Babu

Yes it's the same sword as the oshigata in the book. 3rd generation?

The next Japanese shinsa is December Bob told me I've three going in for curiosity sake after polishing.

I think JP is bang on. Remember in Japanese culture giving gifts is integral and some might find a certain smiths swords as lucky or offer long life etc so to gift a sword by this smith (who we will call Nagamitsu for this explanation ) was considered a truly great present. Now if this nagamitsu smith only made 50 swords then some might be damaged beyond repair, lost of just polished away. So when you only have a few swords in existence in the world and these are already gifted to someone, how then will you gift a Nagamitsu sword to all your other worthy friends? Well, you get another smith to aquire or make quality swords and then get him to sign them as made by the lucky Nagamitsu smith. So even gimei may very well be a sword made by a very good smith then signed at the request of the client. You don't argue with powerful clients.

Without seeing the blade I cannot comment further but Ive owned many naginata and yari so I might recognise something. Thank you Adam

Ah understood, you don't know either. Well let's hope Ford deigns to explain why he felt the need to react that way.

I'd love to Brian, but I'm trying to fathom why on earth Ford attacked me. I'm totally confused

I cannot find reference to a kunishige working for that school Robert. Can you point me to your source?

Nicely matched mounts are worth a bit on there own so even more if a bargain.

I agree it's shin Shinto and unsigned as it is it's value is relatively low. The jabarra Ito is a nice and expensive touch. The iron fittings are ok but not exceptional. Looks Echizen to me with that shape jiri misty hamon and mu hada. I think a later period Echizen tanto in mediocre mounts with quality tsuka.

I know that brown you are talking about as representative of wood items and I agree it's more like a shakudo than shibuichi it's thick and not transparent. As an example of the brown I refer to see the images below. All of these have been catalogued as shibuichi. Thank you Adam

Firstly there is no need to insult it shows a certain lack of intelligence and a shallow self indulgent personality . What have I misenterpreted from the above statement?

I thought John that Ford said shibuichi was not brown at all but nigurome was so anything brown had to be Nigurome? However I'm mighty confused about now, as everything about shibuichi I was taught seems wrong. ? however I would have said tsuba no 1 was shibuichi and no 2 shakudo but the depth of nanako makes the colouration darker so it's a tough call. i don't think it's had different treatment to those areas so it's the way light is reflecting on the texture of the surfaces. I'd say this effect was exhibited in both tsuba.

Pure copper is extremely difficult to cast as well as being prone to surface cracking, porosity problems, and to the formation of internal cavities. I cannot see any indication myself that this is cast and I'm not sure but the OP could confirm this with a magnifying glass I guess. You could be right but I cannot see it myself.

Are you talking cast copper only I can see nothing that could possibly lead anyone to this conclusion. Can you please elaborate for me?

Jeese no one's allowed an opinion on the NMB are they. How on earth do you learn? If as Ford stated all the chocolate brown finish that both John Lissenden and myself have always referred to as a "chocolate brown shibuichi" then I stand corrected and am more than happy to re-educate myself and change the descriptions on my pieces to nigurome. I was merely educated by John's description of the material and on many of his peices . I find it strange that in all the years Docliss was on here he was never corrected by Ford or indeed anyone else in his description of that chocolate brown polished metal colour which he's always called shibuichi. In fact it's only come to light now so my questions have in essence helped you all. So for the record are you saying for that this is not shibuichi and that's a fact? Regards Adam

Thank you all.,👍

Unryu-zu tsuba unsigned Mito vertical round brass stone joint plow out carving inlaid color picture both chest holes (Kogai burial)

Hi Bruce it's an interesting thread. The tassel on my gunto is a strio of leather knotted at the end and with both ends cut to 45 degrees. It's very old almost fragile and very soft. I don't not believe it's been added by anyone it seems to show it's always been a part of the fittings. I've got leather harnesses and Tack from around 1935-45 and this looks very similar in it's condition. I must assume it's period. I cannot see why a GI might want to add a tassel. I've seen a great many with nothing.

Sorry the picture was wrong and removed.

Great there was no tassel it's cut at 45 degrees on both ends and is old old leather. Easily as old as the rest of the leather but untreated. So softer. So type 98 thank you👍

Just put a shingunto in the for sale section could you look and see if you can offer any information into what the mounts are? I believe NCO was mentioned. Thank you Adam

I agree not as bad as Kyō-kanagushi though.

I have no copyright over this document but it's in the public domain. I hope it's upload works japanese-irogane-alloys-and-patination.pdf

Mauro I've just googled Kyō-kanagushi and looked at about 20 NBTHK tsuba classified as Kyō-kanagushi. This tsuba is better quality than any of those that I can see. They are mediocre. Heavy gold,nice carving (no top drawer but not bottom) darkest shakudo good nanako. I'm not convinced it's Kyō-kanagushi.

Hi can you please translate the papers to English for me?