waljamada

Almost bid on this sword and it went for an affordable price but has some condition issues. Didn't bid because the seller was in Ukraine (which is most likely fine) but that blanket and sword description is exactly what Showa22 does. Just made me think someone put up false/duplicates of old listings, which scared me away, but could be the seller bought from Showa22 at some point and saved the description/pics and I missed out. Either way another example of a sword I would purchase.

Example of "odd" bohi.

My definition of "odd" in this case: different from what is usual or expected in a traditionally made tamagahane blade in koshirae or shirasaya. Greetings all, have something that doesn't quite fit in your collection but has some odd class? An odd bohi design? An interesting unique aspect? A non traditional horimono theme? (Horimono and bonji etc..can be ato-bori) Some interesting lacquer work? A lesser used bonji? Something with the hamon? An outlier of a school or maker? Looking for something with an odd aspect (in a good way) and much prefer katana length. Also, in a more traditional search sense, I would like to purchase one more "ancestral" blade type 94/98. Extreme bonus points for having some unique aspect.

Bruce, thank you for that link. I just read through that whole discussion and felt like I was on the side lines of an intense tassel discussion. The evidence of the actual military documents makes it seem quite clear cut the purpose and Gunzoku connection of the light brown tassels.

Something about o-kissaki blades just sing to me. Great pick up and that's a beautiful example. Love the hamon. Grey had my dream o-kissaki blade at his table. Was awesome to see all there was to gander and awe at from that show.

Uwe, thanks for the translation help. I greatly appreciate it. Bruce and Chris, I appreciate the warnings. I knew his name is synonymous to dubious. Someone since my post purchased it so I'm sure he sent the offer to many people and it did make it tempting. So off it goes. I know his reputation hence my skepticism on every piece of it. I don't see acid polish but my eye is not too attuned to that other than it creating an either slight or dramatic Damascus appearance. I do see hada, evidence of folding etc...and a bunch of his blades seem just left as-is. So it gave hints of a genuine traditionally forged blade. Hamon looked water quenched to me and there are still age appropriate stains/scratches on the blade and all components. I only surface level know his reputation as making frankenblades, (using mismatched pieces to make a "set") but didn't know he went as far as acid polishes etc...and I don't know what other terrible techniques are out there that he might use. To my eye this one seemed just honest enough to tempt me. I love those old heavy type 98 koshiraes too.

The Kane and Toshi seem to match decently...as does the yasurimei. The signature is on the opposite side of the tang on this sword though. It's on the date side of the book's blade.

I've been having a large gunto itch.... Guys, I'm scared to admit this but I'm really tempted by this sword. It's a Samurai Monkey sword but it 27 1/2 nagasa, signed, heavy scabbard, looks traditionally made and looks to have some higher end fittings if they are original. Looks to be a large and meaty gunto in decent polish with some flaws...but the offered price is right... I don't believe this tassel belongs on the sword but I've read conflicting things on brown tassels. The two sides are a brown tassels equal Navy essentially (but there's a darker and lighter brown variation) and the other side is light brown was started to be used semi late war by the army as a way to disguise rank from enemy soldiers. I tend to sit on the brown equals Navy to be safe but have a toe on the otherside but waiting for more data. The broken ito looks an annoying problem and I'd shed a tear ever having to remove the original with hand/use stains. I'd probably leave it as is and he says it still holds as it is now. Can't see the lock button which I am curious about (lock mechanism works well) but the kuchi-gane and parts of the saya looks to have some of the red/brown color to it rather than standard brown. So I'm tempted....but I also would like to request some translation help for the mei. The small "yama" kanji is interesting....

Bruce, I remember reading something I found on this forum written by what I believe was a first hand account of a sword salesman at a market selling blades to young Japanese men heading off to war. He talked about describing the old blades to the buyers and family members who were spending large sums at the time to outfit their brother/son etc...with a blade they could be proud of. It was a very interesting read. I did think that because of the simplicity of the koshirae and its materials that this is at least a budget option for mounting a blade at the time? Also while searching guntos, as I do, I came across this tsuba on a samurai monkey blade of all places. Is this an authentic special order type tsuba or something monkeyed with? Or just damage or some sort? Does it have a name if it's a real thing?

Just realized this blade doesnt meet the age range of the military forum description. Feel free to delete.

Greetings all, this was my gunto pick up from the Chicago Sword Show in a bundle deal with a 1500's yari + edo period pole. Picked up a Wakizashi in leather wrapped gunto mounts with a type 98 tsuba, leather seppa and a plain wooden ribbed tsuka wrapped in leather. Seems overall quite humble mounts. The blade is ubu but unsigned mumei and came with NTHK papers attributing it to Nobutaka 1711-1715. Nothing amazing but a nice little package of an blade with some age, in nice polish, some nice bohi and an nice hamon design that shows its wavy flair at the top half of the blade towards a thick boshi. Were mounts like this late war or just an affordable option throughout?

Robert, That wakizashi was meant to find you and you to find it. They are definitely asking to be a daisho.

Fred, I got locked in with the bundle deal! Now I just have to figure out where to put it....

Had a good turnout of dealers with many stocked tables. I missed the first two days so can only report on Sunday. Large amount of interesting blades and you could tell the dealers/collectors tastes from their items. There was a guy who liked horimonos a guy who liked unique variations of tantos etc...most had a good variety and there was equal amount of blades in shirasaya and full koshirae with a healthy amount papered. Values were good but I loved being there for the Sunday final countown "deal making". People and dealers were helpful, informative and happy to be there. Met a guy who grew up in my hometown, met a few people from these forums and got to talk some Japanese. Overall from where I stood, a great success.

John, Thank you. My favorite thing is actually the yari pole funnily. I believe/hope it might be from either mid or late edo. I think if you buy a yari you immediately want a naginata. Also noticed some interesting togishi lines on the wakizashi. Someone might recognize them. Michael, Thank you I will correct it to NTHK.

Just some more pics. Hit my upload size limit above. Was told the lacquer on the yari pole was redone about 20 years back. Not sure if that's good or bad.

Greetings All, Went to my first Chicago Sword Show (and first sword show ever) today wanting to make a purchase to support the show/dealers and did a bundle purchase on two items. I think overall I did essentially "fine" price wise while the items are no national treasures. Paid $2000 and got a Yari with pole and a 20 1/4" nagasa wakizashi. Both are mumei but at least came with NTHK papers. The yari is said to be Den: Mino Daido 1573-1592 and the wak is attributed to Nobutaka (most likely 4th gen) 1711-1715. Just thought I'd share the haul. I only was able to attend Sunday so who knows what blades I missed seeing but the show was great fun, educational, eclectic personalities, wonderful to meet a few people I recognize from these forums and loved eying all the wares and blades. It's my first yari and didn't know I wanted one before this show. I will be attending again next year and my only regret (which barely nags me) is not posaibly buying a 27" nagasa koto blade instead with some cool bohi and awesome (but a bit worn) koshirae. It had two chips in the cutting edge however (otherwise in beautiful polish) and cost the same as the total for the two items I purchased....but it just had a presence. Was really grateful to Mark for organizing the show and look forward to attending in the years to come!

Xanderain, nice and congratulations! I really liked the look of the blade and glad it went to a home that loves it. Had a nice length, bohi and unique as a naginta-naoshi. It really tempted me and had some good conversations with the seller.

Jussi, here's some more photos.

Jussi thank you for the clarification. Also am I right in saying that a Naginata Naoshi Katana means that it was originally the blade on a pole arm weapon?

Piers, thank you very much. So 2012 papers. Wondered about what the lacquer signature was/is. Wonder if it's it's old attribution someone made on the maker?

Was hoping someone could help me underststand what this Mihara School attributed blade's hozon paper says. I believe if it's just attributed as Mihara that means mid-Mihara. Ko-Mihara is the oldest going back to 1300s and Sue-Mihara going up to the end of muromachi. Is this just Mihara? Also does it say when it was issued? Side note this blade has a ware flaw and I'm also wondering if anyone sees any potential fukure as well?

John, thank you for that. I do know what you are talking about from the Komonjo blade hamons. They do seem to have a type and I can identify the hamon characteristics you mention in them. Someone went the extra miles with this gimei blade over the usual "authentic Japanese" komonjo blades with "unfinished saya"

Sorry to ask John, but what does my eye need to be catching? Here's why my eye was tricked: This blade has hada/forging/folding evidence, right looking patina for early 20th century (can of course be faked), yasurimei (could be a sign that it's the correct yasurimei to match the gimei), age looking wear on blade, water quenched hamon (is a bit messy though), real koshirae early type 98 (from what I see and if this is fake too Im even more afraid) shape of nakago doesnt draw immediate questions to me, shape of blade looks Japanese (but a non typical early 20th century shape but also a non typical blade) well fitted (according to seller) to a gunto saya with a 28.5" nagasa which is quite uncommon and would require uncommon saya....it all can make sense as an authentic gimei nihonto...I'm afraid...=|:^(

I'm also hearing it may be a Chinese fake rather than at minimum an authentic Japanese blade which scares me because it hit the authentic nihonto check boxes that I know of. I'm naturally always suspect of meis so didn't give it much weight but the blade itself appeared at least an early 1900s authentic Japanese blade in what I think is nice authentic (or is it!!??!!) type 98 koshirae. I didn't buy the sword but almost went hard in on the bidding with the idea that it was most likely gimei to be safe.