loiner1965

sorry for the pics but steve said the ji was top quality, the note that i have that came with it says it was a gift from Japanese officials over here in the uk in the 1920s on goverment buisiness dealing with child reform laws etc.....it has never been mounted but they said it was from a sword of a great warrior . the note is obviously old and the ink is faded so it was written around that period.......it been kept in a loft for years then in a display cabinet until i brought it... the pics do not do it justice to be fair

whats the rest of the sword like

was going to do this a couple of years ago but the agent in Japan let me down and i am not sure how to do it myself and the cost involved

cheers peter.....second opinions always welcomed. was not concerned over monetary value but the school and time period......thank you

interesting read.......makes you wonder about the muramasa curse doesnt it

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4001 please refer to above link for pictures and brief description......thank you

magnificent blades you have there.......i only wish i could have them

thank you for your quick responce brian...i knew it wasnt top grade or even genuine thats why i asked the experts here......many thanks once again

this was fitted to my 16th cen kiyomitsu wakizashi but wether its was originally fitted then or at a later date i do not know....your comments most welcomed as always

can anyone read this as its not the best of pics....many thanks

so we cannot tell if it was intentional....do you have any smith in mind

do we know the mei on the sword peter

just as a matter of interest pete can you see the cloudiness near the habichi which i believe is a sign of retempering or what reason did the polisher give

http://www.nihontocraft.com/Yakinaoshi.html years ago i nearly bought a masamura which was involved in a fire or had been retempered......wish i had now

just a quick word to richard as a newcomer to a newcomer....i have received nothing but helpful advice and its all been very friendly....stick around as all these guys are very knowedgeble and their advice is free..........cannot ask for more than that can we.....big thanks to all who have helped me and to those i havent asked yet :D

i can work out the mune kanji but do not understand where or how they get sada from the second kanji.....i know they are different spellings for the same kanji...does it say sada and is they an abc internet learning site for kanji please

thank you....i struggle on 2 symbol kanji at the minute....any tips please

could anyone please translate this please.......many many thanks

i have exactly the same wakizashi please see previous post but unfortunately a umegane popped out during polishing so really a study piece now

They can come out at any time during polishing. But as it survived the foundation your probably ok. just had an update from john and its bad news in a way....the umeganes survived the foundation polish and the re edging of the shinogi but unfortunately john caught the edge of one with a tissue and it pulled out....so now after all the work on the blade with the intended full Japanese polish entails john will now just do a commercial polish instead.....he says it looks really well apart from that fault and he is gutted.....personally i am not upset as i am not in it for the money but the enjoyment of looking at them and learning about them.....it may be a study piece now but to me its a part of Japanese history flaws and all....cannot wait to get it back..top bloke is john and i will not hesitate in using him again

i think its acceptable in swords of historical inportance or valuable smiths....

Huumm... Polish are never good for umegane, they often fall during the polish process. am sure you are correct but john as done the foundation work and corrected the shinogi line already surely it would have fallen by this stage ?.....i will find out by next week but i do like this blade flaws and all

just seen the umegane from the pics i took whn i first aquired it and never realised it was one of them as i thought they were used more for carbon pockets etc.....hopefully it should be less visible after a polish as its close to the hamon....

just been on phone to john bolton the sword polisher who has told me the little blade is worthy of a full Japanese polish rather than a commercial one....already he has sharpened up the shinogi lines as someone in the past had worn them away....he also mentioned that he had metal strips inserted near the hamachi as a repair a long long time ago so someone must have thought it was a worthy piece....i never saw this at all....he says it can be quite common on old blades,,,,,has any one else seen this and can they direct me a link so i can see what he means please.....should be back next week so i shall post the new pics.......cannot wait

buying on ebay is a big gamble unless you know exactly what you are buying, i am far from an expert on nihonto but i can see flaws on the blade and will always be wary of any horimono or kanji inscribed on the blade itself as it usually is there to hide a serious flaw...i actually saw this myself on ebay and instantly moved on....these guys on here are so knowledgeble and are willing to help us amateurs out freely so thats why i ask before i take the plunge....admitedly it looks lovely and i hope you are pleased with it