nihonto1001

I will be attempting to find the original tsuka for this sword. I think there is little hope that I will. So, I will probably try to find a replacement tsuka. I noticed that the copper fittings on Gunto mounted railway swords seem to be more red in color, including the menuki. Out of curiosity, what is the reason for this? I imagine it has something to do with the factory that made the fittings. Is this specific to railway swords?

How about an excellent shirasaya with horn inlay and sayagaki by Tanobe, along with a Premium++ habaki?

Hard to say. The blade looks Muromachi, while the nakago looks Shinto. Since the nakago may have been re-worked during its lifetime, I am going with Muromachi Period.

Looks to be a nice hira-zukuri wakizashi. The koshirae looks original and intact. Nice fittings. In particular, I like the menuki. What was the closing price?

Being American, I hold Freedom of Speech as a very important concept. In fact, it is the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights in the US Constitution. So go ahead an hate, Jacques... Carry on. :lol:

Nagamitsu was known to make Kodachi in the Kamakura Period. Maybe the difference between Kodachi and Uchigatana is not mutually exclusive.

I do not see utsuri. It does not mean it is not there. I just cannot see it without using my imagination. The jigane seems to have a whitish hue, which makes me think either Chikuzen province, or Muromachi-early Shinto Period.

I'll be the second to give it a shot. How about Shitahara, late Muromachi, made in the spirit of the Nambokucho Period. Nice sword.

Yes, I was surprised when I noticed that right after I posted; the third Hojoji Masahiro I have seen in a week. Quite a coincidence. I have seen photos that make a good sword look bad (mine especially :lol:), and vice versa. Nothing replaces seeing a sword in hand.

Here is a nice example of a Hojoji Masahiro. Hojoji Masahiro was originally from Tajima, but later moved to Edo where he achieved great respect as a swordsmith. He is considered the best smith of the Hojoji Mon. Fujishiro ranks him as Jo Saku. His is also a Wazamono rated smith for making sharp blades. Collectors have gained great appreciation for his works because of their remarkable similarity to the great Kotetsu, another Edo smith. Exploring the relationship between Masahiro and Kotetsu would be a great area for further study. Like Kotetsu, he made many mumei blades and this is actually a kantei point, as most Shinto works are signed. This blade is mumei, as you can see. At the Philadelphia Sword Show, I had the opportunity to compare this sword to a signed Hojoji Masahiro wakizashi brought by Andy Quirt. The two swords were very similar. I almost wanted to buy his and have a Daisho koshirae built. But, I have already been down that road. Here are some halfway decent pics for your enjoyment.

David: My vote is for the Shi-Shi on Tetsugendo. I would probably not mount them though. I saw the Hojoji Masahiro on Andy's table. It was a nice piece, and fun to compare to my mumei example.

Hi David: I am also looking forward to seeing your collection. I will certainly bring the menuki. I may even have a nice tanto for you. I am trying to be selective with what I bring because I am flying in. The books may have to stay behind, other than by special request. I am at table 70, across from the Tea Area. See you there.

Getting geared up for the show. I will be bringing few, but very nice swords, including a Juyo Token. I am looking forward to seeing everybody and nice stuff. I ended up buying a nice tanto at the Baltimore Show last year, that is now being polished. Sell a few, buy a few, that is the name of the game. If you are there, stop by and say heh.

I agree with this in special cases, such as when they would paper the sword back to the same smith anyway (if the mei was removed). Another would be cases involving non recorded smiths. It may even end up better preserving history. . I think they could possibly issue a different color paper for such swords. I can't help but think how many 'false signatures' are actually attribution mei, by some togishi who shortened the sword, removing the original mei. I bet we will see it, when it is realized they are running out of swords to paper.

Thanks again.

Thank you kind Sir. I will see if I can find any examples by this smith. How about this as a possibility? Miyaguchi Ikkansai Shigehiro. I believe he was Meiji to Eatly Gendai.

A while ago I posted this tanto. The consensus has been that it has a mei of Shigehiro. I have found no information on this smith, and I have a hard time believing it is gimei. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Is it possible that it could also be read as Naohiro? It looks Shin-Shinto or even Gendai to my eyes.

This is really what it is all about. It is supposed to be what the NTHK & NBTHK is all about. I can understand (and agree with) not papering gimei swords, although these signatures are a unique part of the blades history. Sort of a Paradox. It does not seem too far fetched that some togishi could have attributed the blade to Hiromitsu. Such is the case with many Kotetsu, who commonly did not sign his works. Some "questionable mei swords" are even papered, such as in the case when a student signed for his Sensei.

Interesting nakago. Reminds me a little of the Ko AOI Ko Dachi at the Morikami Museum's Samurai Exhibit last summer.

Ebay has been bad lately. I am using BIN if selling, for a while. I feel I got the screws on my last two auctions.

Is it just me, or does it seem to anyone else, that Dragon tosogu prevalent in Mino works. Looks like a nice tsuba.

Hi Eric: That is an excellent piece of history there. Interesting how the habaki is Ashikaga mon. That is not my quote though. It was quoted from a previous thread.

So, because of the Tokugawa, it seems likely that the Muramasa 'den' bifurcated into another (or other) school/s. Perhaps Shitahara?

This is great stuff. Never knew there was a relationship between Nosada, Shitahara smiths and Muramasa. Further research suggests that Muramasa may have even been a student of Nosada.

Sa School? Muramasa. The pics are very nice, btw.