george trotter

Hi Tom, interesting that your Kiyokane sword has 2 buttons and a steel scabbard (Type 3/Rinji type)....until now only ones like that seen are by star stamped Seki smiths, so yours shows this 2 button steel scabbard style was more wide-spread. Any pics? Regards,

May I, as a deplorable, make a comment on this attitudinal problem that has arisen here? Can I say I do remember another member some years ago who was inclined to disparage members who were "not up to (his) standard". If the member was capable of responding in a reasoned, logical and factually accurate way, then watch out...it was never long before the lesser person received "demands" that he/she justify his/her statements by quoting the source/research/text book etc. When this was done, he would receive a sneeringly nasty response that "you only have that book because you like the gilt writing on the spine" or some such retort. The point was that deep down, the "enlightened' had a personal defect, and that is that "only his view will be tolerated". Well, that (quite affluent globe trotting Tokyo visiting buyer of high-end masterpieces) also received a respectful request to "desist". It has been much quieter since then, but it does appear from time to time. The point is that this is a FORUM...ideas are shared, not imposed. I started out collecting all types of nihonto, koto, shinto, shinshinto and gendaito...I dare say I had some that the elitist could not afford, but so what! I did not buy to impress others, I bought to please my own interests - to enjoy them. In the end I focussed down on gendaito...the reason? Well IMHO since 1600 swords have been made as ornaments and 'bling' for a priveleged class of Japanese. I decided that the only class of sword that was made EXPRESSLY for fighting on the battlefield since 1600 was the gendaito...so, for me, unless it was made 1876-1945 it is "un-inspiring"...in other words, to me, if it was made 1600-1876 it is "bling". Having said this may I say three more things... 1. I don't care if anyone agrees/disagrees. 2. I respect both responses I may get, approval/disapproval. 3. I.m not going to change. So, collect what you like, buy what you like, discuss what you like. FWIW I am university educated in history and the arts, I speak Japanese and curated an arms collection which included Japanese swords for 26 years (just so you know). Keep up the good work Brian and Mods and members. Regards,

Yes, I think Steve has got it right.

Bit hard to read sideways, but seems to be signed by two swordsmiths...says SEKI ju KANEMATSU KANEMICHI saku. I have seen separate swords signed by one or the other, but never together. Hope I haven't lead you astray,

The character ISHI does not seem right to me..there is one stroke extra in the top section. It looks like combination of Shita/kuda over kuchi. I can't find any kanji such as this, but I think that extra stroke in the top part is no accident. BTW TOKU can also be read NORI. Regards,

Years ago I picked up a very worn Wakizash saya in a flea market. When I got it home this little silver coin fell out, I presume from the kogatana slot (it did not have a metal tray)...maybe it had a tray years before but slipped out of it and lodged in the bottom of the slot and only fell out now as it had been juggled and knocked by us foreigners? Anyway, it does happen, but very rare. Regards,

I'm here in Perth WA and I've never heard of Jason Queen or 'J'. Not sure what this is. On the other advertisers below this advert is Henry's military collectables...I know Henry, good, honest guy. Just don't know who this other guy is.... BTW Bruce, that pic of a pile of swords is from an article on "types of" swords on-line...I remember seeing it a couple of years ago. Regards,

Just seems to be the igeta (well top) in a circle... Hawley p.79 gives about 9 examples...none with 'ichi' in the centre. You'll have to search... Sorry,

I looked up Hawley's mon book p.85 and it says (as Piers said) WAKISAKA Yasuharu 1555-1626...a General. Also TATSUNO of Harima...Daimyo. Regards,

Yes, I agree, isopropyl alcohol is the starting point IMO. Regards,

All I can tell you is it is signed ? ? Ju MoriShige = Morishige of ? ? (made this)). Maybe some alcohol and a soft clean cloth and gently clean off some of that dried oil/grease? Regards,

Hard to read but the two kanji mei seems to say Nobumitsu.

See, I haven't even read it yet and already I have learned something Thanks,

Very nice Chris. Nice swords and nice publication. I see that photo 27 shows the tang of Hizen Masatsugu an RJT smith. That is the first RJT blade I have seen with the star stamp on the date side of the tang...interesting. Regards,

Amazing what they used... also good that you noticed it. Always great to get "another one" of anything just to prove that they are not "one-off" variants. Now, a clear pic of the stamp so we can discover who the producer/patent holder was... Great stuff Bruce, thanks.

FYI...About 30 odd years ago I saw a reasonable quality Type 98 gunto that had an aluminium habaki. It was a "proper" habaki that would slide off as per normal. Only one I've ever seen until now...but different in that yours seems to be cast on. Just thought I'd mention it...

Sorry for my slow response.. those RJT rules on nugui refer specifically to traditional made blades (RJT gendaito) of WWII manufacture. I gave that rule because the question was basically: did they use nugui in WWII? The answer to the using of nugui on showato is unanswered, but I think first that blade needs to be properly identified as gendaito or showato and then whether nugui has been used on it. Maybe some of our showato collectors can check their blades for nugui use and show some examples to the board. If none show up we have "basic evidence" that showato did not get nugui polish. Good project for someone (Bruce?)...ha ha (sorry). Regards, EDIT: hope this matter is not detracting from the original post about Utsuri...

Jean-Pierre, Yes, they did use nugui in WWII polishing. Article 1, rule 6 of the Rikugun Jumei Tosho rules mentions that the blade must be wiped with nugui. You can read the document in the "Interesting Articles" section at the bottom of the menu page. Go down to WWII RJT document article. Regards,

I too think the tassel on the kai gunto is correct...the navy brown seem to be a bit more 'dark chocolate' colour than the gunzoku type sometimes seen on army gunto, which is usually the same lighter brown seen with the blue or red tassels...please correct me if I am mistaken. Regards,

Paul, I just checked the NIHONTO MEIKAN p.549 and it only lists one Tamenaga for Bitchu and gives the same details as your image from Markus Sesko (Embun, Aoe, Bitchu)...there is no other info. I think the info in Hawley is the same man...just less detail than these 2 others. Regards,

Sorry guys...hate to be a joy kill, but that is not the chuso...it is the chuso 'disconnector' button found on the scabbard mouth on 2 button Rinji mount swords. They all have it like that. PS...what is a MRS 1945?

Propaganda movie/pics...you might be right Dave..could this be another example of us westerners 'inventing' things (Type O, 3, 44 etc)...I think we need proof that they jumped out of planes wearing swords....Nick?

Yes, these guys have done some fine research and deserve our appreciation...so thanks Nick and Bruce. Speaking of the Order of the Rising Sun...my Japanese teacher Tsuyako (Sogawa) Coveney 1936-2019 at Univ. West. Aust. was awarded it in 2017 after 40 odd years teaching (see pic below...yours truly is big guy at LHS...it was taken 1979)...I went to her award ceremony and to her funeral a few months ago. Her father was an IJA officer who was lost when his ship was torpedoed on the way back to Japan from Rabaul. As to whether the term Rinji Seshiki gains wide acceptance, I don;t know...I am not a dictator so won't want to force people to change their ways...I think maybe over time if we put Rinji Seishiki and (Type 3) next to it it will help spread the message. Bruce...about the change in length, tip, tang etc...I noticed it by comparing my 2 Munetoshi blades (98 and Rinji Seishiki) and I have seen it also with his brother Akihisa in each type of fittings. OF COURSE, with swords there are always exceptions so maybe it would be good for somebody (Bruce?) to do some research and see what "trends" show up (members must have lots of examples that can be cross-referenced against each other to see if it is true...or just my imagination!). Anyway, here's the pic..she was a great woman/teacher...she used to tell me traditional folk stories...great...I'll miss her. regards,

Just saw these replies about paratroopers jumping out of planes wearing a sword...well...who'da beleived it...we live and learn...good research guys.

This Showa era smith seems to have always "named' his swords (I have seen pics of a few over the years)...this one seems to be named (middle line) ECHZEN TO MARU (Echizen helmet maru?...Lucky headpiece/protector of Echizen?...I could be wrong). Here is a page (92) from "Dai Nihon Token Shoko Meikan" 1942 that identifies him. regards,