Scogg

Well, I acquired the sword! Paid a little more than I had hoped, but still very affordable for a neat sword. Heres some of my own photos of the fittings, I did my best with a new phone. Some observations: Even though the saya had no serial number that I can find, it fits like a glove with no rattle. The yellowing all over is definitely done over wear and tear, like you mentioned. Anyway, here it is! Let me know what you think good or bad. Thanks again, -Sam

Thank you so much Ray! Your dedicated help with translations and information is a real blessing. Much appreciated. Cheers, -Sam

While I was doing a deal for another sword, this one was also available in Gunto fittings. Curious what the Nakago translation is. Apologies for poor lighting. It’s on a counter in a dim lit store, and it was a little chaotic in there. I hope it is still legible enough to translate. Cheers, -Sam

How exciting. Now I just hope it's still at the shop when I get off work. Thank you for that info Bruce! In one small comment, you answered all my questions about the handle color. That was mainly what concerned me. At first, I saw the sub 10k serial number and thought I struck gold with a copper handle. Then, thanks to my books, I discovered those are only sub ~6,500. Therefore, I was worried that the handle color was made to LOOK like it's copper under the paint, and not aluminum, which raised a red flag. Now it all makes more sense. Ya'll have squashed my worries! Thanks! Cheers, -Sam PS. I'll keep you posted if I am able to purchase it. Stay tuned.

Thanks Rob! Much appreciated. I’ll hope for more input, but I will likely go look at it tomorrow, and at least confirm or deny if the saya is matching. If it turns out to look good, and others agree, maybe I can make a deal . Cheers, -Sam

This is listed at a store down the street from me. Looks pretty nice for the price but I’m not savvy with these 95s. I like the relatively low serial number and condition. I cannot tell if the saya has matching numbers. What do ya’ll think? Is it worth taking a look at? Considering adding a type 95 to my collection.

Me too! Truth is, I’ve been looking for these books for some time - I just never liked the prices until now. I will put them to good use, and they will live on my bookshelf indefinitely. I like to imagine, that someday, I’ll pass them down to an aspiring new collector. -Sam

Thanks again @Bruce Pennington I very luckily won this auction. I've been looking for the Fuller and Gregory books for a decent price, and this was perfect! To get the Oshigata, Showa, and Swordsmiths of Japan softcovers is a HUGE bonus; and a great addition to my physical library. I hope they arrive safe . Cheers, -Sam

Steve, this post is currently already in the for sale or trade section. The moderators already moved it here because this is where it belongs. The auction section is not for seller listings. It’s just for discussion. Hope this helps, and good luck with your sale. Very cool sword! Cheers, -Sam __________________________________________

That's the one! And that's me at my wedding, showing it to my uncle, who had previously thought the sword was lost. It is gratifying to keep it in the family, and I intend to pass it down. Hopefully it sparks an interest in Nihonto for the next generation, like it did for me. I am enjoying reading everyone's answers! Cheers, -Sam

Thank you @Toryu2020! I do really need to attend those sessions. I read and save all the NCJSC newsletters and kantei emails, and also have Markus Seskos koto kantei book and supplement. The tricky part is getting all that knowledge and information to stick . I’m sure the zoom meeting would help a lot. Thanks again and hopefully see you soon on the zoom kantei, -Sam

Thank you, good advice! Making it a priority -Sam

Thank you Bruce! If only that was the "buy it now" price . I'll be bidding on this one. Cheers, -Sam

My ultimate goal in Nihonto collecting, is to admire and appreciate the workmanship of Japanese swords. Learn the features, and be able to recognize high quality from the rest. Getting better at Kantei is another goal. The theme of my collection (for now), is Yamato-den, and Yamato influenced works. Although, I intend to collect anything that's in my budget that I enjoy / believe I can learn from. I prefer KOTO items, for the romance of "OLD" . My only requirement for now is that it's in decent polish without fatal flaws - ideally but not necessarily has papers. The soul of my collection is the Katana I inherited from my grandfather. Early shinto late Kanemoto school, in full koshirae. It's not high quality or in great condition, but it's very special to me. I really like handmade stuff, and to me, Nihonto is the epitome of excellence in handmade craftsmanship. My "state of collecting" is always evolving, growing, and changing - and I consider myself a beginner collector, especially in Nihonto. Cheers! -Sam

I will be in attendance. Already got my flight . Haven't been to Vegas since before I could legally have a drink I would love to meet more fellow forum members! It should be a good show, and I am very much looking forward to checking out the Antique Arms Show also. Cheers, -Sam One lucky night on the roulette table could pay for both! Kidding of course

Thank you for the link and correction @Franco D, that was a really informative read. Much appreciated! My apologies @sc72 for speaking out of turn. There’s a lot more to consider than I realized, and sorry for misleading. Carry on, Thanks everyone. Back to my books -Sam

I think I’m a little confused, and maybe putting my foot in my mouth with my novice understanding. I have no doubt of the importance of determining if a sword is shortened or not. And telling if it’s punched or drilled. But is it actually possible to determine exactly when the shortening happened? With respect, -Sam

It suggests the mekugi-ana MIGHT have been done earlier; because drilling is viewed as a more modern method. But drilling is ancient, so it's far from indisputable... Although, trying to determine exactly when an old sword was suriage, might be a fools errand because it's impossible to confirm. Fun to think about, and wonder though. Cheers, -Sam

Just because it's mumei does not mean the attribution is incorrect. It would help if we could see the papers to determine what the NBTHK said versus what you and the seller are saying. The NBTHK are very skilled with an incredible depth of knowledge and resources. I'd trust their attribution whether or not it's mumei, suriage, etc..

Considering that you already know the attribution and era, you wouldn't "need" it per-se... It would just be an exercise in the study of your sword. If the sword is O-suriage, it can be interesting to imagine what it might have looked like unaltered. If I am incorrect in assuming Jussi's meaning; hopefully someone will correct me. Cheers, -Sam

Hi Francis, interesting swords! Sorry to be off topic. But when you get the chance I’d love to see some close-ups of that habaki with the bird Cheers! Carry on, -Sam

Kiri depiction signed Choshu Kiyoshige

My first ever tsuba, on my inherited katana. A permanent part of my collection

I am looking forward to the nakago reveal. Glad to see you’ve posted the sword here. Best of luck, -Sam