Blazeaglory

Whatever it is, it's freaking GORGEOUS!

Those would look great on a really nice long Ubu nakago

It's so we'll forged that all I can see in the Bo-hi is Nie, my reflection and 'maybe' some extremely tight masame(judging from the shape and length of the ware) Funny you mention Satsuma because that was another one of my top choices. Its also EXTREMELY sharp. The yasurime is fairly visible, but smooth, and in person it doesn't look like there was ever any chisel work (Mei or dating). The yasurime doesn't break and is continuous. The nakago/yasurime has worn away, so that is one of the things that led me to believe it was Kanbun or early Shinto. Or at least a late Shinto piece. Like you I'm still learning but you are far beyond me in terms or knowledge, so know that even tho I'm debating, I'm listening to everything you and others say. But even if you are correct in that the smith was hoping to pass as Koto but in reality is Shin Shinto, I'm ok with that as well. But I really feel this is early/mid Edo But man, just holding this, with it's sugata/sori and quality, feels awesome! If anyone lives close to Westminster in Orange County CA, please feel free to message me and come take a look. Honestly I feel kinda ashamed how much I paid for this one. Let's say, for less than the price of a new quality shirasaya (under 600$). I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and I think because it's shirasaya was split (bottom length pieces separated), the seller thought it was a problem and accepted my offer. A helpful member of this board suggested a simple fix!

My guess is Kabun or Shin Shinto but the quality of work is actually really solid. For your info. Nagasa is 49.5cm. On one side, there is maybe one really light ware in the Bo-hi while the other side is smooth with no rippling. When I wipe with micro fiber with finger in the groove (now now!), it feels so smooth and straight. The skin seems to be almost one with the inner steel but there are tired spots. The Hira appears wet or slick. Over all it just feels really solid. It looks Ubu. Also, the turn back is really small and curves Sharply down without running onto the mune, like an old Polynesian bone fish hook almost. I love old swords but I don't think this is koto. At earliest I think Kanbun.

I think he was just comparing Hamon, not den

I think that would look really good!

Who says it has to be a major fighting style to dismount a rider on horseback?

It's a general disclaimer on all her items. Just in case kind of a thing, where the buyer needs to look real good at pics to determine "is there or isn't there". Personally I think she's using "cracks" to describe general damage with possibility of hagire. Send a message asking about hagire and depending on item, you get a yes or no answer. Make sense?

Thanks! I've seen his work before and thought it looked similar as well. Eventually I will try for shinsa!

It's shaping up nicely! Well done!

Well said everyone! and I'd like to add, with all due respect... and then I'll shut up for the night. To OP. My family is military and my grandfather is/was a WW2 vet. They would all die for family, friends, and country. All hard workers and proud. So I understand, to an extent, how you might be feeling in this case. I would like to suggest maybe, if you could accept help from the members of this board, with whatever it is they may come up with. Just know that many here who have been doing this for years and decades and they feel a deep love and appreciation, as I'm sure you do, in regards to Nihonto. Any help given would not reflect poorly on yourself. It would be for the respect and betterment of the sword. We can all chip in !!! It looks like your Grandfather found a very rare historical item, with deep family meaning in Japan and now, with your family in America. Any help to keep it safe is good and it's sentimental and monetary value will be worth it. My 2 cents. Ill shut up now.

Wow. Just wow. I was reading this thread from the beginning and kind of drifted away for a while until now. I'm amazed and deeply moved! Seriously reading this is like reading that a Saxon horde was discovered or Oak Island treasure was found! I'm so happy that we can still find blades like this! So there's hope! I'm actually still in a bit of shock! Anyways, Kudos to all involved! And congrats to the current caretaker! Treat it well and know the money you invest will pay off one day. If not making you a profit, it will keep the blade from decaying and eventually someone will make you an offer. With high end items such as this, you have less people who are interested who actually have the funds to buy. But they are out there and it will sell, but they want to see it polished and in a proper shirasaya. Or keep and pass down for your future kin but that also requires a proper shirasaya. Either way, I'm sure you'll make the right choice and be alright

Cool. Bungo and Hizen are neighbors. Getting closer !

I think posting some pics would get more responses. Take detailed pics of the entire blade if you can. Good luck

Anything great, anything pre 1500AD

Thanks I'll check that out. Stupid question but is "Echizen" and "Hizen" the same school?

Honestly, I truly don't know. I've been comparing blades and the most I've seen that are close to this have been from those 2 schools. What would you call this Hamon? Don't say "ugly" either haha The only other hamon I can think of would be a wacky version of Sudare-ba maybe?

Hello again. Similar to my Mino thread, I've posted this nihonto before but with less detail. So I've taken better pics and have more info for Kantei. Plus I don't have many Nihonto to share so, deal with it . Just kidding :-) and please feel free to correct anything I've suggested Nagasa: Approx. 20" Nakago: Approx. 5" Mihaba: Approx. 1" Sori: >.6" (1.7cm last pic shows how sori compared to another, straighter Wakizashi) Don't know what to call this Hamon. Its different from one side to the other, with one side looking like clouds (somewhat of a O-Midare/Gunome Choji) and the other side looking like a lowland plain with 3 to 4 mountains closer to the habaki (Gunome Midare ish). The nioiguchi/habuchi right above the hamon is also different, with one side looking like almost complete circles, resembling bull horns and the other side looks more Midare maybe? It's not the greatest looking Hamon but it is different. The jihada is pretty good in most places, I think it's a konuka-hada? It looks wet under light and the steel is a nice, darker than normal grey. The hada is hard to call because in most areas, it seems really tight, almost smooth but in other areas I can see really shiny silver marks that resemble konuka-hada. This sword feels so sturdy and balanced in the hand and it's sharp as well. There are MANY areas of black nie that resemble flak, condensed nie, yubashiri maybe? It looks like there might be Ji-nie as well? There are only a few minor ware, one or two. They are on one side in the Bo-hi, with the other side virtually free. But they are very tight, as is the entire blade. The Bo-hi is Ryo-chiri finishing in a kaki-nagashi almost perfect and when cleaning with a micro fiber rag, feels flawless with no bumps or ridges. You can also see in some of the pics, the nie goes deep into the Bo-hi and appears a light grey color. Chu-Kissaki with a pretty standard Jizo/Notare komi Boshi. The turn back is very small and almost hooks back and down. The nakago looks to be Ha Atari kurijiri with katte sagari yasurime. No Mei Seems Ubu? The mune is Iori. So, I'm thinking it's Hizen or Yamashiro? Early to mid Edo? Also, is this what they call "Kanbun Sori"?

Interesting, thanks! For reference, you can see it in pic #5 and last few pics. Without flash, or at a different angle, the "shadow" on the top right, is what I'm talking about. Otherwise it's invisible One of the pics towards the end shows it directly on top of a "peak", making it look pointed but when you look at it at a different angle or light, it becomes almost flat, making it appear more Gunome

Thanks Ray! I'm happy with whatever it is. I imagine this blade fresh from the forge, it must have been magnificent. Honestly I can't relay how sharp it is. Nothing compares to it (I can say razor but this blade makes a razor look dull)

I wanted to post this again with better pics and more info. Please critique away as I feel my attempt at Kantei could be wrong on certain areas. I also wanted to know if this could be earlier than Muromachi or possibly Naoe Shizu or Ichimonji? Not saying it is, just being hopeful. Blade is tired in some areas from polishing but other than that, it's good. Nagasa: Approx. 18.5" Nakago: Approx. 4" Mihaba: Approx. 1" Sori: Approx. .2" (.6cm) At first it looks like "Sanbon-sugi" but the more I look at it, the more I see a Gunome/Ko-Gunome with some Ko-Midare or areas of Suguha. There are no uniform points or "3 cedar". It's very uneven. The Utsuri is amazing and cannot be captured with the camera. With the naked eye, the hamon appears totally Gunome/Ko-gunome (without pointed tops) but under the right lighting, the tops become more pointed, with foggy, almost ghost like tops that disappear when the sword is moved(Nie Kuzure maybe?). Up close you can find many other things as well as Sunagashi and nie all along the Ha. The jihada appears to be a rough O-mokume with masame along the ha and at the very top close to the mune. The Mokume is in the Hiraji, on the Shinogi line and somewhat into the Shinogi-ji. It only stops for a few MM close to the mune and ha, where the masame(sunagashi along ha) takes over. I'm sure you've all seen the Chu-Kissaki with the crazy Hakikake "swirl". The nakago is Kiri with kiri yasurime. No Mei. Looks to be O-suriage Mune is Iori. So at first this looks to be a typical Mino "Sanbon-sugi but looking closer, all kinds of things start jumping out. The steel/iron has a blue/light blue look to it with billions of sparkling microscopic aspect in the steel. The Shinogiji is mirror burnished but appears black as night in certain light.. Anyways, hope to actually get some feedback and opinions. Im pretty enthralled by this blade!

Here are some pics of my tanto saya that some of you might have seen already. I've posted some close ups for texture(one uploaded sideways but zoom in for detail) as its somewhat textured. The last pic of the Mon is a little dusty and for some reason my phone is acting weird and I cannot find the non dusty pic. Anyways, enjoy!

I can't really tell frm pics but does this sword have a kaku-mune?

Sword could use a polish but looks like there is a winner under there. Kissaki looks to have had some reshaping done... The Menuki look good as is tho (IMO)

Nice work!