Mimmo

Yes, unbelievable how an old rusty nihonto blade can be transformed into a thing of beauty in the proper hands! No problems at all with any facet of the process - all went as smoothly as can hoped! Yes, from Toronto, and good old fashion google search is how i connected with Massimo...Best. Domenic

Ok, wakizashi has now been completed and on it's way. Highly recommend Massimo Rossi togishi, he is truly a master of the craft. Wakizashi: Shinto Tokuden, trad. Bizen Osafune. Period: Kan'ei Shoko 1624/44

Yeah I'm aware of that distinction... Meant that I've read that many kanbun smiths take their roots from bizen traditions - wavy hamon, low shinogi etc... So initially thinking that it was bizen and muromachi was mostly a "dating" miscue if that makes any sense. Had it been older, it most certainly would be reasonable to think bizen and muromachi. The shallow pictured sori does point to the kanbun era, however as you've said earlier pictures can be misleading...its not as shallow in reality as the pics suggest. I own another sword, a katana. I'll post pics of that soon, but my neophyte opinion would be shinto and hizen...i'm sure i'll get a more suitable opinion from the very knowledgable people on this forum..thanks.

Also recall reading somewhere that kanbun has roots in bizen.... So makes sense that pictures may suggest bizen..

Ah, because i was told by two seperate togishi (thru pictures only) that it should be bizen and muromachi...don't think i could change the title at this time?

Will do... Its Massimo Rossi out of Italy.

Well, I thought muromachi as well and I actually handled the thing... Lol

Coincidently, just received notice from the togishi that it's a Shinto Kanbun...so Okan your are spot on with period. Its original geometry has been restored and the blade should be ready in about a month so i'll post final pics soon...

Picked up this old and very rusty wakizashi a couple of years ago for very little money. Rust was black and spread throughout the blade, so I used a copper penny and oil to try and remove some of it and see if I could locate a hamon. Turns out it was there and quite active. It's an unsigned ubu. Likely from mid muromachi period and as such quite heavy. I've sent it off to a togishi for restoration and am excited to see the finished blade. Pics aren't great, and no pattern can be seen on the jigane...but any guesses as to schools? Thx

Thx for the info... Awesome story not least because I have it next to a sword with a cherry blossom motif!!

It's a red lacquered clay type material...

This signature is from an antique small samurai figure if any one can translate the name.... Thx

Found this which looks to be the same signature and marked as “HITOYANAGI OOSATO” which as you described Steve... Thx

Thanks, much appreciated!

Anyone have any idea how this is translated? I spent a couple of hours but have gotten nowhere...Thanks!