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They take the time because someone who’s never seen a real sword might know that Japanese swords are all Signed. This is not the case, of course, but if a total newbie sees said sword plus a signature, it will dispel any doubt for him that it might be a fake. Moreover, some Chinese company, like Hanwei, sign their high end swords, though clearly, nothing high end here!

I’m not entirely convinced it is a Showato. First, I don’t think the dark spots are that obvious in the picture, second, if it comes from Japan, it is illegal (okay, I know, laws are meant to be bent), finally, you don’t often see Showato with hi. However, true, the lack of Hada and the absence of activities point towards Showato.

Yes, that’s a copy, unfortunately.

Your pictures are t clear enough to judge but I can’t say I like what I see. Remove the peg and show us the tang.

Mal, I’ve always dreamt of getting one of these but could never find a link or a shop selling them. Do you have a link or information that could help? This thread is great. That’s an awesome collection you have, Piers. Great unusual collection. Thank you for posting them.

Yes, it’s a very nice package, and though I don’t have the competence to say whether it is Gimei or not, I wouldn’t necessarily dismiss the possibility that it might be the real deal. It takes a lot of skills to know a fake signature and I’m not sure there are that many people here able to do that, especially with just a picture in hand.

Ian is right. Try and find someone knowledgeable (not easy I know) near you who can see it in hand. Then, there's shinsa, but youll have to sendit to the US or Japan so maybe not worth it if Gimei. That's the tragedy for us people not living in the US or Japan. You have several swords that have clear potential, but no means to really check for sure without engaging costly expenses that might be for nothing...

Wow, I hadn't been back to this thread for a long time, and what a story. Happy for you Georg! A Kiyomaro is like finding the Grail! The only bad thing is these kinds of things never happen to me!

You know the saying: "out of 10 Kotetsu, 11 are fake". Still, nice mountings and if real, you’ve scored the jackpot!

He probably means machi okuri.

First thought was Mino Den, but "could" be Sue Bizen maybe...

I doubt that a blade in such a state of polish could still show utsuri, but I’ll let others judge that. An utsuri is subtil and this looks a bit too prominent for my taste, maybe acid etched or cleaned with an abrasive product.

That’s a normal ubu nakago to me...

I think the Yasurime and shape of the nakago don’t look like the Sengo school at all. I’d verge towards Gimei.

Could be saka choji but I’m not too sure. By the way, Happy Birthday!!!! 💥🎂

I know that, Michael. But look at the picture where you see the whole sugata. There is a curve at the machi that makes me think, granted, I may be 100% wrong , that the nakago we’re seing is the original one, maybe only shortened a bit to fit some mountings. I think the mekugi ana may actually Be the original one and just the jiri was altered. If , and only if I’m right, then here we have the original patina for an originally mumei sword. Of course, it could actually be ō-suriage and that patina much younger than the blade. You guys are the experts, not me.

Well, looking at the nakago patina, it is true that I have a hard time believing it could be as old as Nanbokucho. You are probably right the it is Shinshinto after Nanbokucho sugata.

Splendid ji Hada there!

I tend to agree with you there, John. I would have thought late Nanbokucho, early Muromachi from the sugata.

Yes, real deal. Appears to be ubu and slightly machi okuri although that nakago is in such shape that I wouldn’t stake my head on it. If ubu and the irregular mekugi ana are just irregular because of rust, shape could be Kanbun Shinto. However, the nakago also looks possibly Muromachi. The naked blade could help

Those are truly good looking swords, Daniel. The next owner will be lucky.

I’m in the Edo Kanbun Shinto gang too. Suriage as said. Nice sword.

Another thing you can try. I doubt it will work on same as here, it is obviously age that has done the damage. Today, I wanted to clean some dirt on a cream colored ito. I used isopropyl alcohol on a rag. It removed the grime completely and dries almost instantly, preventing wood soaking. You could give it a try.

I’m serious, oxy 10 should work. Put it in direct sunlight (not heat) with oxy 10. Renew every week until you are satisfied with the result. Jean's solution should work too. It’s just a bit stronger.

Oxy 10