Ray Singer

Then their attribution was not far off, Hokke and Mihara are both associated with sword production in Bingo. Was the attribution Mihara only (rather than Ko-Mihara or Sue-Mihara)? If just Mihara, this indicates Chu-Mihara and skews the sword a bit later than Aoi suggested, perhaps early Muromachi rather than Nambokucho.

https://www.aoijapan.net/katana-kanetsugu27th-nbthk-juyo-token/

Also a great article from Markus. https://markussesko.com/2013/05/25/new-boshi/

Yakitsugi-bôshi (焼継ぎ帽子) Quote below from Usagiya: http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/episodes.html "Step-hardening Kokaji was shown an old Naginata by a customer. It was very old, may be from Kamakura period or Nambokucho period, but very healthy with its meat. It was a little shortened. The owner was proud of the blade. But Kokaji found that the hamon was a step-hardening, above the monouchi was a re-hardened new hamon. The owner was disappointed with that. Sometimes we find such work on old blades. The original hamon disappears before the new hamon. Then the reproduced hamon starts with mizukage. This blade was polished very well by the modern style. Of course the hadori (white pattern) was made as one continuing hamon pattern. So it was a little difficult to break the trick of step-hardening for beginners. Anyhow, it is impossible to connect new hamon to the original hamon."

Roy, I would rather leave that to a shinsa team but if it were mine I would absolutely send to San Francisco. That would be a starting point before considering restoration. You would be doing yourself a disservice proceeding with restoration or selling the sword until it has been evaluated. Best regards, Ray

Very sorry to hear that Roy. Reach out if you need help reaching Paul or need any further feedback on your sword. Paul can be found through these links below. https://www.facebook.com/paul.martin.3363 https://www.facebook.com/The.Japanese.Sword/?pnref=story thejapanesesword@gmail.com The recommendation to send to the upcoming NTHK shinsa is also a good one. Thomas Helm I believe has a service for mail-in: NTHK2017@TORYU-MON.COM

Roy, you have the answer above in multiple posts. The signature reads Hankei (the name of smith). Suggest Paul Martin to help with the process of submitting for authentication. Please do not have this restored by an amateur or anyone other than a certified Japanese togishi (polisher).

Relisted with the correct description. https://www.aoijapan.com/katanamumei-unju

Andy calls these hachidai, but they fit in your specified time range. http://www.nihonto.us/NOBUTAKA%20WAKIZASHI%20FG.htm http://www.nihonto.us/NOBUTAKA%20KATANA%20FG.htm http://www.nihonto.us/NOBUTAKA%20TANTO%20FG.htm

According to what I see there, it appears to only references Juyo Token - 62nd session.

I meant to write to Tsuruta-san regarding this error last night. You need to carefully scrutinize these listings because errors like this seem to often slip through, like the Hokke wakizashi that was similarly misdescribed as having Tokubetsu Hozon recently. This particular sword, being a mumei shinto blade only attributed to a school, does not meet the requirements for Tokubetsu Hozon. Best regards, Ray

My pleasure Wayne, very glad you are pleased with these swords. Enjoy Best regards, Ray

Bob H = Robert Hughes, and yes he is highly recommended. http://www.keichodo.com/eng/Background/background.html

I would debate that point. There is no doubt that top quality Bizen works are wonderful, but would not necessarily place them above all other traditions in terms of skill or desirability. I feel it is more a question of which direction your own tastes develop.

Sold. Thank you again for the kind words. Best regards, Ray

Both swords are now on hold. Best regards, Ray

Thanks for the kind words Brian. They are both swords I will miss when they sell. The Kunifusa is definitely one of my best finds and favorite swords over the past 25+ years collecting. If anyone has questions about these, please email raymondsinger@gmail.com. Best regards, Ray

The second is a great Tokubetsu Hozon Bingo Ko-Mihara which I purchased from a friend and fellow NMB member off this board. The sword is late Kamakura - Nambokucho and shows very interesting workmanship for a sword attributed to this school. I have owned 6 Ko-Mihara over the years and this sword stands out in a few ways. It exhibits a strong midare utsuri that is continuous on both sides of the blade, unlike Ko-Mihara which often has scattered areas of shirake. The habuchi becomes gradually thicker into the monouchi, with the area going into and within the boshi having bright, parallel strands of nie resembling a fine Tegai blade. One can really feel the influence of both Bizen and Yamato in this blade. A great study piece and lacking nothing in quality. 66.6cm, with a niju ginmoku (solid silver) habaki with the outer piece having gold foil. Slender, well-shaped shirasaya with an old sayagaki attribution to Rai Kunimitsu. Credit nihontoart.com for these photos. SOLD

A sword which I have been pursuing for a very long time has come up for sale and as a consequence I will be selling these two swords from my own collection for what I feel are very reasonable prices. The first is a Nambokucho wakizashi which has been papered to Ko-Uda Kunifusa circa 1381. Kunifusa was regarded as the overall best smith of the Uda school and is said to have been a student of the grandmaster smith Etchu Norishige. One can strongly see the influence of Norishige in this sword, which has a powerful whirling itame hada with thick chikei, and has areas with a flavour of matsu-kawa hada. The hamon is suguha-based with profuse, fine activity including sunagashi and fine kinsuji throughout. The sword is absolutely flawless, with no kitae-ware anywhere. It is in shirasaya with a very fine gold foil habaki. Please note that one piece of foil has become separated. My intention was to send this to Brian Tschernega for repair but did not have an opportunity to do so. Totally repairable. The Kunifusa also comes with a very fine koshirae. The fuchigashira is deep black shakudo nanako, in the motif of Lily flowers. The kozuka is also in the same theme. The menuki are floral. The tsuba is a thick ko-kinko piece which I believe is late Muromachi. The saya is black lacquer is in excellent condition with no losses. Please note that I will add photos of the kanteisho in the next day or so. $5,500 (plus shipping)

Tsuba is signed: Hizen no Kuni Ju Tadanaga saku Tadayoshi saku Kanbun ni nen (1662)

http://www.sword-auction.jp/en/content/as17069-%E8%84%87%E5%B7%AE%EF%BC%9A%E7%84%A1%E9%8A%98%E5%8F%A4%E5%82%99%E5%89%8D%E6%99%82%E4%BB%A3%E9%8E%8C%E5%80%89-wakizashi-mumei-ko-bizen

If anyone happened to see the television crews filming at this past Tampa show, here is the episode: http://m.pandora.tv/?c=view&ch_userid=monako5&prgid=54786222

I admittedly did overlook this comment in the opening post and would certainly not advocate using a sword like the Shikkake for practice. Best regards, Ray

Thanks for the kind words Stephen. FWIW, it is basically impossible to find a healthy, high-quality Yamato blade in polish with Tokubetsu Hozon for the price Darius is asking. The sword is Late Kamakura / Nambokucho period has beautiful activities and is priced at around the price for polish alone. If possible, I would strongly recommend making the extra stretch for that one...

I can recall a number of Hizen-to which received Tokubetsu Hozon and exhibited shingane.