Toryu2020

George - I beg to differ. If this were the case we would see piles of chickens, sheep, cows and snakes on old discarded habaki. They simply do not exist. The rat in Japanese art, especially kodogu, is recognized as a harbinger of material wealth. A very un-Samurai aspiration... -t

The polish is not good, I don't see tiredness but I also don't see the cracks and hakobore he mentions. Theres no papers, just a registration card. Walk away, save your money, stop looking at ebay... -t

Since the rat is a companion to Daikoku it is a symbol of wealth - most likely this would have been on a merchants sword and therefore not being drawn often enough to wear down the carving on the habaki... -t

Sir - I think you are correct, the Japanese tend not to excavate the many Kofun 古墳 scattered about the country as they see these as the graves of ancient emperors. Some say its because they are afraid to discover their ancestors are all Korean or worse aliens! in any case most have not been excavated. If I were to embark on such a study as you suggest, just using the internet I would start with the Shosoin, museums in Nara and Asuka and then look for museums associated with Kofun that might have excavated swords and armor in their collections. An interesting idea... -t

Looks like someone gussied up a muromachi piece, altered the nakago, added a mei and artificially aged it. Someone spent $3499 too much. mho -t

掛け軸 or 掛軸 kakejiku You will find millions unless you search for 日本刀の図, or 日本刀の押型 or some variations of these. -t

While I agree that the chip could be removed by a competent polisher I would leave it alone, part of the swords history. I think you have a nice offering here. First two kanji are a slogan 必勝 Hissho! Certain Victory! The artist is Kato Jumyo 加藤寿命 There should be plenty of good info online. -t

Not a mon - Rain Dragon, very stylized... -t

Do you have - The Samurai Sword by Yumoto? The Japanese Sword by Sato? Best start there if not, -t

OK here's mine - early 1800s Swordmaker Manzai Tsugumitsu. A little light in an otherwise dreary winter... -t

I am sure folks would love to see pictures of the blade. This is a well regarded school, you may have a very nice inheritance there... -t

Mike definitely knows his stuff... -t

Please ask the seller for the dimensions - I promise you this is no more than 50 cm high...

I hope you know this is a Boys Day item... -t

Ik denk dat met de beschikbaarheid van vrije en bekwame vertaalsoftware er geen behoefte is aan een regel die zich beperkt tot berichten die alleen in het Engels zijn. -t

My advice is to study valid examples, not gimei... -t

Greg - Thank kind of chippy disparate signature is more indicative of the Showa era, also a time when big names were put on blades to bolster the spirits of young men going off to war... -t

There is a translation... http://www.ncjsc.org/ncjsc_publications.htm -t

If you're concerned the blade has been switched ask the seller for exact measurements do these then match what is listed on the saya? -t

I'd be inclined toward 重氏 Shigeuji... -t

Try here... https://emuseum.nich.go.jp/detail?langId=ja&webView=&content_base_id=100189&content_part_id=0&content_pict_id=0 -t

I mean people buy tons of the crap coming out of China, why not just tell people "these are fakes BUT they're Japanese " -t

Kuyomon were used by many families - here are the kuyomon of the Hosokawa and Date respectively...

Right you are Barry - it was the modern look to the menuki that struck me right away. Here are the backs -

nfs - Kogai-naoshi Fuchi most likely by a later artist...