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Too difficult to see the details for an honest opinion, but I wouldn’t bet too much on Hizen.

I can’t read Japanese but the last character is definitely "SAKU" (made by)

once you know you’re not buying a Gendaito (though probably a iaito), then I can vouch they’re not Chinese junk. In terms of sharpness and execution, these blades, though not legit, are vastly superior to all the Chinese copies I’ve used and owned. So if you plan to get one for real use (try avoiding people, the law strangely frowns at that...), then you can go blindly.

Well, I was looking for a particular Seppa, but turns out Dave had one, so found it. But it’s very interesting to know, I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.

Let’s wait and see... though for a more accurate test, a carbon steel blade that can rust would be closer to the real deal. Here you’ll be able to judge translucency, removal but not protection.

Oops, my bad, sorry, I misunderstood what you meant.

Very nice blade.

Franco, I’d be surprised if it’s a machine made, oil quenched blade, especially with a name. I think it’s a Gendaito.

Undated blades are very frequent, nothing to fear here.

Oh man, such a great laugh! you could have stood at the other end of the room and seen this sword was fake... a repro, and a bad one as that!

And this excerpt from Nihontocraft.com shows that even the great Shinshinto masters' blades were prone to breaking: The following is an actual account of Extreme Aratameshi. This was documented by Takano Kurumanosuke in the mid ninetieth century. This testing took place in the home of Kaneko Chubei, a Matsushiro-han retainer of Shinano on March 24th, 1853. Twelve blades were subjected to Aratameshi testing that day. These included 2 katana and 3 Naginata by the famous smith, Taikei Naotane, a shinshinto katana by Tatara Hiroichi , a shinshinto katana by Asahi Kiichi, a koto nagamaki, an Oshu mono koto katana, an Osaka shinto katana, a shinshinto Naonaga katana and finally a katana by Yamaura Masao, the older brother of Kiyomaro. The testing commenced with Tsuge Kahee, a naginata teacher, wielding an ara nie deki katana by Taikei Naotane made in 1835. Two bamboo sticks were wrapped together and used as the testing object. The circumference of each bamboo stick was about 15 cm each. When the blade struck the target, it penetrated about 80%. This was not a complete cut. Then, a retainer named Saitomasuki tested this katana on a piece of metal that was 0.24 cm thick and 9.0 cm wide. The blade broke in two at the area close to the hamachi. The broken edges looked similar to that of an icicle, very brittle. This katana had been considered well made. The second blade tested was also a katana by Naotane. This blade had a nioi-deki hamon. It should not break as easily as the first one. After several cuts by Tsuge Kahee on straw wrapped bamboo sticks, a ha-giri developed and the blade was bent. Five other people also tested the katana but none of them could make a complete cut on the straw wrapped bamboo targets. Takano Kurumanosuke then took over the testing and used the katana to cut a helmet filled with iron sand. Another bend developed upon the first cut. Two more cuts introduced another ha-giri. Deer antlers were used as the next target and three cuts were performed. A piece of forged iron was also used for two cuts. This cutting of hard objects produced many ha-giri. After that, Kanekochubee cut a kabuto with it and a severe bend was introduced. He then used the blade to hit an anvil on the mune and on the sides several times and the blade broke. The 3rd, 4th and 5th blades tested were all nagamaki made by Naotane. They were all bent and ha-giri developed after several cuts. The ha-giri on the 5th nagamaki had a big opening rendering the blade useless. The 6th blade tested that day was a katana by Tatara Hiroichi, a contemporary smith. It was used to cut a piece of forged metal and the blade was broken. The 7th blade was also a Shinshinto by a smith named Asahi Kiichi. It broke when cutting a kabuto. The 8th blade was a koto nagamaki and the 9th one was an Oshu mono koto katana. They were only tested on straw wrapped bamboo and performed well. Blade number 10 was an Osaka Shinto katana. It was used to cut a tsuba made of shibuichi. The blade broke in two at the monouchi section upon impact. The 11th blade was a katana by Naonaga, a student of Naotane's. A ha-giri developed after three cuts on the body section of a suite of armor. A katana by Yamamura Masao was also tested that day. The nagasa was a 65.15 cm. Like the Naotane above, it had ara nie in the hamon. The Masao blade was used to cut wrapped straw eleven times and each cut went about 80 - 90% through the target. Secondly, bamboo staffs were used for six cuts. Each cut penetrated 70 - 80% through the target. Thirdly, an old piece of iron that was 0.303 cm thick and 2.12 cm wide was used as cutting object. The piece of old iron was cut in two pieces upon a single stroke of the sword. However, ha-giri may have developed. In the fourth step, deer antlers were used for six cuts. The fifth test conducted was to cut straw wrapped bamboo twice and the cuts went in about 60%. Then 2 cuts each were executed on a helmet filled of iron sand, iron armor, and a shibuichi tsuba. For the 9th and 10th test, a piece of forged iron and a kabuto were cut once each. Following that, an iron bar was used to hit the mune seven times and a mune-giri developed. In the 12th and final test, the same iron bar was used to strike each side six times and the mune was used to hit an anvil thirteen times. The ha-giri became bigger upon the last test. The side of the blade was then used to hit the anvil three times and the blade finally broke in two. This demonstration showed how well Yamaura Masao's blade withstood the harsh tests, or should we say abuse, of Extreme Aratameshi performed on that spring day of 1853.

Thanks Dave, I didn’t know it was that simple.

I’m curious, Bruce. Is it easy to remove the liner without destroying the metal saya?

Try it on a regular scrap of metal on which you’ve made some scratches. My greatest fear is it may go into the folds of the Hada and fill them in such a way you can’t remove it after it. It would ruin the Hada.

James, As I said, I know it is used, but does it mean I would use it? I don’t think so. From what I get, it was first developed by or for the British Museum. I’ve seen mixed review about it. Some say it is an extraordinary product, others don’t deny it but also say it takes some practice to apply it evenly on the blade. It’s also supposedly difficult to remove. I would consider it for a regular, European blade, but not for a Japanese one. If it is hard to remove and you have to wipe or use a solvent to remove, imagine what it could do to the polish. Plus I’m sure it would obscure details like Hada. I just mentioned it because I know it is used, but imho, keep it away from a Japanese blade. Keep to controlled environment and light oiling. Besides, blades aren’t meant to be left outside their saya. Remember Sanjuro: "the best blades are better left in their saya".

I’ve heard that some museum use Renaissance Wax but have never tried it myself.

I guess it really depends on the area you live. I could literally leave my swords without oil for years without any issues. I do oil them from time to time to prevent any rust, but it’s really useless in some climate.

Crest is hidari mitsudomoe.

Looks very Mantetsu indeed! Down to the Habaki? Could symbol be hiragana “RO"?

I’m with John here, I think he compares it to the mass production swords of the Muromachi period. That said, and I say this knowing many will disagree and are probably right because of their longer, better knowledge and experience, but I will always believe the weight of tradition and inertia of the Japanese culture is biased towards Koto blades. Just read how John Yumoto rated blades in his book. Even the great Shinto masters had difficulties getting high rated numbers. And I repeat it, if swords’ shapes evolved, there must be a reason, not only based on the fashion of the time. Efficiency was a factor and combat tactics too. So perhaps, and I say perhaps, Kamakura and Nambokucho blades were the pinnacle of the artistic blades, but every blade change was an adaptation to its production time. A Nambokucho ubu blade would have probably felt awkward and inefficient in a kanbun period duel.

Chris, I agree with you about the sticky, but if you go have a look in the Articles section, you’ll find an excellent article with Hada pictures by Paul already.

I couldn’t before either, but I think it can be seen in the second of the new pics, Ken.

If not for the nakago, my opinion would be the same as George, I’d be inclined to think Mino. But this is just an opinion, nothing more.

Well, I command you for you photographic skills and good taste for blades. Both are splendid!

How about "beautiful"? More seriously, I see some choji but also just gunome midare. I frankly can’t see the utsuri here though I suppose it exists. I also see chikei. This is a gorgeous picture (yours?) that would have it’s place in the Hada thread.