Nicholas

My contribution to the thread. A Shinto tanto with I believe a suken carved with what’s left of the red lacquer.

Thanks. I am definitely going to check it out. I don’t mind. I think we need more sword clubs and societies, shows etc. in more states.

Piers, I would love to but unfortunately I have yet to find one in the New York area east coast United States. Franco, I indeed agree. I think in my collection so far the best quality swords I have are 2 katana. One Izumi No Kami Fujiwara Kunisada and the other a Echigo No Kami Fujiwara Kunitomo. I have other swords that I think are good but not in good enough polish to really tell. Thomas, great information. I really need to find a sword society or club. Make some friends that I can talk to about swords. Maybe a mentor of some sort. Somewhere I can see more swords in hand.

Hi piers, I guess I don’t really have a specific preference in terms of hada, hamon, shape. As long as it’s done well in my eyes. I mostly collect Shinto swords. Mainly because they tend to be signed and there is plenty of information and documented examples of most swordsmiths. It makes it easier to study for me. But it is still unclear to me what an average work and an above average work is and how to tell the difference.

Hello all, I know this is going to be a hard question to get a solid answer to. But here we go. While reading and trying to take in as much information as I can about Nihonto. One question keeps coming to mind. While judging swords by a certain smith how would one tell if the blade you’re studying is a higher, lower, or average quality work from said smith if you only have access to the one blade and looking at other examples from that smith through books and internet pictures. Also if 3 blades are Tokubetsu Hozon by said smith are all 3 blades equal in level of quality. Sorry if this is a silly question it’s been on my mind for a while now. Thank you, Nick

Echigo No Kami Kanesada

Thank you Mark and Steve.

Hi, just curious what the papers say about this tsuba. Thanks for any help.

I have a sword with a similar inscription. Sorry not trying to hijack your thread.

Most likely mimasaka kuni tsuyama fujiwara kanesaki

So this blade could potentially be early 1942. Before or at the very start of the RJT program. Or before he was contracted.

Thanks Bruce that’s interesting. Yes I was able to remove the habaki it was on pretty tight. No star stamp or anything to my surprise. I thought for sure I’d see one. That’s what made me question if it’s a Gendaito. If he was a RJT smith and this blade has the HO and KO on the mune It was made at an arsenal. Why no star stamp?

Thanks George, do you know what the markings on the mune are? Some sort of inspection marks from an arsenal?

I have a sword signed Chikugo no Kuni-jū Mutō Hidehiro dated 1942. The blade has no stamps on it. Im assuming it’s a Gendai. It looks well made from what I can see. It has some markings on the mune of the nakago that I can’t decipher. Does anyone know what these markings mean? Also I didn’t find many examples of Hidehiro’s blades on internet searches.

John all the fittings have 3 lines carved into it like on the saya liner. No worries Rob. I know it’s a big job I appreciate the response. I think I’m going to have to have a shirasaya made for the sword when I have it polished and inquire about the liners.

I gave it another go and managed to remove it safely. It appears to be all there a few splits in the wood but the cutting edge of the sword seems to be exposed the majority of the way down the saya. As if the wood has shrunk or it never fit right in the first place. I’ll post some pics of what I’m talking about.

I’ve tried and it seems weak and might break if I force it. I don’t want to accidentally break it and have nothing to store the sword in for the time being. It would be great to find someone to replace them.

Hello everyone, I am curious to know if anyone has ever had the wooden inserts on a type 98 saya made. I have a sword I would like to get polished but I’d like to keep it in the military koshirae it came in but the wood inside the metal casing is worn out and probably full of nasty stuff that’s not good for a freshly polished sword. Is there anyone that has done this before. Can anyone please point me in the right direction. p.s. I know the alternative is having a shirasaya made. Thank you Regards, Nick

Not a problem Bruce. It’s surely a interesting sword.

Thank you Ray and Steve, I fully intend on having the sword polished. I’ve been studying swords for a few years now. I’m far from an expert but I realize the importance of the polish and even more importantly who’s doing the polishing. Unfortunately I’ve never looked into having a sword polished so I’d be lost in that department. But when it does get polished I hope it turns out like the pictures of the Ka you just posted. Really beautiful.