Bazza

Brilliant!! PM sent. BaZZa.

Congratulations Paul. Sipping something nice is as good as it gets for me too. Almost a tradition!! I have a memorable night nearly 40 years ago firmly in mind still. I had to travel a long, long way to see a sword after dropping my car pool workmates off, then backtracking to the other side of the city. When the owner brought out an old bag I started to wet myself. When the original Edo period koshirae came out of the bag I felt even more pressure. When the blade came out in pristine condition I went wobbly and asked the owner if he had any booze in the house. I made him an offer and we cracked the beer. Then I took the handle off to reveal a kiku mon and the mei ECHIZEN no KAMI MINAMOTO RAI NOBUYOSHI and the destruction of my composure was nearly complete. I arrived home after midnight from the long return drive to find my dinner cold in the oven. I found a bottle of bubbly in the fridge and stood up at the kitchen bench to eat my dinner cold, washed down with a full bottle of bubbly. I have rarely felt so good... The 27 inch katana is now polished with a Tokubetsu Hozon paper. BaZZa. XXX

Guido et al, Some time ago I asked if anyone had seen a Kazunori gendaito. In the course of research on Kazunori I found reference to a sword made in 1936 as a presentation to one Yuzawa Michio (so inscribed). At that time he was appointed Vice Minister of the Home Ministry. Before that in 1931 he became Director of the Public Works Bureau, and Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture. In 1935, he was appointed Governor of Hyōgo Prefecture. He was at one time Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Japan and possibly had a role in organising the XIIth Oympiad in Tokyo, 1940. I found a photo of him in this document http://library.la84.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1940/OR1940.pdf (207 pages) on page 16. I'm aware its a long shot, but if Yuzawa Michio as a high official had a sword presented to him in 1936 he might also have been associated with swordsmiths. Possibly others in the photos were also associated with swordsmiths. I've attached the document with my meagre findings. Best regards, BaZZa. Links to photos of Japanese Ministers.doc

Has anybody ever seen a little tanto like this?? Its a fairly well crafted piece with the look of a souvenir, but more like trench art to my eye and I think a one-off piece. It is 27.5 cm overall length with the blade 14.5 cm from the front of the habaki. The blade is shobu zukuri with the faintest suguba hamon. As the item isn’t mine I didn’t try to remove the handle, but I would be surprised if it were signed. The feel I get from it is that it was made in the Showa period?? The koshirae has interesting decorations of chrysanthemum, cherry blossom and a Hannya mask. The tip of the handle has a spear-like point representing an omadaka leaf, a samurai mon. The “hanger” on the scabbard reminds me of a shape I think I’ve seen on an old tachi koshirae. Perhaps it is a “hobby” piece to be used as a letter opener by an old, retired man with symbols of his life associations. BaZZa. EDIT: deleted!!!!

I have a friend whose hobby is high definition, large scale black and white photography. At work one day (long ago) he said he was looking for a new challenge. I suggested Japanese swords and lent him one of mine. Despite his clear talent in the medium and style of his choice after some considerable time he gave it up and returned the sword, mission unaccomplished. I have another friend whose wife is a talented photographer and wants to "do" one of my swords. I just know it isn't going to work out... BaZZa.

I quite agree with Franco (G'day mate), your eyes aren't deceiving you. Such inserts have been discussed here before and I have personally seen a few. I don't recall any substantive reason given for their existence, though it is clearly a very high order skill to make such inserts. The one illustrated below took quite a time to winkle out - to prove that it was an insert. BaZZa.

On rhs NANTO JU lhs YASUSADA I'm sure someone else will know more off the top of their head. BaZZa.

A very strange and different kind of kanji. I haven't seen this before - is there a name for it??? BaZZa.

Good touché Ben!!! Most enjoyable, thank you for posting. Not wishing to be pedantic and inviting a riposte, rather than "mid 1800s" I would suggest "later 1800s". These are clearly of the Meiji period sometime after 1868. Bestests, BaZZa.

Takanoha yasurime + sanbonsugi hamon + sugu boshi = Mino Kanemoto ca 1600??? Tsuba signed KANEIE may be Saga Kaneie. BaZZa.

Paul B wrote: >Although the nakago is in poor condition the yasurime slanting slightly to the right are in line with the third generation Paul, Mutsu no Kami's yasurime should slant slightly UP to the right, not down. Gimei IMHO. BaZZa.

Ah so, all velly interlesting. If one is on a lifelong journey with Nihonto from my perspective there is only one thing to remember - bad swords ruin your eye... BaZZa.

I see the blade is very thick. Such a tanto with iron fittings and that blade shape would I think be called a yoroi doshi - an armour piercer. BaZZa.

Hi Matt, they are well-known for making kiraha katana. I have one!! For references you could start right here on the Board - there might still be pictures of my katana: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/3100-katakiri-ba-blades/ Try the search function for any other threads with kiriha katana. Google is always good. Try echizen kiriha katana for starters. Bestests, BaZZa.

Couldn't agree more with the good Prof. Bleed. OK, I understand the ladle is for pouring molten lead into the two bullet moulds illustrated, but what is the Big Round Wheel used for??? The axle through the wheel indicates it once had a frame that has not survived. The bullet moulds look to me (as a one-time gun collector) as of very good quality and manufacture. Indeed, Peter please tell us whether these cast round balls or "bullets" as we understand them. There is a solid history line between musket balls and cylindrical bullet forms. BaZZa. (who owns three Teppou)

It might be the lighting, but to me both the tang and signature have a modern look. Could this be a Shinsakuto "Homage" blade??? IMHO Gendaito at best??? BazZza (its late!!!)

Note I said "suspect". In the first photo there is what appears to be at first blush black lacquer over parts of the surface. However, with its blotchy appearance to me it looks like fire scale I have seen on a burnt sword and on iron/steel that has been in a hot fire (think glowing coals). Of course, I don't have the tsuba in hand so it is a highly speculative call and it may be your lighting - BUT - that direct sunlight as another member commented is pretty unforgiving... BaZZa.

I think this may be seriously fire damaged??? BaZZa.

One can, of course, buy a koshirae in its own right without a blade to appreciate it for itself. Most koshirae belonging to good (or any) blades mostly have tsunagi in them. BaZZa.

Well, you don't get nothin' for nothin'; boiling it down I'd pay $400 for it. BUT - I would first be asking the question, where is the blade and where is the tsuba?????? If the answer isn't forthcoming or sounds wishy washy I'd try to bargain it down to $300. It's a very uncomfortable feeling knowing (or thinking) someone has ratted the tsuba and blade from a decent ensemble, for whatever reason, then trying to flog the unwanted koshirae. We can imagine that to some eyes the koshirae is "down" because the fittings aren't more visually appealing and the aogai looks "cheap". I think SteveM and Kam put it best. Now all it comes down to is price... BaZZa. EDIT: Nice photos, by the way. As to missing petals I'm sure this is intentional. I once had a wakizashi with the black-lacquered saya in good condition and with the gold lacquered sakura (cherry blossom) perfectly original. Some had petals missing and I attributed this to wind-blown blossoms missing petals with some deeper allusion to the impermanence of life.,..

For those interested in such things I've just seen this: http://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/kusari-katabira-chain-jacket-52-c-780436b8c4?utm_campaign=lot_abandonment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=bcemail&obem=HI_fjSGhutcWcIV7SLDbbV5nVzEjZREQsmliCAIuzuc%3D Bestests, BaZZa.

Take Grey Doffin's advice. Mine is keep looking - and study more. Go to Sword Shows and look at really good swords before buying anything. If you finally like traditionally made swords over Showato militaria I see here a case of future buyer regret... BaZZa.

Thank you all for your comments. I’m still hoping someone “out there” has actually seen a Kazunori and comment on the quality. @ BIG - Peter Reusch That KAZUNORI is not the same smith. Your link shows a Seki Showato @Peter Bleed and others Thanks for the comments about the problems of stripping electroplated steel. This was discussed in the following thread: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/8034-removing-chrome-plating/ @Stephen C The similarity in kanji style is very interesting, but I can make no intelligent or analytical comment about it. The “bigger story” will take some little while to put together. BaZZa.

Hey Steve, Great news. Can you share the same grade and the all up cost including postage - air I presume?? Bestests, BaZZa.

I have a katana that has been nickel plated so nothing can be seen in the blade. The photos below show the signature and date. The kanji is very elegantly rendered, which indicates to me that the blade is likely to be of good to high quality. Does anybody have, or has seen, a sword by this smith KAZUNORI and can comment on the quality. It is fortunate that the tang hasn’t been messed with. The signature reads: SANYÔ MAYUMI SAN ROKU JÛ FUJIWARA KAZUNORI KORE o SAKU KÔKI NISEN ROPPYAKU NI NEN GO GATSU KICHI ? (May 1942) (EDIT: I cannot read the last character) Researching this blade I found a competition sword by this same smith KAZUNORI made in 1936 commissioned for a certain Michio Yuzawa. Below are the photos I found on the web on a dealer’s site that have since disappeared. The signature on the sword is almost the same as the sword above: 三陽真弓山麓藤原一則謹造之 SANYÔ MAYUMI SAN ROKU FUJIWARA KAZUNORI KIN KORE o SAKU and dated 昭和十一年八月十日(August 1936) The complete uramei is: 贈内務次官湯沢三千男殿昭和十一年八月十日参木晋七郎 Below are photos of the tang and one of the hada. Although low resolution these photos immediately suggested to me that this swordsmith KAZUNORI is a smith of repute. What I am seeking is opinions on whether or not my nickel plated blade is worth polishing. Best regards, Barry Thomas (aka BaZZa) (EDIT: There is a bigger story to these swords that I'll cover in another post)