KuraiValo

@ROKUJURO Thank you for the help and added confirmation! @Geraint Thank you very much for all the information, period, mei, etc. It's all really helpful and it is also one of my favorite in my collection and I'm really happy to have it. @Brian Thank you Brian for all the help and added confirmation! @Stephen Thank you! @Alex A It's both long and small at the same time. I guess part of also why I really like it.

Hello, I am looking for help in translating and figuring out which swordsmith it may be, or at least some help narrowing it down. I believe the translation is Nobukuni, but I know there has been multiple Nobukuni's over the years. Any help or guidance is greatly appreciated! Thank you, Jake

Thank you to everyone for the responses. It helped reaffirm my thoughts on it. The nakago did look off to me in that it didn't seem to match the age in the description. Additionally for such a rare blade, if as described, then why no paperwork? The amount of bids however threw me off though, as in maybe I don't know what I am looking at or maybe everything they are saying is possible. I'm still learning a lot, so I really appreciate the explanations and thought processes.

Hello, I was looking through yahoo.jp auctions and came across this one: https://www.jauce.com/auction/1117263399 Forget me, because I don't know for sure the name for this style of blade. I guess a tsurugi or ken style blade. Thoughts on this? I think it is a beautiful blade but in my amateur opinion it doesn't seem to be nearly as old as the auction seems to indicate it may be. Maybe I am very wrong on this, any thoughts? Thanks, Jake

Hello, I'm looking for items with symbols related to the Taira Clan. It doesn't have to be exact, but I am looking for Tsuba, menuki, kashira, habaki, etc with the swallowtail butterfly symbol or at least one close to it. Thank you for the help!

Thank you very much. I think you have it. It's impossible to read the other side fully, as seen below, but after comparing to another Yanone with his signature it looks really close.

@Bugyotsuji Thank you for the reply. The hard part is just not knowing, but I also understand it's hard to know with absolute certainty. I hope to continue to learn how to better tell and this may just be one of the learning fees as you stated. @Matsunoki Thank you for the reply. I do know that this was a small amount of his collection. I bought 3 different ones out of roughly 20. Some of the others were rope cutters, similar ones to the 3 and 4th shown, and others were more basic arrow shapes. All in various conditions from fairly rough/rusted to immaculately polished. I am assuming they were put up and stored as is since it took a little time to find them. Also, thank you for the information on the ones on ebay from India. I was aware of those. I was told by another collector once to always look at the area were the tang meets the arrowhead itself. That is one area that is usually poorly replicated, but I don't know how well that holds true. Truthfully, I also hope you are wrong as well but it's not looking too likely. Thanks again for the information and help.

I hope that isn't the case. The first, second, and last Yanone were all bought directly from the personal collection of a reputable sword dealer in Japan when I was over there. I mean that doesn't necessarily mean they are legit but I would expect the other to be more likely Chinese or Indian fakes. Is the main reason you believe they may be new or Chinese the general condition of them? Also, what about the signatures don't look right? Sorry, just trying to learn and if I made a mistake I don't want to again. Thank you.

Hello, I am need of help with some Yanone translations. I have no clue and would like to learn as much on them as possible. Signature 1a Signature 1b Signature 2a Signature 2b Signature 3 Signature 4, this is probably a stretch. Signature 5, not really a signature, but any help understanding the lacquered parts or meaning of this Yanone. I'm looking for any help with translation, documentation to read up on, or anything you can provide. Thank you for taking a look.

Sounds great and thank you! I'll be sure to find you.

Thanks! I plan to be there. It's been a couple years since the last time I was about to make it.

I am in Tennessee.

Thank you. That's what I was afraid to hear but also kind of what I expected. I will have to try what you said and take it to shows. I guess first I need to try and make my way to shows. Thank you again

Hello, I am looking to buy a chuso button/scabbard lock/retention spring for a recent sword I have purchased in gunto mounts. I believe they can come in a variety of sizes? So I am also looking for help on any measurements I can make to determine exactly what I need. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Hello, I am looking to expand my collection of Yanone. I am primarily looking for pieces that are different than my current collection, but if you have any that are similar I may still be interested. Current budget is ~ $2000 but is always changing. Possibly interested in any books on Yanone. More interested in books in English if there are even any out there.

There is a Wakizashi on ebay signed "Inoue Shinkai" and dated 1676. It seems one of those too good to be true so I assume this a decently made gimei. I would like to hear other opinions on it though. I would assume if it was a real Shinkai the seller would have it authenticated, but maybe I am completely wrong on this, thoughts? Here is the Ebay link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/S2J22-Japanese-Samurai-Sword-Shinkai-Wakizashi-in-Shirasaya-/165286197987?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l6249&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0 Thanks :)

Hello, Is this a yari spear where the tang was shortened to turn it into a ken-like blade or were some ken blades made with square tangs like what is pictured? I am just trying to find out more about it before I commit to anything. Any opinions or assistance is appreciated. Thanks.

I have attached a slightly better photo with a pretty horrible sketch that I attempted of the kanji next to it.

I finally got additional photos added, not sure what the issue was before, but they are attached in the previous posts. Thank you for all the help, is it right to now assume that it says 三河国岡崎住筒井筒清兼造 which roughly says Mikawa no Kuni Okazaki-jū Tsutsui Kiyokane ? From the link Marc provided and reading through it, am I understanding it right that he also signed under Tachibana Kiyokane and Ryūjōshi Kiyokane? I am also having a bit of an issue with the date. I believe it is August ????, 1944. I can't quite seem to determine the day if the rest is correct. Thanks again.

More photos of sword in general (Photos are not correctly uploading, please see imgur link in top post, will fix later if I can figure out issue)

Additional photos (Photos are not correctly uploading, please see imgur link in top post, will fix later if I can figure out issue)

Hello, I very recently purchased a gendaito. I believe I know what the swordsmith's name portion of the signature says, but I am having issues translating the remaining portion. I could also use some assistance on the date. Any knowledge on the swordsmith or more information on it in general is also greatly appreciated. I believe the swordsmith is: Tsutsui Kiyokane Thanks again for taking a look and for all the help. https://imgur.com/ovlZIxU

I bought the Kiyokane and you got a nice one. Saw your post on it, it is sweet. It definitely is a small world and it was a pretty good show.

Yep, that's where it was at. I picked up a nice gendaito and a nice naval dirk. I was after one or two others but decided to wait and they all got gone.

Thanks for the help, I walked away and ended up buying a different sword that I'll end up posting later today or tomorrow since I need some assistance on the translation.