DoTanuki yokai

To be fair, I think they had a much better chance to find a sword in a shrine attic then I have in my grandmas attic.

I would say you should experiment more with the lightning and angle at which you look or photograph the boshi. It is common that the boshi does not get the Hadori polish and is harder to see. I posted pictures that shows how much the light and angle have an impact.

The nominal designation of Kamakura-Tsuba comes from the fact that its carving style is similar to Japanese wood engraving folkcraft "Kamakura-Bori". So, it has nothing to do with the name place "Kamakura" in Sagami Province (present Kanagawa Prefecture) and also nothing to do with the Kamakura period (1192 - 1333) of Japan. from https://tsuba.jyuluc...m/KamakuraTsuba.html I can’t guarantee for the information as I don’t know much about kamakura Tsuba

Maybe I overreact but when I read some experts for antiques say this rust is old I’m done. In my opinion it just looks like it was stored in a high humidity environment for some weeks or months or maybe a few years depending on the surface condition. I also maybe misinterpreted you comments because we see here so many people that refuse to accept advise that start to argue with opinions of non accepted experts in the Nihonto world. I’m sorry and I definetly don’t want to start a fight or stop you from learning about Nihonto it is just frustrating from time to time.

Another one Just to summarize: you come with a “strange shape” (your words) Tanto and everyone is telling you the shape is strange because it is made in China and I show you evidence but I can’t convince you. If I accidentally try again to help you remind me pls that I waste my time.

The blade looks unshortned Ubu, the Hamon clearly starts directly at the Hamachi. The polish also does not really look right, maybe it is some kind of Hadori or acid etched but not Sashikomi in my opinion. What you see before the Hamon could be some kind of mizukage, also the Nakagojiri does not look like a typical shortned one.

Bruce if you expand the description you would find this "The hilt has on one side of the blade the gold inlaid signature of Masamune and on the other side the gold inlaid signature and monogram of a member of the Hon’ami family of sword appraisers, who attributed the blade to Masamune."

Just some messing around with hydrogenperoxid

Maybe i wasn't clear about it but im sure it is one of this chinese Tanto i linked because i also own one that was a gift from an martial arts equipment store where i ordered something. I have modiefied a lot of things on this Tanto but i think it is clear that it is from the same factory. Look at the Hi and the Hamachi and overall shape, i could change the Nakagojiri in a few minutes if you are still not convinced.

I got this one https://www.aoijapan...gned-grape-design-4/ I think they have a lot in common but I don’t know more then what is written on the Aoi page.

Maybe 左 Looks like an interesting blade.

I would be interested in seeing this blade pictures

What color does a copper Tsuba have ? I have expertimented with the patination of copper with heat or Niage (Rokusho) technique and the possibilities are endless. I cannot say anymore from wich alloy a Tsuba is made

I did not know Kotetsu signed Wakizashi with Tachi Mei and another guess is that the blade could be Mumei when it was tested

It is made in China and exists in many variations from different sellers with or without hamon or folded steel but all of them have the same shape and Hi Etsy

I would say don’t sand it and keep your brain cells https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Red_lead

Hardned steel is more resistant to corrosion, one could say that the Habaki removed the rust but i think what i see fits better in the picture. EDIT: I wrote Hamon and Jacques you are right that i dont really see the Hamon.

It depends on the shape how much it will get narrower but it will. Actually the Hi is nearly flat at the end of the Nakago on the left picture. The Hamon runs into the Tang, the disappearance of the Hamon in the Nakago is not the end of it but it gets lower like the pattern that can be seen on the rest of the blade.

Tadayoshi was already famous when he was alive and some fake signatures are as old as authentic blades. So the patina on the Nakago can be real and old.

Cut of Nakagojiri. Hamon runs into the Tang. Hi gets flatter on one side and the mekugiana punch in the Hi that was filed flat afterwards.

http://www.nihontocr...hinshi_Masahide.html But I wouldn’t say all the conclusions at the end are correct

When Masahide made functional swords that is the highest art after form follows function. Just in case it wasnt mentioned don’t clean the Nakago (tang) of the blade.

Making such hamon requires very homogenous steel that lacks other features I like but I’m always impressed of the control over the heat some smiths show. This one does not really fit but shows that you could draw pictures with the hamon.

I think it is impossible to show all at one picture because to see different things you need different angles of light and from where you look. I have made over 10000 pictures of blades with so many different setups and tried many things and actually I’m at a point where I think pictures that are taken like one would examine a blade bring me the most joy. Then you have to know what you want to show and how to see it in hand then I replace my eye with the camera but my eyes can definetly handle the contrast better then my phone camera can. My DSLR can handle the contrast much better but the whole shot is much more time consuming and static what makes changing angles and get what to want to see a difficult task. I made some pictures last weekend with my phone while examining one of my swords. Espacially for the Jinie I think videos work much better because they are sometimes showing up only in one angle on a konvex surface what makes it impossible to photograph in one picture. Tell me what you think about them thanks.

With the additional pictures i would also say it is old and shortned. Really nice find.