Lewis B

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.

Blade shows some very nice activity. Would be worth looking into getting a fresh polish IMO.

I saw this daisho set a few days ago and thought about posting it here. There are some Naotane fanbois on NMB. He is a well regarded smith from that period and his blades often command eye watering prices. The site in question frequently posts blades have kitae ware and you would be wise to followup as requested. It's like a get out of jail statement in case the blade is rejected. These 2 blades have been reported here before. The Wakizashi in koshirae for 2.5mil yen gives you an idea of prices. https://katanahanbai...tana/naotane-katana/ https://katanahanbai...naotane-wakizashi-e/

Unless the kissaki is damaged.

This is probably not a kodachi, more likely a Wakizashi. I believe generally speaking Kodachi were worn like Tachi (edge down) and the Mei on this blade is on the wrong side for tachi-style wear. This blade would have been worn edge up like a katana.