lonely panet

yes, 2 or 3 times the size. great photos detailed dates on concept to issueing dates. and some very early rare swords. more then I can list.

http://www.satcho.com/ST128/ best military book you will ever buy. just like the Nike bunny said, Just DO it

check the knotch caused by the blade strike, if it catches on the saya going in and out. Its modern damage, If its flush with the rest of the surface of the mune, this means its been corrected by stone by the samurai or togi of years past. making it real JmIHO

Hi grant, that is a inspectioners mark, I will try and refind the page, but you see the same mark on early type 25 cav swords edit, cant find it but heres something to look at http://ohmura-study.net/987.html

Hi grant, the original F&G has some small errors, but they just didn't have the knowledge we have now. I would really look at jim dawsons last book. much better. the biggest pointer to police, is a police symbol, but there backstrap isn't fully decorated compared to army. In the early days they confused the police badge with the imperial chrysanthemum, due stylized similarities. secondly army swords have a 10 petal sukura, while police will have 5 petals. but there is always a exception to the rules regards H PS if you wish to sell for any reason, give me a email

my understanding was/is that most bizen katate-uhi are saki-zori, this looks more tori-zori. Like Jussi mentioned by or after tenbun (1530s) size started to move to a larger nagasa. But iv noticed that quality on the whole dropped off as a average. does any agree? This piece looks(poor photos) to be well above the standard for the time and for the normal Sukesada. regards h

Hi bruce, due to old texts books and a real lack of information, maybe contact Jim Dawson, I heard a rumour that hes doing another book just on Dirks. that aside, there is two dirks that look very simular, One is a 1909 railways senior officers dirk and the other is a imperil household dirk. the only difference is the head of the mekugi screw. personally I don't think its a household dirk, purely due to the lack of guilt and the rather poor carving. iv seen afew household swords and they are very well made and very thick guilt applied. your dirk doesn't reflect the ostentatious appearance of the imperial household. Id love to be proven wrong, for your friend. As he will have a very rare dirk, next to the redcross dirk thet seldom ever seen regards H

they were not modified to be used as "dress sword" parade is a miss conception. about 95% of all dress swords have the threaded nut hammer over, so without using mechanical means they do not come apart. the treaded nut is to serve as a secondary to the meguki. it was still meant to used as a weapon, there was a hizen blade in Tokyo that was in great polish some years back.

hi Marius, with out jumping the line, there are some easy pointer to IDing bundle swords. they normally arnt dated, takes to much time the mei is short, either bishu or bishu ju and the pics arnt good, but look at the work, is the hada course with openings or evan and visable I should edit that abit, this is strickly within the sengoku period, due to the need for arming ashigaru, swords were made quickly and cheaply compared to other periods. but they are still fine weapons. Hey Joe, IS his shop small and crowed or what. he can really fit some stuff in a small place

I had a time frame on a financial issue, that I couldn't meet with the sale failing, so im in no hurry now.

I was trying to be polite. thoughts? modern blade miro-wielded to older nakago?

buyer backed out due to failure to respond. collection off the market and tobe sold off in time. thankyou for all your emails please delete

a very true and important quote Geraint. But im still poor and I wanted it too

im abit put off bythe odd file job done on the nakago. why and what for?? have a odd feeling about the flaws below the hamachi

curran, that still dosent help, im still poor

the link has a example of a matetsu blade with so called (battle damage) http://ohmura-study.net/136.html just for the people interested

still waiting for payment, having trouble contacting buyer. keep everyone posted of out come

there are Akasaka and there are AKASAKA, just wish I wasn't poor. the listing has ended, I posted this to share with the other dreamers http://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-SWORD-TSUBA-LISTING-20-TSUBA-FROM-COLLECTION-PAPERED-SIGNED-AKASAKA-/162139279529?hash=item25c04110a9%3Ag%3A5UIAAOSwARZXi5UX&nma=true&si=PFZ8cMcA5O%252FJugi9HvVeTiCMFhQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

you need to get some really clear close ups of the hole blade, or atleat the best and worst areas. if you follow the list it may help everyone, just a guide of polishing. normally $1500-2500. kissaki (tip) Hamachi and munemachi (were the habaki sits) the clearest hamon and Ji hada you can photograph and lastly and cracks, chips, pitted rust and anything odd looking. this is what you would like your pics to look like (rough guide)

You will get a better understanding of the blades quality by showing a togishi, and asking his opinion. But it cant hurt to post some good photos to share with the board

Hi ? your sword is real, normally refured to as a NCO/type 95 nco sword. is got the Suya factory stamp on the fuchi. but iv never seen one with a plated saya before, can you send some pics of inside the throat of the saya please. there should be some serial numbers stamped there. regards Hamish PS, can you please sign with your name so im not rude in using the ?

post some pics, sounds interesting

Bruce, the idea that if its cheap enough makes it a good buy is flawed. Condition,condition, condition

I think there were 8 to 10 railway companys operating around the 1900-45 era

JUST a idea, with no evidence to back up the idea, but maybe a Emblem belonging to a small railway company that hasn't been recoreded yet