David Flynn

It's actually a good time to buy at the moment. The market is relatively depressed.

Unfortunately, unsigned Gendaito (unless they are stand out quality) are really not worth polishing. The time and cost involved, means one will never get a proper return for ones money. As far as I know, Sword Socs. will not issue papers for unsigned Gendai.

It's either, Kazu or Kane Nori.

Mino?

This sword was made by, Kojima Kanenori. According to Slough, this type of Signature was done by a Seki name cutter. The Na stamp only signifies that it came through the Nagoya arsenal. Not that it was made there. Kanenori, made Gendaito and Showato. His Showato, are the most prevalent. As this sword was not signed by Kanenori himself, I think that it is most likely a Showato.

Cameron Appleford, who is a member here, runs Jigoku Studios, in Qld. http://jigokustudios.com.au/about/

I was thinking, it's a sword.

The souls of the Samurai are only in the blades if you think that way. This from Shintoism, believing there is soul in everything.

I am also attending the DTI this year. Last time, was 2009 and I also purchased a sword there. No problems with it being sent to me in Australia. Hope to see you all there.

Let it rest in peace.

Keith, I think you may have overlooked another possibility. Some people who have bought swords and for whatever reason, they now wished them sold. If offered to a dealer, the chances are, they will be offered, nowhere near the money paid. In this case, ebay is a better option.

Having done exactly this myself, I shall give you my opinion. You will never get your money back! My sword looks good. I used all antique fittings. However, upon reflection, I wished I had left it with it's original gunto Koshirae. Good Gunto koshirae with a polished Gendaito is worth what I would get if I sold it with the Koshirae I had made. This means, the $3k Koshirae doesn't count. Luckily, I don't plan to sell this sword in the near future, so the cost doesn't really count yet. However, if and when I do sell it, that $3k is gone.

Chris, you would have to PM Alan Morton. His membership name is Alansue.

George, Alan Morton has a Star Stamped Gendaito, with a NBTHK Hozon paper.

It has. "Seki," in the Mei.

The Kanenobu I have, has a Nakago Jiri like the one in the photo Chris posted. As I said earlier, the Kanji Nobu is different ( same as Niwa). The Nakago Jiri in the Photo Petr Supplied, is like the Oshigata I've seen by Niwa Also, I was under the impression, that Kanenobu senr. died before the war It is very hard to find records of Kanenobu senr.

My son gave me a DSLR, but I haven't worked out how to use it. One day! With the Kanenobu I have, the Kanenobu kanji, looks alsmost Identical with the Niwa Kanenobu, same Nobu Kanji. However the sword is signed, Seki Kanenobu and the Nakago Jiri , is totally different to Niwa. There isn't a date on it (though there was and it was removed? Yoshikawa san, said he thought it was maybe to pass the sword off as Koto ). Yoshikawa San thinks the sword was made around 1930.

Hi George, Niwa Kanenobu, learnt from his dad, also Kanenobu. His dad helped start the Seki school, along with Kanenaga and Kanemitsu. Also I believe, Kanenobu Senior signed similarly to Niwa.

Wonderful, thank you Paul.

I have only recently switched to using alcohol, after a demonstration in Japan by Dr Gordon Robson. So now form my, Polished to very Clean blades, Alcohol. For my blades with stains etc. Uchiko. Also I now only use Camellia oil.

100% Isopropyl, is easily obtainable. Plenty of sites on ebay alone.

Were the Showato Polished? If so by whom? Does it look amateurish? . Be careful, not many people Have Showato polished.

Apologies.

Mantetsu, Manchurian steel. produced in a railroad factory in Manchuria.

Great to have you here Roman, welcome.