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What makes it a katana and not a Tachi blade is not the length but the side on which the signature is placed. A Tachi is worn edge down and a katana, edge up. The signature (except for Hizen blades) is always placed on the side that faces out the bearer's leg. Therefore, a katana is signed on the opposite side of a Tachi. Those sides are called Ura and Omote.

Never mind, Robert, post it! To be fair, I’m quite surprised by the posts of this thread. I was expecting few Satsuma and much more Kinnoto.

Any idea where they were situated? They have typical Seki yasurime.

Unless the hi was made after?

Guy really has no shame!

I can’t translate, but if it means "time is running out" Howard, be careful if you hear "tic toc" when she brings you the present!

Robert, weren’t the Nobokuni line known for producing more Katana than Tachi? I agree that it looks genuine and Alex, you are a lucky, lucky guy. Many among us would like to own a genuine Nobokuni!

Thank you Dave, I read the original thread and realized that, indeed, there is much speculation. After reading it, I’m among those who believe they are arsenal blades to arm common soldiers. We often speak about contingency swords (erroneously) about some WW2 swords, but I believe these are some kind of contingency sword. It was the last ditch and everybody probably had to be armed, kinda like the Kazuuchimono of the Sengoku period. The thread was very interesting and instructive, thank you. I wonder how members here have actually seen or own one.

Wasn’t aware of this thread, Dave, it’s a very interesting one, thank you! EDIT: Too bad so many pictures are missing Dave, as I’m particularly interested in them. You don’t happen to see many of them, whatever they actually are. Those I’ve seen were only in books and even those are scarce. That’s a beautiful one Ray. It must be difficult being a seller. I’d keep all of these for myself! Must be your computer, Bruce, I don’t have any issue on my side EDIT: sorry Bruce, you’re right, I thought you meant his profile photo!

Actually realized there was an older thread about this. Even if there isn’t a definition set in stone, I like Markus' definition. It makes a lot of sense I think. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/23-gendaido-vs-shinsakuto/

Okay people, make me drool! Show you Kinnoto and Satsuma rebellion swords. I’ve only seen some in books so far (well, the Satsuma ones at least!)

So, technically speaking, we have a katana in Tachi mountings. Can you please post pics of the completely bare blade in its entirety and closeups of the temper line?

I like your replies guys! Though they all seem different and valid. So John, if a Shinsakuto is a sword made during your lifetime, then a Shinsakuto will be different for everyone. Ken, that is my favorite so far. However, these swords will necessarily stop being Shinsakuto at some point. when? Guido, you are, of course, completely right and I wouldn’t dare challenge your knowledge, but your explanation begs another question. If Gendaito are present day swords, then they’ll have to be renamed in the future as there will always be new present days. What do you think of the Kapp/Yoshihara term of Shingendaito for post WW2 swords. Though, once again, Gendaito is less than ideal. Technically, when manufactory methods or intent changes, the name of the period changes too, so provided we keep going with the same methods/intent for the next 200 years,will those still be Gendaito (possibly) and Shinsakuto (not that newly made after 200 years). I like those conundrums!

... But one that’s been bugging me! So, a Shinsakuto is a newly made sword. Okay so, of course, a guy living during the Kanbun period who had a sword made got a Shinsakuto. So far, so good. But how long does a Shinsakuto remain a Shinsakuto? For example, swords made during the Showa, Heisei and now Reiwa periods are all Gendaito. But would you say they are all Shinsakuto? A WW2 sword would be a Gendaito, but a Shinsakuto? Probably not! So when did it stopped being one? When Showa turned into Heisei? And now that we are in Reiwa, Are Heisei Swords only Gendaito or do you consider them Shinsakuto? What would you say defines the time limit of a Shinsakuto? Hair splitting thread, but I’d just like to hear your input.

First time I see one that is not in Dawson's!

+1. If Shoshin, that’s a great sword. I’d like to see more of the blade. The yasurime fit. I think you should ask for this to me moved into the general section so that people not interested in military sword (which this is not) could give a look at it.

I’d go for late Koto myself.

Congrats! I only have one by Soboro Sukehiro. I love it but yours is a work of art.

Beautiful, but not what we need to identify your sword further!

Great link François! I wish we had more details about Kondo's blade and how it was authenticated.

James, Markus Sesko wrote an excellent book on tameshigiri. Her's one of the articles on his site (highly recommended reading, all the articles!) about a waki used in tameshigiri. in it you'll see the kind of tsuka used by the Yamada family: https://markussesko.com/2019/05/03/tameshigiri-with-a-ko-wakizashi/

Ohhhh! That is nice! Not a Gunto I think but a Tachi. Blade is probably older. You need to past more. Naked blade without any mountings, close ups of the tempered line and tang, dimensions. I think you have something valuable here.

Could there be something inside one of the Menuki? Scrap metal or something? BTW, love those menuki !

A paper with the location of the Honjo Masamune (three pace from the large pine...)? I remember a Pawn Stars where MY showed a saya with a hidden compartment to put some coins. Could there be something like that in a tsuka? Try removing the Fuchi.

It’s very hard to see on your pictures, Karen, but are there any file marks on the tang? Also, do you see a temper line on the blade? I think the next step would also be a picture of this temper line and of the whole naked blade. The rust on the tang is quite light, so it would match with the period the mountings were made. A temper line would help determine if the blade is traditional or not (I don’t think it is) and if there are file marks, it could give us a pointer as to the school/place it was made.