Toryu2020

Folks Just a reminder, we are just over a month away from the Chicago Samurai Sword Show. I have heard from lots of people, that I look forward to seeing there. It has been ten years. If you are thinking of submitting items for shinsa now is the time to send it in to guarantee a good time slot. If you know folks back East not on this forum we do ask that you spread the word. Should anyone have questions you can message me here or send us an email: nthk2012@toryu-mon.com Cheers, -t

Piers - I wonder if you have seen the latest episode of Rekishi Historia? How was it perceived by your Teppo mad brethren there in Japan? I should be interested to hear if it made an impact and what the perception was among gun collectors there. Cheers, -t

maki not sueki...

Robert - page 169 of the Shin Katchushi Meikan; "Nobuyoshi - Myochin Nobuyoshi Edo Jidai Sueki Ijuchi fumei Keireki fumei no Katchu Tanko nochi Tsubako tenjita mono rashiku [明珍信吉作] to hotta tsuba ga aru"

The key to remembering Kanefusa midare is the rounded heads of the gunome that contain ashi. Like the attached drawing, it is sometimes referred to as Kobushi (clenched fist) midare. fwiw -t

Fifty bucks? count me in!

Jason - Looks legit to me. Could still be a "Bring-back" even though it is an older blade. Listen to Grey, fatal flaws could still be hidden by that rust and only a trained polisher can tell you if it is restorable. Nice to have a good clean signature and a jumping off point for your learning. Old newspaper was used in the tsuka going back to the 1600's BTW, so don't make too much of those "prayer sheets" -t

Jesper - I think you are on the right track, I would agree the cross shape that dominates the piece is inspired by a spool. The artist it seems has deftly inserted hishi (diamond shapes) into the openings in a very nice treatment Ihave not seen before. For whats it is worth I like this a lot-t

Jonas a curious mei indeed - are you able to post close up photos of the signature? if youd rather email, you can send high rez images to my address nthk2012@toryu-mon.com cheers -t

Always enjoyed his postings, we corresponded briefly and I had the pleasure to meet him the one time in Tampa. Always sad to lose a like-minded soul, a friend. Condolences to his family. -t

Thank you Jason - we can always slip in one more blade. We are here for you if you need us -t

Jason this post is for you! if you have any questions about the Chicago Shinsa do let me know. -t

Wes there are sword clubs in L.A. and San Francisco that provide regular opportunities to study swords in all states of preservation but most importantly in newly polished and papered condition. The best way for you to learn is to get some background and vocabulary and then see and study as many swords in hand as you can. It is very hard to avoid the temptation to buy, i would not buy in this case and here is why: 1. the kissaki appears to have been poorly reshaped at some point - this might be fixable but maybe not without significant alteration. 2. the rust could be hiding hagire, hairline cracks, a fatal flaw, hard to see but impossible to repair. 3. if you spend a grand on the blade and two grand on restoration you'll have a three thousand dollar sword but not much more. this is a big gamble, listen to the many voices telling you to pass on this one unless you have lots of money to gamble with. if you are interested in attending a sword club meeting just let us know, -t www.ncjsc.org

Folks - Just a reminder that now is the time for registrations, as we are less than two months from the Chicago Show. Also I have updated the website with a hyperlink to the registration forms as some people had reported problems loading and printing the form. If you explore the website a bit you will see that we also updated the galleries, especially the armour page with pictures from our recent trips to Dallas and L.A. Should you have any questions about the shinsa, contact me here or thru the website, Thank you. -t

Ken et al- Yamamura Sensei has several dedicated students. So while we know it will not be his son, the esteemed reverend, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that there will be a 25th generation Masamune. It will be interesting to see if he passes on the name. -t

i would have gone Satsuma with this piece looks a bit stouter than Osaka, and the nie is in keeping with their work... -t deliberate, i say.

Jason is it an art piece we are talking about? then definitely talk to Brian. if for a morepracticle item like an Iai sword, I would go with the DYI option myself. FWIW -t

Beautiful piece, A pair of severed heads, not from Tameshigiri (Suimono-giri) but from battle. Very auspicious (for a head hunter). Two mimi? you guys miss nothing... -t

Nice find John, a piece well worth investigating. Hoping you'll be able to share some more photos, -t

A ceiling fan? Whatever it is I think it's cool. -t

Jan - Nothing wrong with your eyes, and mine it turns out. Thought I had made a mistake but indeed this is what it says in the book. No oshigata of that particular mei, something we may have to look for. I agree it is very strange since all my other references list Motoyasu as the third son of Motonao... -t

Jan et al - According to Fukunaga Suiken writing in Satsuma no Katana to Tsuba; The date of Motoyasu's death is not understood. However there is a tanto dated Bunka 5 (1808), where he gives his age as 76, we can therefore say that he was born in Kyoho 18 (1733). And given that there is a sword dated Bunka 8 (1811), he lived to an exceptionally old age for his time (at least 79). hopin this helps... -t

Interesting question Stephen - I should be very surprised if Hon'ami Koji, my teacher, in Kamakura would do such a thing, but I shall have to ask him sometime. You might speak to Paul Martin as I know he is well acquainted with Hon'Ami Koshu, who might offer kinpun but with him being elevated to Living National Treasure, I cannot imagine it would be cheap. -t Thinking out loud, maybe there is a way to use photography to digitally recreate the mei, make color prints and this could go along with the sword as part of its history/documentation?

Peter - This Oshigata is from a book by Fujishiro, a study of Naotane, Masahide and Kiyomaro published during the war years. We shall have to examine your blade more closely to determine when it was made as the signature could easily have been added later. Kajihei is the nickname of Hosoda Naomitsu a student of Naokatsu who took to forging famous Shinshinto works when there was no market for swords in the Meiji period. If you can find Harry Watsons' translations of the Nihonto Koza Shinshinto volume there is an excellent article on how to spot gimei and particularly the work of Kajihei that is well worth the cost. -t

Peter - attached is a published signature that is considered gimei - I think you will find it interesting for comparison. -t