Toryu2020

looks to be Edo period, maybe talking about saya doubt the secrets of the shogunate are written here. why is this here? in tsuka we see all kinds of odd shims how was this found? folded and hidden at the bottom or somehow wrapping the inside or lining the back? interested to see what this turns out to be... -t

it is possible to break a tip doing noto, it is also very possible to break the tip on nukitsuke. for this reason a "iaido" polish includes flattening the ha-saki at the very tip to make it just a touch more robust... we always tell beginners "you can take metal off the tip but you cant put it back on!" -t

Adrian - I see what you mean - has a classic look of ato-bori. i dont see the paper on your link i wonder if there is any notation there? The temper in the kaeri is quite close to the hi on the omote so we should wonder if original hi were not altered? -t

I think it an honest little tsuba, not master work but not the usual subject either. I think the whole thing is copper and other than some gold on the smaller turtle it is all done with patination... -t

I may have met him only once but met with his work often, years of great manga reading thanks to Studio Proteus. RIP

Junichi - If you know the owner - I think we'd all be interested to see the wood inside the fuchi on the tsuka and of course the koiguchi.I'm inclined to see this as late myself, as han-dachi and "wood" koshirae enjoyed a great deal of popularity at the end of the Edo period. It has a terrific "Low-Rider" appeal that I like very much. -t

Rustic yes but beautiful, hang on to this one - with some love and attention i'll bet the patina will come back nicely... -t

A wonderful little tanto Michael - you are most welcome here, Looking forward to seeing and hearing about your discoveries with this very neat inheritance, -t

In a word; UMAI!! Thank you Ian for sharing, -t

my opinion only but does not look like Shoami or 1700 to my eye, much closer to 1900... -t

Jack - i have nearly all of Sasama Sensei's books, if you want i am happy to bring some along to upcoming meetings. i have other references on abumi i am willing to share, PM if you think i can help... -t

Sorry should have said SHINAI with an "eye" not an "II"!! Keith - an interesting question, I think it has more to do with the qualities of the steel and construction. Might be a good question to pose as a separate thread... -t

I would venture that what you are seeing is a clam shell, next to that is the hastily folded court robes and headdress of a court noble. There appears to be another little clam shell in the fold of the robe. I see two posibilities; this is a reference to Kakinomoto Hitomaro a very famous poet of the Manyo era. Pictures of him were revered as a kind of god of poetry and were trotted out for poetry readings and contests. Don't ask me why but the clam-shell always seems to be there. The other is, this is some scene from Genji Monogatari - Kyoto girls played games with painted clam shells, still do, so this image may be an allusion to a couple nearby in another room.... But really I think it is the first of these two ideas. -t

All - I think we need to remember that the troubles of the Bakumatsu era came at the end of 200 plus years of peace. And while ko-ryu kenjutsu that included the battlefield practices of the Sengoku era were still practiced in spots most samurai of the time really only practiced something akin to shinae-kendo. If you try to block a sword, or cut at someones kote or do tsuba-zeriai with a live blade as one does with a bamboo sword, fingers are sure to come off. This is all natural since stepping under another mans swords while trying to cut him illicits a great deal of hesitation in all but the bravest. So two guys swinging at each other but trying hard not to get cut will also most likely produce a lot of loose fingers. And it is true as Chris has said that in those days that after many a fight, fingers were collected up and then messages would be attached supporting the Emperor or the Shogun, these were then tossed into the gardens of the homes of known supporters of one camp or the other. Heads if they were taken were reserved for the most hated persons on the other side... We should also remember that the Shinsengumi modelled their uniforms on those of the Ako Roshi - which might seem strange since the actions of the "47 Samurai" were in fact a rebellion against Tokugawa rule but by the 1860's they were seen by all as exemplars of loyalty. Thus the hachimaki (Hitai-ate) was a choice dictated by what the Ako Roshi wore rather than more practical concerns though they would have proved a useful choice for their mission... -t

Curt - Perhaps I misunderstand so want to ask - where are you getting the saya made? Is the craftsman not producing a new habaki along with a new tsuka to match the shirasaya? Is it just a saya you are having made, one suitable for lacquer and wear as a full koshirae? I only ask because getting a "shirasaya" is generally not a step to re-mounting an old sword... -t

FWIW 1. Shinshinto - ubu 2. Koto - Muromachi 3. Koto - Nanboku-cho 4. Koto - Kamakura

and the flower fits for shi-shi better than saru ... -t

Gary - It may sound obvious but you are looking at seal script - I believe this is an homage and what you are seeing is 安親 : Yasuchika The animals appear to be a monkey and a water-dragon. The third thing looks like a missing ume-gane (plug) and not a feature intended by the artist. FWIW -t

Drago - looking at the date, start with the first character. If you think it is Mei (明) then you need to look at all the year periods that start with Mei. If you are convinced this is a Tameshi-mei then you should only be looking at nengo after 1600 or so. If this character is not "Mitsu" then what other character, often seen in dates might it be? and that number 8 character appears to me to be pretty common. If there were two characters before it what might they be? The other side I agree is a puzzle but maybe photos of different angles may help. Are you convinced there is a character between "tsu" and "U"? neat stuff, -t

Folks - It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2013 NTHK West Coast Shinsa. Following on the success of the 2012 Tampa Shinsa Yoshikawa Sensei and team have been persuaded to bring an overseas shinsa to the west coast. This event will coincide with the 2013 NCJSC To-ken Taikai being held the same weekend in the same hotel in San Francisco. It promises to be a heavily attended sword show this year and with the added excitement of a shinsa will surely be one not to miss. 2013 NTHK San Francisco Shinsa August 3,4 and 5 09:00 to 17:00 daily San Francisco Airport Marriott, Burlingame Registration $100.00 per item Visit http://www.toryu-mon.com for registration information and full details. or email us at NTHK2013@toryu-mon.com We look forward to seeing you all there, -t Note: If you plan to stay at the hotel remember to ask for the special "sword show" rate.

Denis - If you insert a shim on the sides of the koiguchi the saya is more likely to split. The best way to go is to insert your shims at the ha and mune (top and bottom). Very very thin leather works or if you can get it paper thin slices of cedar the Japanese call kyogi. The danger lies in the glue used. Make sure you use nothing with any petroleum or other chemical base. Simple white glue works fine but must be thoroughly dry before you return the sword to the saya. If you make your own rice-glue use it sparingly and remember to completely dry it, before returning the sword to the saya. I have done this many times for swords used in our dojo, it is quite easy to do and harmless if you follow the advice above, -t

Traditionally all fires are extinguished at the end of the old year and not re-lighted until the third day at the earliest. This is why traditional news years food is all served cold and prepared in advance. For swordsmiths this was indeed how they re-lit the fire and still do. They hammer a piece of steel until redhot and then use that to light paper to relight the fires in the forge. -t

i am more inclined to see this a mizuhiki, originally dried fish given as a gift on auspicious occasions. today it is represented by red/white folded paper on gift boxes - indeed the inclusion of the rat is also auspicious... -t

Two Tomoe as Barry says and two kiri In the classic kiri-mon you see three leaves and three "flowers" here I believe all we are seeing is the middle of the three and the other two are hinted at... -t

I'd go with Jingo... -t