Veli

Hello Jimi! It is not uncommon to see keyhole-shaped or semicircle+square shaped mekugiana in older blades. Based on the sugata alone, I would say this is a Muromachi era blade. BR, Veli

In the modern world where quality and aesthetics are too often sacrificed for low cost of production, it is a great pleasure to hear about the success of these two devoted artists and craftsmen. I am always fascinated how Ford succeeds so well in mastering both the difficult and time-consuming metalworking methods as well as the creative process producing extremely aesthetic works of art! Veli

盛 has 11 strokes: http://www.buildingthepride.com/faculty/takeuchi/DrT_Jpn_Culture_files/Nihon_to_files/Nanori.pdf Veli P.S. Please consider my interpretation of the kanji as a guess only...

Could it be:宇多国盛? Bernard, I leave the rest of translation work for you :D Veli

Hello Marcello! My first impression is that this is an oil-quenched, non-traditional blade. I think I have seen some Showato with this kind of narrow misty temper line and somewhat featureless steel. But you should know better than to trust my opinion Veli

Gentlemen, well done! The attribution is "Noshu Akasaka Kanemoto", Daiei Goro (around 1521-1528). The mei suggests this is not Shodai Magoroku, however. Kanesada is also a very good bid, remembering the close connections between the two lines of smiths. Veli

This is a papered and signed blade which should not be too challenging to identify, but let's see. So if you feel up to it, post your opinion on the period, tradition and smith. The exact generation is not known, however, so no need to be that specific. I'll post the answer on Sunday. http://www.nihontofinland.com/20 Veli

...and then to boldly show how little I know : EDIT: took a spoiler in use in order not to mislead others :D Veli

The second set of pictures: 1) Soshu 2) Bizen 3) Enju (Yamashiro) 4) Mino Veli

Err... there was not any kanji translation in that topic... Jean, you probably meant some other case? Well, I totally support this educational goal, but I would very much like to direct the newcomers to a resource having handwritten kanji examples like we see in the real Mei. Trying to translate a long, chippy Showato Mei using only printed forms of kanji as a reference can be highly frustrating... been there... So, anybody, do we have additional resources in the internet, something simple resembling the kanji pages on the Yumoto's book? Veli

Wow, that first (Hozon?) reference is a spitting image of the mei under discussion... Veli

I am inclined to think this is Shoshin. If not, it is the best Gimei I have ever seen! On the other hand, the hamon is a bit untypical for nidai Kanesada, isn't it? Veli

The hamon makes me think this is an early Shinto Fujiwara Takada Wakizashi. It is also rather tired, based on the nakago thickness variation, as well as how the Hamachi and Fukura look like. BR, Veli

I too would like to know the motokasane! By the way, is there a "Saku" 作 kanji on the left side of the "Mitsu" or do my eyes trick me... Veli

If I see correctly: Toshu Hatada ju Yoshimitsu 土州旗多住嘉光 Koji ni nen hachi gatsu hi (August 1556) 弘治二年八月日 Veli

I had the opportunity to see some Tosogu today. This Kashira looked well carved to me. Unfortunately the fuchi was gone and replaced by a plain iron one. The owner does not have any information about this item, and since I know very little about tosogu, I promised to ask some comments from NMB. Thanks in advance! Veli

Today I had the opportunity to see a couple of Yoroi as well as some other nihonto-related things. The owner has inherited them, and has very little information on them, so I promised to ask help from NMB. Could you please comment on the quality and age of the mengu shown in the pictures. My very uneducated guess is mid Edo period, and rather skilled workmanship. The family had some other interesting stuff, including a prewar copy of Nihon Joudai no Katchu by Suenaga, Masao. Thanks in advance! BR, Veli

Looks like Satsuma-age to me (= counter shortening) Veli

Hi Grev, I think:水心子正秀 You could try once more by yourself before checking the answer: I would not bet it being shoshin... BR, Veli

When I started collecting - not so long ago, actually - the nihonto market was full of great opportunities around 2 kUSD price range. Today, I hardly find anything decent priced below 10 kUSD. No, the market has not changed - I have. Veli

OK, agreed, you'll do all the difficult translations (Shinshinto & Gendaito) and I'll do the easy ones (Koto & Shinto) I really feel that the more recent Mei are more difficult to translate for a person with a very limited knowledge of the Japanese language (like me)... Veli

平安城石道正俊 Heianjo Ishido Masatoshi? Veli

My guess for 2) is 藤島 Fujishima. I am not 100% sure, however. This one is not exactly a good training example for beginners... needs either sosho script reference books&time or a native-level reader, although the kanji are rather usually encountered ones in themselves. Veli

Hi Mike! Weird, looks like upside-down katakana, something like クハツテク. I am not able to translate, however. Since it is written with katakana, the word is of non-Japanese origin. Veli

Hi Janusz, This is an easy one, so you might try yourself once more... 肥前國忠吉 明和八年二月日 Meiwa hachi nen ni gatsu hi (February 1771), so this would be 6th (or maybe 5th) generation, but I am not too confident about the mei being authentic. Veli