Mikaveli

So, the book arrived today. So far, I don't think I've found your smith. I've only looked at the index and a few pages, but the only smith listed from the same prefecture seems to be a different smith? 清水吉幸 (Shimzu? Yoshiyuki). Am I looking in the right place. Can you confirm the province and era. The book seems to include shinshinto, so I'd hope to find him.

Kesho just means decoration, veneer (or makeup). In the example, both the file marks appear decorative - and the mei has an artificial border. Both decorative elements, so I suspect it's as simple as being described as such?

To add, what's the purpose of Juyo (from an NBTHK perspective). We (the collecting) market, tend to view it as higher status, and by extension, quality. But, with the Shinto ubu requirements - one could say it's a preservation competition (as well as importance) - looking for the best condition, unmodified original swords - and that's different. Yes, we know the criteria is looser for older blades (somewhat by necessity) - but if suriage rules out your Shinto blade, that's not a criticism of quality - just a statement of originality, in that it's different from what the smith created.

This (Yoshihiro?) to me looks 100 times better executed than the pic in the OP. Norishige, unsurprisingly, I've never held in hand - so I'm reliant on pictures (of attributions) on the internet, but unless there's some photography issues - looks worlds away, to my eyes. A level above again.

Try some incandescent light sources, as well as LED and fluorescent lights. (Auto) Focus can be tough - but looks like you've handled that well.

Interesting, possibly my ignorance, but the way the hada is so course, and the "hamon" is just a visual continuation - makes it look artificial to my eyes. I'm probably completely wrong, but is it a recent "Damascus-inspired" blade with an acid hamon? Otherwise I don't understand the run off and lack of activity?

So, I collect Shinto, Kanbun-era Mino swords - not generally the most expensive end of the market, but I wanted to share my experience. In that segment (of the smiths I collect), every sword online I've seen online in the last 3 years, available for (or for auctions, starting at) less than £1000 has been gimei! Usually very obviously. I read somewhere, maybe from Darcy, that a Kicho certificate was almost a guarantee of gimei. I've also found that to be the case. Every single one. It's as if the sellers know these swords wouldn't pass Hozen / TokuHo now, so they're sold for cheap (less than a modern-papered wakizashi) - topping out at prices between £2-2.5k. * I'll caveat this that I've seen more expensive Kicho swords, that appeared genuine (but are outside my scope). Wakizashi - I'd like to understand whether this holds for other smiths, but for an ubu, TokuHo companion sword - these often seem to be priced somewhere between 50 and 60% cheaper than an equivalent condition/workmanship/feature katana. Even when 59.9cm etc - bargain! Katana - wide price ranges, with the hamon being the biggest cost factor from what I've seen. With "interesting" hamon swords from the same smith selling for considerably more than ubu, tighter jihada and generally better condition swords. A connoisseur's hamon can more than double the entry point. For the modern NBTHK papers (post 82), I haven't found anything that would make me suspect gimei. I'm guessing fakes exist, but what price point do these usually target from? Interested to hear other people's experience of what to look for or avoid etc. Feel free to share any anecdotes. 🙂

As many long katana there are, there's an equal number of shorter daito - 2 shaku, 2.1, 2.2 2.3 -2.4 is often said to have been the average, but plenty of longer swords exist from that time period (2.5-3). Looking at the wakizashi lengths, I don't these these would make sense with a nakago length removed.

That's a bit like saying the drunk guy I met at the pub said... Nothing on the page mentions a bayonet, it states tanto (短刀). The character for gun or bayonet doesn't appear anywhere?

I've recently bought the Shinto edition, but hasn't been delivered yet - if no one beats me to it, I'll happily look up your smith then. Otherwise, for your search the Japanese title is: 日本刀の研究と鑑定 (Sometimes it's for sale, but Japanese sellers transliterate it incorrectly)

Some Tachi are like that too. I also saw some examples of menuki that used to have a pin attached, but were later removed, to be used as the now-typical style (decorative under the tsukamaki).

I've always thought this. The offset nature is very ergonomic - more than just aesthetics methinks. Especially on the older koshirae I have, the mekugi are quite proud and definitely aid a good grip.

Finding a Japanese sword with original fittings is quite rare. Most swords (especially any worn and not just kept as treasures) would have their fittings replaced with regularity. Wear and tear, fashion etc. Many of the swords you'll see for sale with koshirae will either be new or late Edo. Older fittings will often have their own certificates.

Is it: 実用新案登録 I'm not sure about the fourth and last characters?

One thing I struggle to appraise, is the more irregular end of the midare-hamon spectrum. To me, one aspect of a masterpiece is the realisation of the creator's vision. Whether it's Michaelangelo's David, or the Mona Lisa - the the desired end result is more obvious. I often wonder, how much control the smiths had - and, how much is happy accident.

Well, it's not helped by the homonyms in Japanese: 名刀 famed sword. 銘刀 signed sword. Both "meito" ("meitou" using Hepburn romanization). I hope this 名答 is helpful 🤣

On Swords of Japan, it mentions the distinction of shinsakuto first appearing after the occupation of Japan, but it's since become more ambiguous. On a Japanese site I found, shinsakuto was used only for brand new, made to order (for you) and everything else after shinshinto is gendaito. Also, as far as I'm aware, those two terms don't denote / differentiate between "art swords" and "weapons". Gunto on the other hand (lit. military swords) denote usage.

So, taking the literal definition, gendaito means modern / present day sword. Shinsakuto means newly produced sword. I'm sure I saw somewhere that there was a convention that said shinsakuto was used to describe swords made by smiths still alive, whereas gendaito describes smiths after the Edo period/Meiji restoration that have passed?

The ranks are a bit of fun - and largely a measure of activity (5 points for a post, IIRC). Actually posting interesting content etc is difficult to measure, but those people get known by reputation (I'm thinking of members like Jussi).

I saw that recently too, it was very interesting - especially in terms of the distribution of carbon and inclusions etc.

Interesting! Please feel free to share any details/pictures etc.

And a Juyo tier that's 10 times as much! 😂

A "new members area" would be nice - somewhere explicitly for coaching people through the early stages on ownership (with behaviours policed more strictly). Sales etc should generally be a paid service, especially if regularly. Likewise, as someone else mentioned, translations too - maybe the first is free (allowing for people buying / inheriting a first sword), but after that a paid perk. Higher res images for member only - keeps access open, but detail to gold?

I'd like to see it 🙂 I think there's value in fully understanding any sword. Whether it's condition issues (what to look out for if you ever buy something expensive), what aspects of the workmanship are considered to have been done well, which (if any) aspects leave room for improvement. I also think it's interesting to explore the "story" of a sword - who could have owned it etc. The "treasures" weren't generally owned by ordinary samurai, and whilst they have there place too, are perhaps less representative of the swords you'd have encountered at the time.