Blazeaglory

Next to my Japanese sword for connesiours(sp?), Marks Kantei reference is my go to. It's basically just a large collection of multiple Hamon/Ha and Boshi from many different smiths. I use it for comparison to try narrowing down smiths by slowly examining each page. Sometimes I'll just look for fun to see all the different variations of intricate patterns. If only for a nice Nihonto book full of hundreds of different hamon/ Boshi, you really can't beat it. The time it took must have been years or decades to get all of them in one book

I really like your Tsuba and F/K. Now, most die hard collectors on this site will tell you to stick with the current Paulowania theme/menuki but as Dave said above, just stay with the gold/black theme and you should be alright. Gold dragon menuki would look really good but if you can find a decent pair of Paulowania menuki, go for it.

The title of this thread is like nails on a chalk board haha

FUNNY but I'm afraid it's true☹

As if a Koto wakizashi or Katana is such a rarity?

It's a freaking national treasure that database is!

May I ask what the average total costs are for, say, 1 (one) blade? First time, no prior paper? Sent from USA via Benson?

Hello. I would say, definitely not Kamakura Nagamitsu. Seems like it could be a later copy made to appear old? I always cringe when ana are so obviously chiseled, it almost screams "look at me, I'm Koto!", when in reality, all of the Koto "master smiths" chiseled ana are so well done that you almost need a microscope to see the chisel marks. The Nakago as a whole also looks a little off. It seems, again, as if it was purposely aged to fool the unsuspecting collector. Imo, at best it's a Shinto or Shin-shinto "copy" trying to imitate the earlier Kamakura Nagamitsu... or Some later Nagamitsu of lesser repute maybe (off the top of my head I couldn't name any) ? At worst a modern forgery? Just my 2 cents.

Little pricey but looks really good! I could definitely use one. I have the plans/dimensions to make one but Ive been procrastinating ! Anyways, nice job

I wish you the best and hope this is the real deal but something inside me feels that something just isn't quite right with this sword.

Looks fine to me.

I'm in CA and use eBay. I can find every kind of choji oil from Japan I want This is what I prefer to use. The small bottle has lasted me over a year now. I keep a micro fiber cloth soaked in an airtight container for multiple use

Totally. It looks like early Mino was heavily influenced by Kaneuji. These blades pictured are very close. I would love if my blade was papered to Naoe Shizu but I'm happy with early/mid Mino. The Hamon is just too "non uniform" for later Muromachi. Who would have Mokume hada lined on the Shinogi, with not much masame at all, other than very close to mune and down towards Ha becoming sunagashi? On most average Mino blades, I've only seen Mokume under the Shinogi with the Shinogi-ji full of masame. No Sunagashi either. Also the color isn't as light blue in later Mino.

Not bad at all for first Nihonto! Could be early Edo or late Muromachi. But it definitely has the Mino look to it. Congratulations!

Ok yah makes sense. Thanks

MINO for sure. Pictured is SEKI KANEHARU, early 1500s Definitely SHIZU influenced

Very well said!

I think I would rather have a good blade that is Gimei (that could be removed) than a tanto that was bent and then fixed. Just piece of mind I guess. But a good Yoroi-doshi would be awesome to have. That is next on my list of "wanted" Nihonto At least you are wiser for the next purchase anyways!

Thats what I was told anyways. Dunno if I believe it because if put away properly, the hamon/ha should not come in contact with the wood right?

Close but a bit too early. I'll give a hint, it is one of the "KANE----" Not MOTO either

Was wondering if what I'm seeing in some boshi/kissaki is minute black dot groups of nie? Just wondering. Thanks

Just happened to stumble across this Wakizashi and I was taken by how similar it was. It has an almost exact Boshi with the detailed Kaeri/Hakikake/"swirl". Compared to the pictured Waki I just found, I only see slight differences... For instance,in below pic of newly found blade, the "3 Cedar" pattern Hamon (Sanbon sugi/Toga bari), with middle peak tallest looks to be basic and in its beginning faze. My Wakizashi hamon has yet to form any kind of uniformity, even in the slightest. The Jihada of pictured Waki looks same as mine with slight difference. My Waki has less Masame in the Shinogi-ji, it only appears close to along bottom of Mune. Also, the Jihada on the Hira-ji in sword pictured has less instances of Mokume-hada, which are lower on sword as well. Mine has a pretty cool, almost uniform JIhada, with the O-Mokume spaced almost evenly along the Shinogi (higher up on blade compared to pictured), but it could possibly be Shikakke hada as well. But other than that, the color of steel, color of Nakago with same Yasurime, same awesome Boshi, similar Hamon, similar Jihada, etc... So, Im not saying this is the smith, but I see allot of similarities. Considering the lack of uniform Hamon in my Wakizashi, I would think my Waki was either an earlier smith or earlier work of pictured smith or trained by someone or worked close with them. Either way, I thought the comparisons would be kind of cool to chat about and add to the information of early/mid Mino Den. Without cheating, can anyone guess the below pictured smith? Hes not too famous but from a well known period and group of well known smiths

Hello. Are these the correct measurements for this tsuba? Thanks Silver wave tsuba (51x47mm) £280

WOW!

The very tip of my Edo Wakizashi broke off and became stuck in saya and made long scratches along the Ha Not very noticeable but in the right light, you can see.Luckily its only in the Ha on one side only and not deep, so maybe can be fixed with a polish of Ha only with those certain little finger stones? Otherwise the rest of blade is in old polish and looks good. But just knowing it happened is really painful !