Franco D

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.

Now you can begin to appreciate what a professional fittings restorer has to go through. Regards

Hello Victor, Of course, when it comes to mei verification the answer is "shinsa." However, with some patience perhaps one of the good folks here will chime in with an opinion? Regards "The sword confirms the mei and not the other way around." p.s. The importance of a library when it comes to nihonto collecting cannot be overstated. As a collector your homework should have already been well on its way to researching the object of your desire, and I'm not talking about only the mei, before completing the sale. Of course the mei, that is, if the sword has one, is of importance. But more importantly is the research that says that yes indeed this sword is in fact what it purports to be. If kantei is the foundation of sword appreciation as the Japanese claim it to be, then it should also make up the foundation for our sword collecting as well. Collecting nihonto is an open book test! One should know the answer before completing the exam.

Hello Tom, The best way for me to answer your questions is; First, have the sword fully assessed. Once assessed, then, comeback and ask for value opinions. Secondly, if mine, I would not have this sword restored even if it checks out to be restorable. The exception to that is if by some longshot this sword turns out to be something exceptional. In general, unless a piece is Tokubetsu Hozon level or better in form and or quality, restoration may not be a wise decision. https://nihontocraft...hinsa_Standards.html Regards

Hello, Kanbun Shinto is probably a pretty good bet as far as age goes based upon shape and other factors. Although there is a partial mei that could be used to help track down or at least narrow down the possibilities of who may have made this blade. At least for myself, there may be a more immediate issue that needs attention after looking at these images. The images of this blade at the kissaki end and also towards the habaki raises questions of possible heat exposure. If that is the case, it would render the sword itself a souvenir. Sometimes in such cases the fittings also demonstrate heat damage exposure, but the fittings look to be fine here. Fire damage to nihonto is not an uncommon problem. Hopefully that is not the case here. Regards

Hello Victor, The nakago should indeed not be cleaned! What I do in the case of red rust on the nakago. In the beginning, using only your (clean, dry) fingers apply a coating of sword oil onto the nakago allowing it soak in for about a minute or two. Then, using a soft clean absorbent chem free cloth blot (do not rub) the oil off, such that you're only leaving a very thin film of oil on the nakago denying the red rust access to oxygen and moisture. This process is to be repeated, using less and less oil, on a daily > then, semi-daily > then weekly basis until you can visibly see the red rust turn into black rust. Which is what you want. Any thicker or heavier rust will generally flake off in this process. In the end it should be barely visible/detectable that any oil remains. When in doubt ask! Regards,

Welcome, no worries.

61.7 cm = 24.291 inches. Overall length includes the nakago. The nakago is surely long enough to make the sugata less than 24 inches. Regards,

No and no. Overall length: 61.7 cm Nakago appears to be ubu. Regards,

Comments; Will leave it to others regarding the mei. Red rust (on the nakago and tsuba) is active rust, and should be properly and carefully addressed. Use the search feature on NMB to find previous discussions on rust and sword care. Fuchi, worm wood? Menuki, hawk feather? Regards

Perhaps the problem isn't the NBTHK limiting submissions, but rather too many people chasing papers. Desire is the cause of suffering.

Real solid gold menuki were a luxury item. These are basically copies of early solid gold Goto menuki. Which were not made like this (as you describe, very thin). Keep in mind that a thin pair like this under ito wrap would look to most like real solid gold menuki, but without coming at the price of a Rolex. Regards

It isn't difficult to see that this isn't going to go anywhere constructive. Done here! Enjoy! Regards

Citations welcome? Please describe this jigane/jitetsu? Regards