Surfson

With apologies, I haven't expressed myself well twice. The wikipedia image is actually carved wood, the famous Kamakura bori art. This is what I was referring to in my initial post. I actually find Kamakura bori tsuba to be relatively crude artistically (this is a matter of taste, not anything more for you K bori lovers!). As to the four suits, the inome looks like a heart in one position and upside down looks like the spear of the spade. Again, back to the bar.....

Rich, I agree that Choshu would be a good school for this, and I have quite a bit of Choshu, as it's one of my favorites. My reference to Kamakura bori referred more to the art than the school. Here's a link of kamakura bori carving with a very similar design motif. As to the deck of cards, which suit can't you find without a few drinks? Cheers, Bob http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:KamakuraBori.jpg

Richard, that beautiful tsuba still looks like hearts, spades, diamonds and clubs to me!

Although far from my most rare or expensive piece, I quite like this tsuba, which has a Kamakura bori feel to it. Any feedback would be appreciated.

That is a beautiful kozuka either way. I am posting a few pictures of a tsuba I have with the Shozui mei on it. I've been thinking about submitting it for shinsa in Minneapolis, but would value the opinion of members of the NMB. Forgive my amateur photography!

Is Robert Burawoy still involved in nihonto? Wasn't he in Paris?

Clive, I'm interested that you think of ayasugi hada as contrived. I myself find it to be truly appealing and amazing that the consistency of the grain was made with such fidelity. I once had a Dewa Gassan blade that had truly fabulous hada. While it is contrived in the sense that it was done intentionally, and presumably with no technical or functional merit beyond other grain patterns, wouldn't you agree that many types of hamon patterns are equally contrived? Certainly kikusui or fujiyama or other shinto patterns. That is to say that they were often done to be part of the "art" of the sword rather than solely for utilitarian reasons.

Looks like a bakana gaijin took a can of gold spray paint to it.....

Looks like an authentic Japanese sword to me, with a fake signature and inscription. I'm not sure if the tsuba is genuine or a copy. Either way, you did great for under $200.

I didn't read the whole article, but it specifically referred to counterfeit BRANDED items. Will this only apply to gimei swords? Or no swords at all?

What is the shape of the mune? In one of the photos it looks squared off, which is not unheard of but rare. It may be the perspective, but if it is, it might be a concern that it's been shaved.

Grey, you may be correct that they are made somewhere besides China. I sincerely doubt that they are made in Japan. The motive to make them is clear - to deceive and profit from unsuspecting or greedy novice collectors.

They are real swords, they just aren't Japanese. They are Chinese reproductions, in my opinion.

Your eyes are better than mine Chris, I missed them. B

Thank you all for the help. It looked like a sword with a very active hada. I wasn't able to determine the maker and so sat on the sidelines for this one! Cheers, Bob

Hi All. I wonder if any of you have been able to make out the mei on this sword that just sold on ebay? http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Japanese-Ko ... 098wt_1141

Kanetada and Masanori. Both made in 1945.

It's a bit hard to make out the mei. It has more information, but the key information is Bizen Osafune Sukesada (I think - the actual mei at the bottom is hard to see). The date is Eisho three, which puts it at around 1507.

I have too many to leave them all out, but I have a few on display and keep the rest in a gun safe. Most collectors that I know get a good safe, especially if they meet with prospective buyers or sellers that may not be well known to them.

These are two WWII army swords. The surname on the signature is Kanetada, but I can't make out the given name - ___hara I believe. This sword was made during wartime. One of the swords appears to have been buffed. A photo of the tang of the second sword might help in establishing its age and value. Assuming that it is also WWII vintage, each of them are worth around $1000 to $1500 I would say. B

Lots of testimonials, and it speaks well of him. I also appreciate his honesty in the listing. The concern that I raised is that he does bring in to the US quite a lot of blades that are gimei or have issues, and thus don't have papers. It's when the folks that buy these blades decide to put them back into circulation that they may not be represented so fairly. I guess one always has to be on the defensive about authenticity in this sport!

I agree Chris, and assume they come from bottom feeding at auctions in Japan. The disturbing part is that they start to cycle through the hands of US collectors and some are only found out by a very discerning eye.

Looks like a noble sword that has been mounted many times. Have you noticed the extensive shintetsu?

In a very creative listing, a blade signed Miyairi Akihiro is being sold: http://cgi.ebay.com/Japanese-Samurai-Sw ... 2254wt_922 The interesting thing is the following quote!: "The blade is guaranteed to be a gimei. If it turns out to be genuine, I will gladly buy it back."

I think that his explanation is good enough. I take it that he is young as well, being a student, and not experienced in these things. I'm not an aggrieved party, but if I were I would forgive him and welcome him to use the NMB again (with a full disclosure!).