Mark C

HI All, I have a katana with dimensions of: nagasa - 26 7/8 Thickness at habaki - 7mm width at habaki - 30mm thickness at kissaki - 4.5mm width at kissaki - 18mm Sori - 25mm Koshi Hamon - Gunome Hada - Mokume Bohi Mei - Kaneyoshi Saku It has seen a few polishes as the thickness at the habaki is 7mm on the blade but 9mm on the thickest part of the unpolished nakago. It si very reminiscent of the slender blades often found in Kyu Gunto mounts. The post in the translation section of Polisher's mei is on this blade. So in the back of my mind I want to say Meiji period but what do you think. Your thoughts are most welcome please. Many Thanks Don't panic, the blade is not directly on the floor, It is on tissue pads.

HI All, Could I please get some assistance on this Polishers mei. Kanji on other side. Many Thanks in Advance. Regards

Hi All, I have a blade with the habaki well and truly stuck on. managed to get it off only to find this: Is this a usual practice as this is the first one I have owed. Regards

Hi Everyone, I've had this blade for a while now and am thinking it is time to start looking into sending away for polish, shirasaya and Shinsa. Looking closely at the blade and I noticed what looks like a blister (Last picture & very hard to photograph). Now I'm thinking it is not worth the effort if it is. Nagasa - 14 3/8 motohaba - 31mm motokasane - 7mm Nakago - 4.5 inches Hamon - Suguha Hada - unknown Boshi - complete with long turnback What does everyone think? Many Thanks in advance All the best

Hi, I think you will need a black powder/muzzle loader slot on an FAC to shoot it in the UK. Regards

Thanks Uwe, really don't know why I don't use the search option first before posting for help, Must be my age Found this: Regards

Thanks Ray, Much appreciated. Regards

Hi All, I have this fuchi/kashira set that has a signed fuchi. I have hopefully got the translation correct as - Haruyoshi Saku Am I close? Thanks in advance. Regards

Sadly I believe it will get worse as we are governed by a bunch of idiots and have an ever increasing number of people who can't decide if they are Male, Female or a bloody desk lamp. Banning things is not the answer, Education is and I think the UK has passed that stage.

Thank you both. All the best

I believe so John but my old eyes cant make it out. close up below

Hi All, i have this yari and have had a bash at translating the mei. there seems to be reminants of black lacquer all over the kanji. my attempt at the translation would be: Satsuyo shi okudaira Moto ? sadly the last character is rusted out. am i anywhere near ? thanks in advance all the best Mark

Love that Bruce, Pac Man with a mohawk, great description. I also notice how the three stamp examples above are all different in small ways? Regards

Hi Bruce, Translation are under the pictures and they are labels and things produced at the Nakano shoten shop/workshop. (Possibly the workshop of the stamp on the seppa and tsuba above)

Really interesting. I had forgot all about searching the 1942 Kurihara banzuke list I did a quick search on Nakano shoten shop/workshop and found this:

Thanks Bruce, Very interesting, a mixture of suguha and wild, like mine.

It would interesting to see the Hamon's on the Yoshisuke blades. All the best

Hi All, Just got this Shin gunto in a black leather covered saya, Non pierced tsuba, full set of 8 seppa all with the number 25 stamped on them plus another small inspection stamp. The nakago is signed (I think) Shimada Yoshisuke. No Seki or Showa stamps The only stamp it has is a warrior stamp. For interest, Here is the Signature Hamon And finally tsuba and seppa stamps All the best

I'm impressed, Thank you Mal and Bruce

Wow - Thank you Mal. You are correct, I'm totally confused and wonder, like Bruce as to why Slough doesn't mention this fact. Going to my sword, I am aware that every sword should be judged on it's own merits and it is a shame that I really can tell you no more regarding the hada, hamon and activities. Mine also has the showa stamp which indicates non-traditional materials/methods. Something else that isn't mentioned. Again, Thank you Mal, Bruce, Piers and Conway. All the best

Hi Bruce, Yes I have the Sesko and Sloughs info on but these are both Kuriyama Kaneaki and not Suikosai ( I am assuming Suikoasai is the first name here) Regards

Hi Everyone, I have a ww2 blade in Gunto mounts. The blade is in a sad state of polish with no details that can be seen but I can see a suguha hamon in the right light. The Mei is I believe " Suikosai Kaneaki Tsukuru Kore Wo ", 粹光斉兼明造之. I have a number of reference books but cannot find much information on him? What I have found is a reference to him on the Japanese Sword index under Showa swordsmiths and a reference on the WWW to a Japanese site showing a papered example which is almost identical to mine apart from it has a Tan stamp and mine has a Showa stamp. 刀　(刻印・鍛)粹光斎兼明　昭和十七年二月日　Katana [Seikousai_Kaneaki]日本刀　刀剣販売 サムライ商会[samurai shokai] So it would be great if anyone has any info on Suikosai Kaneaki that they could share with me please. Many thanks in advance All the best

59 and I to can remember the days of very cheap swords but in them days I was only on apprentice wages

You are more than welcome Peter, Just glad it was found and it all worked out. See you at the next Brum show unless you go to Bedford? All the best

Thank you Steve, Very much appreciated All the best