David Flynn

What if it's Gimei? Then it wouldn't be worth polishing. Have you googled authenticated Mei of Masamune?

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Hard to read, but looks like, Yoshinaga.

Ray, I think that may be falling on deaf ears. He has been given a lot of good advice, but here we go again.

You're getting better Steve. Definitely a Stainless.

Repro, probably Chinese.

Bruce, it appears to me to be, a Showa Period unsigned Gendaito.

Kanbun Shinto.

Lee, it appears to me you're doing pretty much what Steve(Swords), has been doing. I suggest you join the British Token Soc.

Disagree Steve, I believe he had a perfect right to post about the transaction here. I think it's called, "Dicking people around".

Brian, even wartime smiths have Gimei blades. There is enough material on the Web now, to check most blades. Sure, there is not a plethora of Oshigata, but basic oshigata, history and prices are there. One just has to Google. eg. Tadayoshi.

Steve, all the swords you post are a waste of money. The days of bargain hunting are virtually over. The swords that are posted on eBay and similar sites, have been picked over for years. It's very hard to even get a good Gendaito for under US3k. AGAIN! you keep asking for opinions, because, obviously you don't know what you are looking at. If you are serious about collecting Nihonto, then you will seriously need to broaden your parameters.

I have a Ujishige katana dated 1789. Because of the date, he is listed as Shinshinto. However, he was making swords before this date and didn't have a relationship with Masahide, I would class this sword as Shinto.

Steve, may I ask, why you keep putting these swords up for discussion? As I said in another post, you keep asking for information. I truly don't understand why you keep doing this? Are you after validation? I've also noticed that when people tell you about the swords you post, you don't appreciate some of the reply's. As I said in a previous post, you really need a mentor. Posting photo's, that sometimes aren't very clear, won't do you any good. I believe you are in Texas, why not ask if any members here are from Texas and are willing to help you.

Showato, or low end Gendaito.

I vote for Showato.

It appears to me, that you don't have a mentor. May I suggest that you find someone knowledgeable, that is willing to mentor you. Unfortunately, on a Forum such as this, we only get to see photos and not the sword in hand. This makes it very hard to give answers, unless what we're seeing sticks out like dogs balls.

Many years of looking at swords.

I think that maybe you should put this in the Auctions Section. It appears to me, to be Shinshinto, of no good merit.

Link doesn't work.

Bryce, I truly doubt that these were either signed or dated by another hand. Sometimes, signatures don't always match. I have a sword by Munetsugu that has one character that does not line up with oshigata, that I've seen. It turns out, that he changed the way he did this character, on later swords. When checking swords at Shinsa, the team check the workmanship as well as the sig. It's not unusual for Smiths to vary their signatures.

G'day Bryce, here is the date of my Sadakazu, plus, a copy of the one in HW Book.

Bruce, it's not about being traditional, more, did Kanehide make this?

Big part of this is Mumei blades. Shinto Mumei, unless the features stand out like Dogs Balls, are generally papered to either, Bungo or Kaga. Old Koto blades that have indistinguishable traits, are generally papered to Ko Uda.. So in answer to your question, No, they are the Experts. Usually, there is a Team. However, they generally defer to the Senior Kantei Ka. Hence, if a Mumei blade is sent to NBTHK or NTHK, they may receive different attributions.

Alex, methinks you may be a bit Touchy.