 24 katana mei: Kunisuke (2,2), length 2 shaku 2 sun wakizashi mei: Kunisuke (2,2), length unknown te yari MURAMATSU KIHEI HIDENAO, agae 62 katana mei: Kuninaga (1,1), length 2 shaku 8 sun wakizashi mei: Samuhiro (?,1), length 2 shaku 4 sun long yari

Well, with limited pics and using process of elimination. Sugata lacks uchi-zori so not an early blade. I agree with David probably more likely Shinto or late Muromachi just a guess with limited pics and info. The mei Yoshimitsu prob Gimei or one of many other generations or smiths.

Yes, Definitely I don’t touch or even use it on my polished blades or even very nice conditioned blades. I am in the same camp as many here to not use due to fine scratches which will be apparent on fine polished blades. I know it has been discussed many times here on the board but I don’t understand still why I’ve seen Masterwork blades already in polish being cleaned with Uchiko especially Top shelf blades by High end dealers and collectors including high level Former NTHK heads in Japan gradually eroding history. I guess tradition wins over preservation

This may be considered Taboo. I may be criticized for this which is fine but wanted to be honest and open as many here may very well do the same thing which I stumbled on… I noted the fine effects of fine quality Uchiko. What I mean is I experimented with it by repeatedly applying as you would clean as sword in proper sword cleaning etiquette but ramped it up a bit to see what would happen on a lesser blade I own by using a very fine cloth and pressure with my thumb in essence rubbing the fine light Uchiko which was tapped over the blade repeatedly over a few weeks which greatly enhanced the detail of the blade in every way with very little metal removed. The blade was already moderately oxidized with scratches etc… would that be considered an act of an amateur polisher. If so where would one draw the line.

Thank you Jacques. That does sound pretty straightforward but I am a little apprehensive being this would be my first attempt and not the best one to practice on. Togishi are 3-4 years wait. I did read one of the older threads on this board Re: straightening. The reason this has 2 bends I would think somebody already made an amateur attempt. I do like to be self reliant on most things but just hesitant on this one. I think I need to think more about this one.

For those with previous experience and knowledge regarding consultation with whom can remedy a very slight bend in blade. The blade in question is a 28 inch katana with what appears like a slight bend in 2 places 3 inches apart from one another (monouchi) 6-7 inches from tip of blade. At some point somebody tried to straighten the blade I would assume which left the two very slight bends in blade. Hard to notice unless eyeing length wise and looking at reflective area on hada which shows slight wavering when light is cast upon affected areas. I would guess maybe <2mm deviations. I would assume a trained Togishi may be able to correct but generally from your knowledge and experience can this be done to a certain degree or completely if at all with such a slight bend. If this was left as is in your opinion would it affect the outcome obtaining high level papers at some point in the future from this prospective

This is confusing to me as well. The chisel strokes are sloppily done and don’t know if this was a commemorative work done by another smith but have a hard time translating as George C. Commented on. I can understand Part of: No Kami Fujiwara then part looks like Masa Mori and of course saku kore. Other parts I cannot discern. Maybe not Gimei but made by another smith or commemoration which has been done before in honor of Naotane.

Spank your Monkey!!👋🙉

Yep a nice new cleaned nakago and I’m sure a little sandpaper and a final turn on the buffing wheel for good measure. Nothing a good squirt of WD-40 and Brillo pad can’t fix. If I ever have a headache I’ll be sure to hire the closest Neanderthal with a blunt rock to fix my ailment 🙈🗡 R.I.P. Naotane!!

Monkey 🙈 is at it again!! Those that know better don’t buy from him!!

Thank you Ray

Please help to translate this one is tough. Thank you for your time

I think Brian is Right

Only sword worth bidding on in a great while. Of course it’s now gone off eBay ended bidding early with 5 days still left. Some snake got it… I guess bidders got screwed…

Okan you are right. Good advice

Sorry that is the only good pic I have of sugata. The rest are with the fittings on. I obtained pic online. Post states it’s pre 1550 and in my opinion looks older like Nanbokucho. So far I don’t have any good full length pics. I know full length pic of entire blade is best and trying to make a judgement. The blade you posted looks late kamakura/ Nanbokucho

Trying to hone my skills in guessing era just by sword shape only focusing on shape of blade. I think many don’t understand that it takes a long time to master this to a certain degree. I know many other factors are included in blade evaluation and characteristics but shape is definitely a major defining feature. What is your guess by era by looking only at shape of this blade. My guess would be Nanbokucho

Amazing Christian, very nice healthy plant. I bought my teenage daughter growing lights and she is really into that stuff. She propagates plants and actually sells rare breeds or species of plants and are in high demand. There is a demand for that stuff especially in LosAngeles. I went to a plant open house with my daughter where they were selling exotic bulbs of a plant for $400. I saw some plants which were going for $1200 which I couldn’t believe. I am not very good at remembering the names of the plants I guess that is another world onto its own. Very interesting tho!!

Somewhat better pic of nioiguchi. A lot of beautiful pics posted by you guys. Some nice blades especially the Masakuni Gendaito which I can say I’ve never seen a Gendaito like that before either looking like an old masterwork.

Thank you Christian and John. I will try your recommendations