george trotter

Hi Volker san, Very nice Okishiba Masakuni hamon...I have mentioned this before I think...your Masakuni is probably 2nd gen (the son of 1st gen Masakuni) as the 2nd gen is known to have made knives in Sakai city (Osaka) after the war until he died in c. 1990. A real pity that swordmaking seems to have just about died out in Sakai these days... now only knife smiths. The Okishiba line were very important Osaka smiths. Regards...

Very helpful info Mal...thanks. Wouldn't it be great if someone was able to gather in photos etc of each exhibition 1934-1944 and "publish" them in a downloadable doc. I say this as it would be so helpful to those of us who collect WWII gendaito. I have a blade by (later RJT) OKISHIBA YOSHISADA of OSAKA who won 1st seat in the 1941 exhib....but I have never been able to find a photo of him in any Japanese source. I'm sure there are lots of us who would like to have a pic of our smith. Just a thought. So, many thanks to you Mal and all those who have contributed to this post...great stuff. Regards,

I think the exhib. would be open for a few days Bruce. The judgement group would be busy for the whole time forsure...Sword shows I have been to also lasted a few days and the judges were very busy....normal I think.

From memory, Hawley's wife or daughter took over his book shipping after his death. Again from memory she did it from his address of 8200 Gould Ave. Hollywood, Calif. 90046. Maybe drop a note to that address and see if you get a reply? Might be worth a try... Regards.

Mal, Great information, thank you. Interesting that the Showa 19 ( Dec. 1944) RJT Exhib. had 209 trad. blades (presumably from 209 RJT) 6 arsenal blades 1 of special steel 20 'reference' blades So we know that in Dec 1944 there were at least 209 RJT smiths working. Every detail helps Mal...thanks. Regards, Geo. PS six of my smiths won awards in these exhibitions between 1938-1944

A great Nihonto site indeed. It runs so well because of you Brian and runs so well because those who have knowledge enjoy your site as a place to share. In the end we are all beneficiaries of the core purpose of NMB - the sharing of knowledge, the learning about Nihonto and many associated aspects of Nihonto and Japanese culture and history. Thanks to all...long may NMB continue...

Thank you Vplker san....I send the same the same Christmas wishes to you....and to all the NMB members.

SHHH! sooo naughty!

Thanks Volker, I enjoy research as well. Here is a OKIMOTO / OKISHIBA line doc from The NBTHK journal series of articles NIHON GENDAITO SHOSHI BY UCHIYAMA. You will see the line you are interested in on the left side (where a member of the Okimoto family becomes an OKISHIBA). This OKIMOTO / OKISHIBA smith is the 1st Gen Okishiba Masatsugu. You will see he had 2 sons, the elder being 2 Gen Masatsugu and the younger Okishuba Yoshisada. 2 Gen Masatsugu has the son Okishiba Masakuni and a younger son NOBUSHIGE. Your Masakuni is the one who went into knifemaking. The "pencil alterations" at the beginning of the 1 Gen Masatsugu line and at the 2 Gen Masatsugu line were done by Nobushige when we corresponded in 2006. He was very helpful on my research into Okishiba Yoshisada. Hope this helps, ask any questions you like....

Oops, I made a mistake Volker san...the Okishiba line is 1 gen Masatsugu had 2 sons: 2nd gen Masatsugu and Yoshisada. 2 gen Masatsugu's son was Masakuni and he was the knifemaker after the war. Sorry for the mix-up... Regards.

I have a copy...it is essentially a composition of gendaito oshigata...IMHO many are poorly done and it is very sparse on information. Having said this, I still refer to it from time to time as oshigata are often helpful.

As Mal says, There is an example signed KANENAMI KORE (o) SAKU (no date) on pages 97-98 in my 1989 catalogue of the Japanese Swords and Fittings in the West Australian Museum. Seems to be well made ...better than the usual sort of showato. Kaigunto fittings of good quality. Regards.

Wow you guys are "on the ball"...I do not know anything about netflix or anime (whatever that is). I only access sites that are of historic and intellectual value. Good thing there are some members here who "dabble" in the world of crooks and frauds and are thus able to educate me on the world of crooks and frauds. Thanks guys.

Just for interest, the 5 kanji "signature" or owner's name, is SATO KOTARO.

Yes Volker, that post-war Masakuni making knives is the elder brother 2nd Gen. I think he died in 1990. I think he turned to knife-making as the post-war demand for swords steadily declined. There may not even be a swordsmith left in Osaka now - not sure. Your sword is great - similar hamon characteristics to my Yoshisada....great swordsmith family. Regards...

Yes, that is the one I was speaking about Trystan. Well done.

Bruce, I think that is the first kanji of the name KOBE. There was a sword merchant shop in Yotsuya, Tokyo, owned by Kobe Kazuyuki (not sure of the personal name reading). The kanji KO is the same as the kanji inside your stamp. I'm sorry that my scanner isn't working or I'd copy their article/advert from the 1942 book "Dai Nihon Token Shoko Meikan" pp.86-87. The shop advert does not show your stamp as a logo, but who knows. If someone has this book maybe they can post it here for you, with a few words of explanation. While the shop name's first kanji is the same as your stamp, it does not guarantee that your stamp is their trademark, but maybe yes.... Regards.

Gosh Volker san...you sure find some great swords...I presume that is Okishiba Masakuni 2 gen from Osaka? (maybe a pic of the tang/mei/date etc?). If it is him, I have a blade by his younger brother Okishiba Yoshisada - both sons of Masakuni 1 gen.. He (both) signed either Heianjo or Okishiba before their name. Hamon has similarities to yours (mine undated and in 'fieild scratches' condition). Love the WWII gendaito.... Regards.

Hi John, I met Miura Makoto in Australia in 2013. He was visiting a fellow sword collector here and had a look through my collection of swords. What I can tell you is that he was a dealer, appraiser, collector and was based in Yokohama (not sure if he had a shop, but was definitely in the sword trade). He was a member of the NTHK and NPO. I would think that your paper was one he submitted for shinsa for the purpose of on-selling - but it is also possible he is deceased now and this was one of his personal swords later on-sold. Just don't know. Hope this helps.

Bruce, The hollyhock (AOI) in the 3 leaves in a circle style as you show just above is used by the Tokugawa family with many variations. Other families also use it . I am not sure about the single leaf one you show on the OP, I have seen it but you need specialist advice - my mon book doesn't show the single leaf one so I'm not sure if it is a Tokugawa mon or is the mon used by the sword making line who made that sword. Must be some folk on NMB who know about it? Sorry I can't help more....

Just on the smith Kanetaka / Kanekami I had a blade by him many decades ago. I made an oshigata but it is almost impossible to read so I won't post it, but here is what it said: NOSHU SEKI JU GENSABURO KANETAKA SAKU. It had no stamps that I can see and I did not oshigata the date side. I just offer this here for information, Regards...

Hi Bruce, I think it saya Mondonosho Fujiwara Masakiyo. This was a very high ranking smith of around 1720 in Satsuma. The crest is one leaf of the Tokugawa mon. It would be worth getting it checked as this smith is rated 100 points in Hawley revised p386 MAS 368. Hope this helps...

Oops - sorry Colin, I looked at the wrong post signature...or else I am getting old...hmmm. I agree with your view on sashikomi - hadori - kesho. Good thing we are not "woke cancellers" of free speech on NMB or we would both be sent to the 'naughty corner'. Anyway, I must say there are some very nice hamon / polishes being shown here. Like your example here Volker san...Keep it up guys. Regards...

Thanks for your comments George. Just on this kesho-hadori thing....40 years ago a Japanese dealer in Tokyo explained kesho polish (now hadori?) to me....he said kesho essentially means 'cosmetic' - like when a geisha hides the true characteristics of her face by covering it with white powder...that still sums up kesho-hadori for me....but I'm sure the modern collector mind knows and appreciates aspects of polish that I am unaware of...different world/tastes now. For me, I prefer to stay with pre-1945 polish. Interesting....

Here is my Tsukamoto Masakzu blade as polished in sashikomi in April 1942. Compare it to the photos of the modern polishes above...I'd be interested in your comments. Regards,