Franco D

The section of the saya I posted above comes from an old original saya that could date anywhere from the early part of 1700's onward. This saya/koshirae was most definitely used and even sports an old repair that is visible in the image above. In the image below the obi wear is clearly visible. The change in color is due to the lighting.

Yes, urushi lacquer. Don't recall anything else being mentioned.

Crushed abalone shell was used. As well as other materials.

Please forgive me Piers for posting additional pertinent information.

What exactly is that supposed to mean?

https://nihonto.com/12-1-23/ also; Hoki school/tradition, Yamanaka's Newsletters revised, page 248.

That is a definite possibility. If that is indeed the case, then it appears that the polisher did not reshape the entire kissaki as what should have been done. However, as Ray said, it does appear like some boshi remains. Regards

Prices cover a wide range starting from hundreds rising to tens of thousands. It all depends on age, rarity, quality (Juyo), style, and originality. For example; https://nihonto.com/...e/fittings/koshirae/ Regards

That website does recycle articles over and over again, in addition to tracking the topics you favor. Still, that is a sword that one never grows tired of seeing again and again. Regards

https://www.msn.com/...179f915eff59284&ei=5

Please do. Full image of entire sword, with close ups of the boshi (tip) and full nakago, for starters. Condolences for your Grandfather. Thank you. Regards

Comments, Regardless of what the mei turns out to be this sword has a very pleasing shape, a sign of a good sword. It also has a suguha hamon which is another indication of a skilled swordsmith. As far as the mei goes, it is likely that the list of smiths signing "Kanda (no) Ju Kane 囗" is short and will appear in Hawley's (which I no longer have). Which gives a place to begin research. Regards

https://books.google...#v=onepage&q&f=false https://books.google...html?id=52kyRMCGqB0C Markus to the rescue! Regards

Not sashikomi. Looks ubu, machi-okuri. No, this is shakudo. Looks copper because the patina is worn off.

The Japanese have a saying "bad swords hurt your eyes." That saying applies to fittings as well. My eyes are burning right now. The Japanese also advise to study and learn from the best nihonto. That advice applies to sword furniture, too. Quality is very poor; gold, shakudo. While the nankako itself isn't terrible, it is at best average. Agree, dragon is Goto style but similarity ends there, detail matters. Agree, this dragon looks to be a replacement for something else, composition is poor. There's no objective in liking. Regards Desire is the cause of suffering.