Big Jimp

Type : Tantō Ubu, Suriage or O-Suriage : Ubu Mei : 保則 Yasunori - Motomura Yasuhiro Papered or not and by whom? : Not papered Era/Age : Gendai Shirasaya, Koshirae or Bare Blade? : Shirasaya with koshirae Nagasa/Blade Length : 26.6cm Sori : 0.0cm Hamon Type : Suguha Jihada : ko-itame Other Hataraki Visible : beautiful kinsuji, chikei swirls beautifully Flaws : small kitae-ware found throughout Sword Location : Florida, USA Will ship to : USA, other nations if legal/possible Payment Methods Accepted : Zelle, Paypal, Venmo Price and Currency : 1500USD Other Info and Full Description : For those who saw my previous posting and thought: “Nice price point, but I’m looking for Nihonto,” I am listing my tantō by gendai smith Yasunori, real name Motomura Yasuhiro. Yasunori was a resident of Hizen in Saga Prefecture and seemed to have worked primarily in the latter half of the 20th century, with most of his works I’ve seen dated in the ‘70s. I have learned that he’s passed away and the NBTHK has started papering his swords, though I do not expect a papered Yasunori to be much more valuable than an unpapered one. This tantō is relatively long and thick with a bohi on both sides and a silver clad copper habaki. The hamon is beautiful and pronounced (though I am quite a fan of suguha hamon) and I adore the filing work on the nakago. This Tantō resides in a shirasaya made on my request when I purchased it, and is accompanied by black lacquered aikuchi koshirae. Sword will be shipped with an Aoi Art Estimation sheet and an oshigata by Aoi Art. This is a nice entry point for one’s journey with nihonto, or a nice addition to one’s collection. I will post images below. Cheers.

Please note, these two photos are old, I am only re-using them due to the superior lighting in my former home. The blade and polish are in the same quality now as then; it is the brightness of my home that has worsened.

Type : Katana (Showato) Ubu, Suriage or O-Suriage : Ubu Mei : Mumei Papered or not and by whom? : Not papered Era/Age : Showa Shirasaya, Koshirae or Bare Blade? : shirasaya Nagasa/Blade Length : 64.4cm Sori : ~1.7cm Hamon Type : Gunome Midare Jihada : Not visible; showato Other Hataraki Visible : Many ashi Flaws : N/A Sword Location : Florida, USA Will ship to : USA, other nations if legal/possible Payment Methods Accepted : Zelle, Paypal, Venmo Price and Currency : 1200USD Other Info and Full Description : I posted this sword a few years ago and it was well received but the sale I’d lined up was unsuccessful, so here I am once more. For sale is my somewhat curious Showato in shirasaya with a plain copper habaki. It is remarkably well polished, with a deep sori and pleasing geometry; I find it to be well balanced. Though it’s sized appropriately to have been a shin guntō, the nakago is completely bare (no Mei, arsenal marks or other markings). I have kept it in the same condition I received it in years ago, and as I said in my previous posting, though this is not a traditionally made Japanese sword, it is a Japanese sword, and would make a fine piece for affordable entry to the hobby, display, or for those interested in the war/related militaria. The sword will ship with an “Aoi Art Estimation” sheet and a full oshigata. I will upload images below. Cheers.

Recently at the advice of a friend with shared interest in the preservation of nihonto, I’ve tried and now implemented the use of 99% isopropyl alcohol in my sword care regimen. I’ve used it, rather than uchiko or anything so abrasive, to remove old oil at the start of a cleaning or before studying my blades. My test run was on a showato I posses, and with great result I have since implemented it for use with my nihonto. A partially saturated, folded tissue paper wiped gently across a sword does a fantastic and quick job of removing old oil and evaporating. A single follow-up wipe with dry tissue paper or a microfiber cloth ensures dryness and gets up any remaining bits. The blade is left perfectly cleaned, an unharmed. Everything in moderation, of course. Attached is a photo of my gendai Hizen-tō after such treatment. V/R, Jim

Pending Sale to 2devnul

Thank you very much for this document! I knew that Masatsugu had learned from his father and knew a bit about him, but not that he can be considered an 8th generation Hizen smith. The wealth of information NMB continues to provide is incredible.

Hi Bruce, I was talking with my Sensei the other day and he and I agreed, the little things are big. Good filing on the nakago is one of those little things that really brings a sword to the next level for both of us! And I quite appreciate the little shows of hard work, like the rain pattern on the habaki. ,Jim

Considering parting ways with my showato. It is immaculately well polished and has an impressively deep sori (~1.7cm) for its relatively short 64.4cm nagasa. The gunome midare hamon is prominent and has many ashi. The nakago is unmarked and the sword is in shirasaya with a copper habaki. I am considering parting with it simply to clear space in my collection and humbly offer this as an inexpensive entry point to the study and collection of Japanese swords. Though showato are not considered nihonto proper, they are Japanese swords in the literal sense and, I feel, an excellent “jumping off point” to begin one’s sword journey. The sword was purchased from Aoi Art and will ship in its sword bag with an Aoi Art estimation paper and a whole oshigata. Asking 1200 USD shipped in the US, price is negotiable. Including the oshigata and full scan image here, with photos by me to come below.