tetsugendo11

funny about the post, i just happened to see a similiar chinese guy with the same shoes on the way to the nbthk on the ground like a turtle the other day................guess to be styling has a price to pay!

Gyokusai Mito Kinko also a new aquisition for Tetsugendo.com NBTHK certified

Too All, We hope to see some of our old friends at the show next week, as well as hopefully to make some new ones. On hand we will have a special known Kaga Kinko Tsuba for both the lecture and of course for purchase. See you all at the show, Mike Yamasaki

To All, sorry for the delay I have been preparing for the SF show. I have talked with paul martin, and he has gotten confirmation from Ono san that indeed "A' example is a forgery, and "B" example is genuine. Paul will post more info as he recieves from Onosan. So buyers beware if you are considering a sword by Ono san and it has the same type of signature as example "A" or post it on the Board.

Can you please put a ruler next to the blade for visual size info?

I believe the item in question might be a "sumi", but definitely not a fukure, but possibly a tateware or ji ware. So either a very small carbon inclusion or a small area of loose grain.

Forgive my short replys, but that is all from me for now until I can get something over to Ono san. I must now locate a very rare item (a small sized R2D2 star wars character for my 3 year olds birthday present!) Funny I can find a nanbokucho blade easier than a star wars toy that seems to be sold out everywhere(especially when you need it asap!)

After studying the tagane as well as I could from the sword on Token sugitas site, and comparing it to test example "A",I believe in my opinion that the sword on Token Sugitas site is valid, BUT the sword usee as example "A" is fake, and is a forgery of the blade on Sugita sans site.I wish that I could see the mei more clearly. The basis of my opinion is that the tagane is different on the "A" example. The tagane of the sword on Token Sugitas site is a bit blurry when blown up, but i think I can see the gata gata (excuse my terminology) tagane that Ono san usually used in his mei as compared to the smooth tagane that is in test "A". Please note the use of multiple tagane per stroke in examples deemed genuine in his book, and the lack of such tagane in the so-called forgery example "A".

Also paul martin, can you contact me about a question on a different matter? use mike@tetsugendo.com Thanks Mike

Hi All, from some new info (I have been busy with another project) that I would like verified perhaps Paul martin would know this as he deals with Token Sugita. Is that the works signed with the Ono mei were all for shinsakuto exhibtions/ not for general sale (meaning the ones with only the date with nothing after the (haru). Then the ones signed as such for example "B" were for normal general public sale. The word is that there have been fakes of the swords made from the "exhibition" mei and if anyone is thinking of buying one should check with Ono san directly first if there are any suspicion. As soon as I finish this one project I will send a letter to ono san and also speak to another Tosho in Japan. I myself as both a collector and a dealer want to know for sure what is real and what is fake if any at all. Nowadays I see many suspicious blades that haven't been around before the "bad" economic times.

Sorry, but I am not clear with that last post, DID someone own the test example"A" or not, or one like that one?

I agree with Brian, I was just doing a favor by passing on information that I felt was needed to be known by all in the sword world. I feel it is important for all to know and beware of fraud and fakes, especially when collecting in an honest fashion. I am currently waiting for more information, but I guess because of the way this string is going, when I have some free time I will contact Ono personally about this matter.I wonder how many of the boards members actually own an Ono sword? Or how many are considering purchasing one. These people are the main ones that should be concerned first, and if any of you that actually own an Ono sword and are worried, please e-mail me an oshigata or tang pic and I will include it with the other material I will get to Ono san. I personally believe that this selling of new fakes (not just those of Ono san)should be stopped, and soon.

So far I have heard that the image is not too clear for detail in the mei. but it was advised to advance very cautiously in regards to the blade on the Token Sugita site. Remember there are some politeness issues here in regards to saying things about someone elses listed items. But from the pics listed, the deki doesn't seem to be as good as other Ono I have seen.........

oh, and another quick note, I know of a collector that bought a REAL Saijo saku maker named sword that was ubu 1 hole......But the tang was welded to a beautiful wide long healthy shinsakuto...........this is rare but just be aware guys!

Now seems to be the time when even shinsakuto and even wartime gendaito must be studied harder as we study older blades. At our meeting last friday night, a collector brought a sword signed Kiyomaro, which was an obvious shinsakuto. I asked the owner if he would like to possible know who the actual maker of the sword was, as I just happened to have a nice example that was like as clone of his blade. My sword was genuine mei made by Higo kaneaki from the Yashiro Kimurs family in Kumamoto. Everything the same, yasuri mei, tang shape, sugata, deki etc.......just the name on the tang was different! I do not wish this to be a controversal string, it was meant to warn honest collectors and dealers at the request of some friends in Japan, including my friend who knows Ono san very well.

The example that was posted by morita san has been sent for verification. I just advise all to be cautious until things are sorted out, they are working on this in Japan,and I was asked to warn the western collectors. I do not doubt that some forgerys have slipped by many a shop when sold as used second hand swords.

According to the info I have from Japan, the blades are shinsakuto by a lesser smith (not to be mentioned yet), And Curran yes the "chippy" one is the real one. I will foward your comments to Ono san if you wish - This is a rare situation in which the faked artist is still alive and things can be verified for sure, not like the numerous Gassan School fakes of Takahashi Sadatsugu and Kiyomaro that are shinsakuto by lower smiths that have been appearing on ebay for the last 2-3 years by a dealer that will be not named by me. Beware, study!

So to make things clear "A" is teh forgery, "B" is the genuine example

Oh do you guys want the answer? Sorry just had to do that! Also in MOST cases, Ono's nakago jiri is usually done in the osuiage style. Sometimes it is done in the normarl kuri jiri fashion, and almost always kuri jiri when doing wakizashi and tanto.

To All, I am glad to see such an interest in this subject. It is always fun and educational even though the original reason was not really good. Ono san is quite upset and would appreciate if everyone would be on the lookout for these forgerys! Thank you, Mike

Nice to see everyones comments, There is a REAL reason behind this so bear with me. The Oshigatas were sent by Ono san to my friend for me to teach everyone about this situation that has arisen. Some unscrupulous sword maker and same type of dealer is selling Ono fakes both here and in Japan. recently there have been many "Faked" shinsakuto/ and shinsakuto that have been faked for older gendai and even older blades such as Kiyomaro. Beware if they have the notoriuos "green" paper, trust only Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon), or send a letter to the NBTHK to verify a papers authenticity. I will post the answer soon,with the points of importance. Mike

no guesses yet?

which one real, both real, both fake?

If you are interested I have an extra good condition brown hawleys book for $300. You can e-mail me at mike@tetsugendo.com Mike Yamasaki

I mean so you should join the NTK, sorry too early!