Lewis B

"The blade is about 3 shaku 3 sun long! The blade weighs about 2 kg! This is a miraculous sword made by Kanemitsu that is not inferior to the national treasure "Okanohira", which is the treasure of the Ikeda family, and has all the three features of workmanship, condition, and history, so please do not miss this opportunity and let someone who will cherish it keep it as a family heirloom for the rest of their life." Red flags get raised when blades like this are not submitted for modern papers, especially when he makes comparisons with the Okanohira. The seller is clearly knowledgeable. Almost 300 bids so far with a day to go.

My guess? Likely had the smith's mei relocated there after a o-suriage shortening. The piece that was placed in that section looks to have either corroded away or become detached.

This one is exceptional and gives a nice example of the workmanship for comparison. Sold by Bonhams in 2011 for over $3000.

I believe he was active late 18th early 19th century, unless this is a later generation piece. Fine workmanship nonetheless. Price does not seem high although if you can get a little more off for the condition it would be worth asking.

Good comparo for the signature. Looks to be a good match. Based on the format of the listing the Tsuba was sold at least 6-7 years ago so I imagine prices have advanced quite considerably since then.

Thats interesting. I'm familiar with Dictum since I live in Germany but had no idea they stocked so many steel bar stock products (monosteel and prelaminated). They even have Tamahagane. Very cool

There is a Turkish kitchen knife maker called Mert Tansu in Australia who uses Hitachi steels (Shirogami #1, Aogami #2 and Aogami Super). He might be willing to sell some depending how much you need or at least let you know where he buys it. He also makes his own bloomery steel (Wootz).

Looks like a wall hanger piece to me.

In many instances do you really think you can tell the difference?

I hear you. At least he uses charcoal. I guess when you're a one man operation some concessions must be made. But how much is too much? While I can understand and forgive the power hammer, the use of a belt sander to shape the sword when a Sen is traditionally used was too much. Has Mori Sukemitsu destroyed any chance he might have had of attaining the level of Mukansa?

A very detailed account of modern sword making processes. Some things I noted was the use of old broken sword pieces forge welded into the construction of the blade. And the use of a paper fan the precisely control the temperature of the forge and thus the blade, before yaki-ire. It's seeing modern processes that really makes one appreciate what the old guys could achieve.

Yes it's the blade in question.

So for my own information Hokke and Ko-Hoki are not related?

Kimura-san thinks highly of it. Priced at 20mil Yen (TH papers from 2022 only). I wonder if it was submitted for Juyo and failed. Wouldn't a signed blade by such a big name waltz through Juyo Shinsa?

Yes this is how I would have explained it too and could account for why one of the angled elements in the lower kanji is partially missing. I imagine it was quite an expensive process to have this done but clearly even historically, there was a desire to retain the Mei, albeit infrequently.

A signed Mitsutada from middle Kamakura era. Nagasa is 69.5cm so likely o-suriage yet it's zaimei. The area with the Mei looks very different to the area above the division line that transects the nakago (line is only visible on the omote side) suggesting the piece with the kanji is much older? I have seen gakumei which obviously looks very different. If the mei was relocated after a shortening how would the swordmith have done this? Welded a large section of the original nakago onto the shortened one?

I would say your hada leans more towards Norishige than Kinju.

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Nice detective work Jussi. And just for continuity, here are the Mei and nengo for the blade in the National Museum. While I generally agree with you Jussi that gimei should be left, I think in this case the kanji could be removed and then have it papered. I'd be curious as to who/school gets the attribution.

Scratches? Yes. Looks like someone took a Brillo pad to it. Click for enlarged image and they are very easy to see.

I guess I must have missed the 'Kinju' bit in your post. The statement was still incorrect and misleading.

You should know better. Another example =. Juyo token Rai Kunimitsu tanto dated 1288

Nice jiba activity. Gimei Kinju is not hard to find. Here is one you probably saw during your research. https://www.kinghous...l-tanto-gimei-signed

Never happen, way too much tax revenue.

Anyone who thinks the idea that de-tipping a knife is an effective solution is kidding themselves. The dedicated perp will just invest in an angle grinder and put a point on it themeselves. Its just crazy some of these knee jerk reactions that will have no bearing on knife crime per se. The problems are far deeper and embedded in the communities where these crimes are being committed.