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I share your pain Jean. As I’ve said, having many, I’ve lost many. I can say I love and loved them all. But we all a special one in our heart. Mine was called Rookie. I first saw him one day, about one kilometer from my house. Thin as a rail. Orange fur. Somehow, during the night, he travelled that kilometer and was in my garden, so starving that he was eating dirt. I went to him, he wasn’t even afraid and came right up to me. I took him home and fed him. He got much better and was the most adorable creature I’ve ever had. Sadly, it didn’t last long enough. Cancer took him from me barely 5 years later. To this day, this cat was the cat of my life. I'll be praying for Mittens too. Keep us informed Robert. JP

Dunno which one you got, Vic, but the one I have sure looks like Tamahagane. I would be sorry to ruin it.

It confirms what I’ve always thought: Gimei, Japanese made by a starving swordsmith or apprentice, darn good cutter, martial art polish. Komonjo is being honest here I think. And I agree with him about the Chinese not being able to do it just YET.

Thank you Christian. It is actually quite nice. The pictures here was somehow reduced by the site, don’t know why. It is actually signed Yoshihiro I think. Probably meant to be passed as a Seto Yoshihiro Blade.

.... hum.... good question! ...why do they bid on this.... hummmmm...................... because they are stupid?

I can try, Christian, but I’m an awful photographer. Will try though as soon as I have time.

My thought too Chris. I don’t think much can be said without better pictures of the blade or seeing the sword in hand, but I don’t think it is one of the so-called arsenal blade. Jacques, I don’t think That the fact it is primarily applied to the Koshirae negates Dave's theory. One was probably associated to the other by extension. And I agree with you that those were probably handed out to either poor Samurai or conscripted peasants.

Hi Jacques, When I say "provided they even exist", I’m not denying the existence of the term or the sword but referring to a theory by Dave R that I believe is interesting and could be close to the truth. According to him, those so-called Satsuma swords were actually simple Arsenal swords. He thinks the term Satsuma Rebellion Swords was coined to refer to Satsuma-age as it is well known Satsuma Samurai used their swords until almost nothing was left of it and, by analogy, those poorly made arsenal swords were assimilated to Satsuma-age. This, of course, is just a theory but one I think makes a lot of sense. Why would Satsuma rebels only used poorly made swords when they certainly had their usual Samurai swords? JP

I do believe it can be salvaged, but is it worth it? Polishing has a HIGH cost....

Peter, I believe you are spot on here. It’s always been my theory.

Yes, I think they are shinae.

Yes, price seems right to me. However, that’s the price they usually come in a shirasaya. A full, nice Koshirae might increase the price a bit.

Agree with Chris. Same is too good for a Satsuma sword, provided these even exist.

looks good to me too.

Very true. Actually he seems to have three categories of swords: the Gimei Shinsakuto, the rusted junk and the fine swords.

one word: Komonjo!

Robert, as a cat guy (I’m giving shelter and food to about 20 stray cats, all of them gathered when they were starving and sick), I can only wish my best to you and Mittens. Our little pets are often more human than other humans and I’ve lost so many over the years that I feel your pain. I hope Mittens recovers. Best to you and Mittens, JP

I’ll be honest with you Greg, I don’t think it is worth saving.

I have a set and would recommend it. Very useful!

I personally like what I’m seeing here. Looks like a nice sword.

Bruno, are you sure the discrepancy doesn’t originate with the Euro/$ conversion?

If it is, that’s the first time I see a red copper handle with stamped and not cast stamps. But I guess there’s a first for everything.

I’m tempted to say everything is real but it’s a put together sword. As for the mei, looks so bad that I believe it is fake.

That’s what I call it too. I also see chikei and ji nie

I would call them like you. However, if we follow Michael's rules, the second would be sunagashi. As I said earlier, for me, sunagashi are like sand dunes or ripples near a shore. They are white, There are several of them usually close together (though a single white line is a sunagashi for me too). On the second sword, they are further apart and black. They would be Kinsuji for me. The same type of line starting in the ji and crossing through the Hamon would be an inazuma for me. ohhh! Potato, poteitoo, my head hurts!