Jim Manley

At about 1300 hrs today, January 19, 2023, two blades were delivered by the USPS to my house in St. Louis, MO. Like all of us I suppose I had fretted since the Japanese dealer informed me he had received the export permit and the blades would be at the mercy of...... who knows? I have the EMS Dispatch note in hand from Japan Post. The two blades were shipped on January 13, 2023! They cleared customs in Chicago and made it onto my doorstep in only 6 days! No damages, No issues. This shows what the system is capable of when everything works. Now I'm going to buy a lottery ticket. Thank you Japan Post, US Customs and USPS, Great Job.

I skipped second photo jim

A friend just found this nice Umabari at a gun show and I’d like to help him understand it a bit better. I think what’s there is a poem but we sure could use a bit of translation assistance. Thsnks jim Manley

Could anyone help with a translation of this Saya Gaki? Thanks Jim Manley

I recently acquired the Naotane O-Dambira shown here. Unfortunately, the box became separated from the blade within the past few years when it was sold at a show somewhere on the West Coast I believe. If you have the box I'd be anxious to see them reunited. If you know its whereabouts I'd be happy to hear from the present owner or to have my interest passed along so that if not now, perhaps someday we can get them together again. Please feel free to PM me. Jim Manley

Not exactly a "Royal" but here is a Wakizashi made by Akamatsu Masanori during the Onin war siege of Fuoka Castle. Masanori was assisted by Osafune Munemitsu & Katsumitsu. He made few blades and all of them were political gifts. This blade is presently in Japan awaiting NBTHK shinsa. Masanori was known to have made only 14 blades, this one, No. 15 surfaced in the US a few decades ago.

I have a Naokatsu Katana as well as a tonto both dated February 1857 and would love to add a Wak. I know the chances are small but one never can tell......

I’m struggling with this mei. It is lightly struck with a very fine chisel. Dated 1944 . My “guess” is Arimasa but I have 0 confidence in this . It looks like Mino-Seki work to me. ‘Thanks. Jim

Sorry Bruce, not a stamp, just a scuff mark. But here is a Teruhiro that has a stamp. jim

A bit of assistance would be appreciated . I’m thinking this is Masamura or Takamura? thanks. Jim

More pix. notice the Nobutaka, Star stamped and numbered 218. Signed tachi mei.

More photos

Here are 5 blades all by Yoshihara Kuniie I, three signed Kuniie,and one each by the other Mei’s he used, Nobutaka and Akihito. It’s interesting to compare them and note the differences as well as their similarities. No. 3, in the middle, signed Nobutaka especially interesting I think I’ll try to add a few more photos. Jim

A great question an an issue I certainly considered. Because the space is below ground and surrounded by concrete and steel (even overhead) the area maintains a temperature of about 63 degrees F / 17 degrees C. I only heat it occasionally when I have guests who might be uncomfortable. While it might not be visible in the photo, there is a humidistat on the wall. The humidity stays in the range of 48 percent. My thoughts were that minimizing variations in temperature and humidity would lessen expansion and contraction of the saya as and lacquer work. The area gets no sunlight and is in darkness most of the time lessening the possibility of damage from UV light. I have noted that newer shira saya’ s continue to contract as they loose additional moisture. As for the blades, I’ve had no issues of rust developing but am a devoted user of oil. I purchased several boxes of micro fiber cloths and clean every blade before returning it to its designated place. If you have any suggestions for improvements I would appreciate any thoughts you might have.

I started collecting in the late 80’s . We have a good group in St. Louis and we get together, show off and compare swords as often as possible. I’ve been most fortunate in that I’ve never had to sell anything. The COVID lock down provided an opportunity to catalog and organize the lot. I’m hoping some or all of the grandsons will show an enthusiasm so we can share them. jim

Sorry, I didn’t check my photo before I hit sent. The previous photo is the reverse side. I’m struggling with photos as all are too large to attach .

I’ll post a couple shots of the other side of the nikago too. I’m still working on the translation but I’m thinking a town or province. The ridge down the center makes it difficult to do decent photos. And I ran out of ohsigata paper.

Close up of the two sword brackets. The hooks are lined with self adhesive felt pads. jim

I built a fire proof lined vault in the man cave and lined it with slat board. Then we got to work in the shop and made wooden, stepped brackets which allow a blade in shira saya to be displayed adjacent to the koshirae. Blades having just shirasaya simply rest on slatboard hooks. I’m now gradually repositioning blades and grouping them by eras, and schools which is useful for study purposes . jim

I picked up this little Ken at the Chicago show a few years ago. I pulled it out the other day to work on the signature and found it’s Unshu from the early Kamakura. Jim

The Akihide has been the hands of at least 3 other collectors in St. Louis before I got it from Ted Kiss. I don’t know the earliest history of how it came to leave Japan but have to assume it was a GI bring back. But with a total length of almost 6 ft it would have been difficult to hide. The saya was split and the blade was out of polish when I got it. It’s an amazing piece when one considers the effort needed to heat and forge weld what was likely something over 20 kilos of steel when, Hikosaburo started.

Some Hada, and Hamon photos Jim

I thought that posting these photos here would hit the group most interested in Gunto Smiths and that all would enjoy this O-Dachi. It is in Kamura-Otoshi-zukuri form with a nagasa of 111.5 cm (44.9") . It is signed Hikosaburo ju-hachi sai tsukuru. (Hikosaburo made this at age 18). The Ura says (In commemoration of the triumphal return of my brother Sadayoshi from the war against China. Before going further, we have to thank John Tirado for his unbelievable work in resurrecting the original saya and Nick Benson who according to his father did all the polish work. I'm sure all will appreciate the work involved in working with this huge, heavy blade. He brought out features, most of which can only be discovered with the blade in hand. I hope to bring this blade to the Chicago show next month, if that event occurs. However, my youngest daughter is scheduled to present me with another grandson at about that time....... we'll see. To give a sense of scale I included another blade, a Yoshihara Kuniie, 28" + in length.

This is my friend Howard holding the Saburo Akihide a few years ago. I’ll post the new pix on a separate thread.

The blade isn't rusty as it appears in the picture. I used a filter to increase sharpness and the brown tinting is a side effect. This will go off for polish shortly. I'm hoping to shoot pictures of the Saburo Akihide (45" / 114.3 cm) O-Dachi this week mentioned in a previous thread. It's a hand full and getting it positioned for photos is difficult. However, the polish brought out the best in it and I think many of the members, particularly the Gunto collectors will appreciate it. Jim