Babu

Nicholas think about what Ray has suggested it make sound sense.

I'm told this blade is koto. I'm not good at the complexity of suguata for the period. Can anyone confirm if this is possibly accurate? Blade is now 25" Hamon appears to be ko midare based on suguba. No obvious flaws Machi okuri by at least 4" In good polish. Solid silver habaki Comes in high end WWII Koshirae with family mon. Pierced tsuba. Not a heavy sword Thank you.

Sorry autocorrect. Remember I only have this phone. Is that a person worth preserving the mei of off the top of anyone's head?

I see it as Bushu osafune munemitsu. But why preserve that mei? And apologies I was confusing it with another sword mei I have.

Sorry what's BOMM?

If Paul has orchestrated this for you your likely to be extremely happy but remember that what's in your mind may not be exactly what turns out of the forge. Is your commission high end or more affordable? Subjectively speaking of course.

Is that oil for lantern?

Can anyone possibly confirm the mei and possibly indicate or suggest why anyone would retain this smiths signature? Last image orientation is correct now. Thank you Adam

Now if I had said that I'd have more PMs moaning than I would want lol!

Grev I think that is Yanagi Ba. Usually has those elaborate saw cut patterns. Mostly associated with the momoyama period to EDO. These create a whistling sound. I'll be offering a set of fifteen war and hunting arrowheads in a box frame soon. Little info. Japanese arrows that curved to the left are known as Haya or first arrows while those that curved to the right are second arrows and are known as Otoya. Each of these has its purpose because Haya rotates clockwise while Otoya rotates counter clockwise.War Arrows are referred to as Soya or Seisen. However, arrows for fighting are referred to as Shuraya whereas those used in the battlefield are referred to Senjonoya. As for the parts of these arrows here they are: No is made out of bamboo that has different shapes. Typically these are from the Kanto area of Japan since it has a moderate climate. Fletching refers to the outermost tail feathers of large birds of prey. Nock or Hazu are made from goat or deer horn. These have bamboo nocks. Arrowheads are made for target practice with a cone shape iron tip.

I am returning it Monday I'm in agreement with you. Or at the very least it throws suspicion. Thank you all. You have been a great help.

Thank you.

John your statement is fundamentally flawed. If it's factual and constructive then I don't have a problem at all. This principle of replying to posts was and I imagine still is how the NNB is supposed to work is it not? If I must only pretty up my opinions to suit the members on here then it's likely that opinion isn't really mine isn't it? I am certainly not the only one that replies but I get some have little to offer so may remain quiet. I've noticed the more established members are immune to recourse no matter what they say. However this isn't in relation to any sales. It doesn't even offer anything to the original post about the many ways to read a mei. Or even the digression to shinsa or no shinsa. It's nothing but a dig. Just like the PM was. Still I am not sure what the NMB members are offering anymore. You let people say what they will to enhance a sale, you insist that members only comment through private messages. There appears to be a systematic problem at the very core of the principles of NMB policies that many feel need review. Not all,but some. I have no sales on here I don't really like to sell but if I do I welcome all challenge and consideration. I disagree with many that this is a safer place than eBay. I agree it should be though. Both eBay and PayPal offer a money back guarantee for up to 180 days and they nearly always back the buyer. I know from experience.Ive had a guy sign for goods then two months later claim he didn't receive the goods.Even with his signiture as proof, he got his money back.

The offer was made July 29th so two weeks ago, but be that as it may you have not seen the two together so I'd be concerned your making a few assumptions based on what you think you can see in one bad image I provided . If John lissenden and WA Young were happy, then I will leave it at that for now. I'll take on board what you say though and investigate further thank you. Still be that as it may we are off thread and you're clearly, from your PM's and responses to posts in which I comment, now intent on disruption and discredit. You seem to be ignoring your own PM'd advice George. That could, if I didn't know you better, make you a hypocrite. Therefore don't trouble yourself any more, you do not need to comment on my posts or indeed anything I say in other posts. This way you will reduce your stress levels and you should enjoy the forum more. So my advice is Enjoy the forum, enjoy life as none of us know how long we have , But please from now on refrain from commenting in my posts. Thank you and God bless Adam.

Now that would be interesting! A phone autocorrecting speech from a man in discomfort and pain. 😂

Thank you George. I appreciate your opinion you are indeed a very valuable asset to the community and I say that from the heart. They are still not for sale but thank you for your offer. I can only go on the data provided on the collector ”cards” which I am slowly adding to my own way of recording this old data. Both came off a tsuka that was collected by WA Young in 1922. ”Lone tsuka (for uchigatana or wakizashi) no menuki. Ito is jabarra and looks significantly degraded. Samegawa:coloured shark skin Fuchi of a dragon signed Masachika Kashira of a plum tree (Ume) partially in decay possibly by the same artist though stylistically different, similarities are noted and discussed. Probably a special order set." The connection was established as this and similar themes of dragons and Ume as a connection: The sleeping Dragon plum tree Tokyo The Crouching dragon plum tree at Kameido. Etc This does mean that you could be right. However the metropolitan museum has a set with this kashira but an altogether different and highly suspicious Fuchi which is no match in style or IMHO theme. This is because I believe it's believed theme is the three friends of winter. This should then be featuring pine,matsu 松, plum,ume 梅, and bamboo,take 竹; all of which retain their vigor during cold weather. The pine was associated with chastity, the bamboo with uprightness, and the plum with purity and renewal. However I caution that the metropolitan museum piece is again stylistically different and executed thus: Tsuchi-me-ji (hammered surface) with usu-shishiai-bori or usuniku-bori.(low relief carving) There is no reference to the pine on either piece I noted when I saw them. So there are two extent examples of this kashira and two different Fuchi. Yet which is correct, if indeed any? Regards Adam

I second you got what you paid for but you won't find out it's the lost masamune. Someone should tell you who's the mei is. Still I think at that price and budget you did as expected. Congratulations.

Thanks JP. Really difficult call. Number two looks like it's corroded along the line of the base of the habaki. Much like mine in that respect. Three is a very hard call. I'm inclined to think this is natural corrosion. Just follows an unusual line. Thank you for the references.

Lol! Chris, I withdrew my offer. I wouldn't spend any money on that after careful re-study of the images. It was a thought to try to help but I can see how it could be interpreted. We judge peoples motives by our own standards and morals. No offence but: What's a token society member going to do though, I mean really, put on x Ray glasses and give and expert opinion on the blades potential? Until a full polish is complete you will know nothing. Everything is guesses and costs. Now ask the OP if he can afford to gamble £800 on satisfying the curiosity of numerous board members. And that's just for the dreaded UK polisher. BTW Les is now the only experienced Togoshi in the UK. He did study under Kenji when he lived here. He visits Japan for further training every year at least twice. He attends many Japanese courses to understand more. He may not be a Japanese person but even some of those Japanese trained Togoshi I've heard can produce less than desirable workmanship. So the worst Togoshi Japan can offer against the best the UK can offer and at a third of the price??? Remember the facts. This was neglected for decades not treasured. Only now has it come to the attention of someone who has thought " wow what a mess, but I wonder, is it still worth something" Now due to poor images and a nice sugata this poor guy thinks this gamble might pay off. Steve how much is your curiosity worth in monetary terms? What would you be happy to part with to answer the questions others are raising? If you loved Japanese swords and regardless of cost just wanted it restored then that's one thing. Happy to lose some money, but know its now once again as it should be. But that's not where you are based on our discussion. Best thing you can do is pop it into a local auction, let everyone on here know which one and the date of sale. Roll your dice that way and walk away a winner.

Could I ask if it were normal to respond to an advert for a $12500 item to an encrypted untraceable mailbox in Switzerland ? For $12500 I'd want a face to face to inspect the item pre purchase . No matter how genuine the seller might appear once your moneys transfered your on your own. If you wanted to return it, even if it did arrive, where might you stand enforcing this? Just curious really.

Let me know how this pans out I've an interest for a friend. Thank you Adam

I'll try tomorrow in daylight Ray. Might get a little better but restricted to my phone for images. You won't see much if anything of the detail as it's in need of a polish. Even I cannot see much beyond the Nakahodo and monouchi.

No, me neither JP. I want examples (images ) of welded nakago to compare. It may just be a flaw under the habaki it lines up but it's certainly ugly

It is a suzuribako I think. It's nice but I'll pass Leon. Good luck with your sale.

I agree Oshy just looking at the flakey kissaki it looks dire indeed. It's such a huge gamble as blisters and pockets can appear in an apparently good blade at polish stage.