Lewis B

Which school and era does this blade paper to (assuming its been through Shinsa)? Pretty sure the feature in the bi-hi is a kizu from forging. The black marks are likely some form of corrosion activity. Have they been there since you owned it or developed recently?

Excellent feedback and should provide useful intel for the trip to Japan I hope to take next year. Luckily I will have many days for sword shopping over the 4-5 weeks I will be there.

Did you meet Tsuruta-san? What was the overall experience at AOI like vs a more boutique retailer such as Yamashiroya?

Did they show you any of the good stuff?

Looks like a good first sword in decent polish. Regarding the attribution I would not consider anything written on the registration paper regarding Den or smith, as reliable. The NBTHK Tokubetsu Hozon paper is what really matters. Did the blade come with sayagaki? Oei as stated in the brackets would put it in the early Muromachi era (1394-1428).

This was the listing. Big name, small price, which shouts red flags. I was really curious about the origami rather than the blade it purports to appraise. Appears these papers are being deliberately aged and given an artificial patina if they really only date to 1979. https://buyee.jp/ite...ottom_recommend_list

I've seen several styles of this origami format but I'm having a problem identifying this particular appraiser. Can anyone assist? Name and period the appraiser was working? Is it one of the Hon'ami clan? Are attributions of blades with this style of paper (from this appraiser) highly suspicious?

Hello Chris, What feature have you encircled in red in the top image?

Its the yellow paperwork in the yellow envelope shown in the top right corner of your first photo we would like to see.

Fully understandable decision and commendable your son wants to follow in your footsteps and carry on the tradition skills. Its the knowledge that you have acquired over many years of study, through trial and error and incremental improvements, listening, watching and learning that is so invaluable. I would hope all this knowledge is written down for posterity and study by future generations. Togishi, to which you alluded, are another group of skilled artisans that are slowly dwindling in number. Good luck to your 'apprentice'.

They all work OK for me. Nice swords for the money, especially that wakizashi.

I would be interested to know how to submit a sword for Juyo shinsa. As I understand it using a locally based intermediary would be required to complete all the necessary paperwork and registrations. Robert, please PM me with the details how the process works when based in Germany. If I proceed I will most likely submit in 2025.

It was great to finally meet you Nick, at the Expo. Henk and his colleagues did a wonderful job at the venue, which was their first at the Karel V. They are hoping to book the same place for next years event, which has the potential for further expansion should other dealers wish to attend. I think it will be more international with both Australian and North American dealers seriously considering a stand. I hope they and others will see it as a great opportunity to tap into the European market which is certainly under served when it comes to high quality Nihonto, Tosogu and Katchu. Utrecht is a wonderful city in its own right and the Expo is in a perfect location to enjoy. Hope to see you in 2025.

Here's another from the always interesting History of Katana YT channel with his usual informative historical context and backstory. A little shocked his real voice was so different to the narration though I really wish channels like this would stop perpetuating certain dogma such as Norishige being one of the Masamune juttetsu, when he was more probably a contemporary of Masamune and perhaps senior under their Master Shintogo Kunimitsu.

Not from where I'm sitting

Yes, it did cross my mind that this is a fairly informal group which is why I waited a week before posting here. No followup emails have been sent but I did send one Mr Kremers earlier today. I'll wait a few more days and then followup with Jussi's suggestion. There is still plenty of time until the 20th. btw is it possible to take swords to these events with prior agreement?

No not a member but the site clearly wants to encourage new participants who they hope will become paid up members. Attendance is via email confirmation and open to non members (for a fee, but waived if you're a noob). Therefore I would expect a response.

No I didn't have any other email contacts. I will send a message now. Thanks

Hi I'm trying to register for the next NBTHK meeting in Solingen Germany next month. Sent an email to info@nbthk.eu a week ago but never received a response. Is the group normally so slow at responding to emails? Is there another way to register?

I wasn't under the impression Shintetsu was a design feature of the swordsmith at all, in any era. Merely a product of excessive polishing with thinner Kawagane, commonly employed in the Muromachi period, exhibiting the effect after fewer polishing cycles.

How would this construction appear as the outer Hagane (light blue) is worn away through repeated polishing exposing the Kawagane (mustard)? Would it look different to the core Shigane? Harder to distinguish especially if the jihada is mokume?

Does this look like Shintetsu?

Here are a couple of examples I found online. The first one is a Naotsuna and the second a Ko Hoji Sadatsuna, both Juyo papered. I get the impression Tanobe is in the camp of letting it slide and does not degrade the quality of the blade much when they exhibit such Shintetsu features (circled in red).

Superb job all things considered. Now your eye won't be drawn to the defect which helps you enjoy the viewing and ownership experience.

In the course of my continuing education in the field of nihonto something has me perplexed. Its Shintetsu or the appearance of Shingane through the jihada. I have seen multiple examples of juyo papered swords with extensive Shintetsu along the entire jihada. For some Den its actually a kantei feature eg for Aoe and Rai schools, with Markus Sesko giving a specific name ie sumigane-hada or namazu-hada, on account of their very thin Kawagane. I have seen a couple of Tanobe sayagaki giving these same blades the superlative chinchin chocho seal of approval. There is even one report of a kantei session being so impressed with the quality of the exposed shingane on a blade that it was mistakingly attributed to Norishige on account of its Matsukawa-like 'jihada' pattern. My understanding is that the Shingane or Kawagane as in the case of 7 layer Soshu kitae style construction, was folded on early Koto swords and of a similar quality to the Kawagane or Hagane resulting in a clear chikei-like pattern being exposed when the outer layers were polished away. If this feature is generally considered a negative and indicative of a 'tired' blade, then how are these blades getting such accolades. Is the attribution over riding such a 'defect'? To me it seems very subjective. Ultimately, the answer as to whether it is good, bad or acceptable is, it depends.