2devnul

Hi, Without investigating blacksmiths/Mei, based on the pictures, Sugata reminds me my Echizen Seki (early Edo ~1650), I like it. However, condition of the blade is below my acceptable level. I'm not sure if it is just old polish or rust/pitting is unremovable. I love Koshirae, black & gold works very well. Mokko Gata Tsuba type is my favorite, so again, big + for that. Please share more pictures if you can.

Hello, Please treat my comment lightly. It is just based on my "look&feel" from the picutre you posted. I don't like the look of Nakago, looks more of a rust, then patina. However, it could be due to the photo, or maybe there is patina under the rust. Mei also doesn't convince me. Looks a bit too 'fresh'. I can't comment on strokes quality as I haven't studied this smith's work at all. I personally have a Gimei blade that 'fooled' me (check mine topic about Hojoji Sadahiro Wakizashi), but this one would be questionable for me from the start. Ps. Do you have more pictures of this blade?

Wow, just wow, Bizen Ichimonji at its finest. I envy you so much!

Hi, Interesting, but the topic has 6 years now. Original posting suggest announcement of discovery in 2018. Maybe Paul Martin is a forum member and could share more. https://Japan-forwar...uga-taisha-restored/ https://brobible.com...rd-discovered-attic/

No one fights you, please don't take it personally. Well, you 'said' it is Nihonto by opening topic in Nihonto section of this forum Anyway, stick around on forum and don't be afraid to ask questions, but also don't be offended with replies. Cheers!

One more picture, just in case you ask "how do you know it is REAL historical Nihonto".

@Salvatore Please note that nobody here wants to do harm. There is no point in giving you false advises. We all just comment about what we see and (again) it seems that what you have in your hands is NOT a Nihonto. With respect to antique experts you spoke with, what do they mean by saying 'old'? Is it 20-50-100 years? Do they have knowledge about Nihonto or were just commenting on the steel erosion level? Please also note that in your case, at least from pictures, it is more of a rust then patina. To summary, blade that you have could be 30-40 years old, with 'real' rust on it. However, that doesn't change it is not a historical Nihonto. PS. Please see bellow pictures of patina from one of mine Wakizashi. It is almost 400 years old sword. Do you see the difference?

Junk, they are called junk Silly Gaijin will buy anything. I now recall mine dispute with one guy who bought Iaito Koshirae fittings/Tsuba from Japan. No explanation worked on him, that this Koshirae fittings/Tsuba are cast, mass produced, for training swords. Not worth much from collector/historical perspective. For that guy they were "something" because he bought them in Japan. Doesn't matter that you can purchase better fittings/Tsuba (even historic), unique, here locally in Poland, for same or lower price. Anyway, George, please make sure to stick around as this forum will help you (as it is helping me) to navigate safely between all these "newbie Nihonto collectors" traps.

Hi, Nothing to add about Sugata, but polish seems odd. Definitely not Sashikomi, looks like a Hadori wanna be with acid.

Hello, We will need better pictures but from first look it appears to be replica made outside of Japan. Hard to tell exactly where and when it was made. Overall value will be probably comparable to Chinese Gunto fakes/replicas.

Hi, Can you post picture of NBTHK certificate? Maybe there is attribution in that paper?

Hi, Maybe you can show close-up pictures of this section?

Beautiful, perfect sword, I envy you so much for having it in your collection. Currently my budget stops me at 4k$ and I'm sure someone will buy it for more then that. Either I'm lucky to save more money by the time it is still available, or please consider 'cheap give away' if you are in rush.

UP! Still available.

@peterm1_nihonto I don't think adjusting Koiguchi on your own is a good idea. Especially if it is a buffalo horn (typical for Koshirae, at least the ones that I own). Like I said, I'm sheeting the sword until it has perfect fit. No chance to leave Saya on its own, also IMHO no chance for any dust to get in. I never struggle in order to fully close the gap. This saves Habaki/Koiguchi/Saya and my nerves when I want to unsheet the sword.

@DoTanuki yokai ... and you have nice 'patina' on Nakago too

Hi, IMHO there are ways (chemicals/acid) which allow you to make 'fake patina'. Please have a look on below Nakago. It is from Shinsakuto sword, unknown smith (maybe not even Japanese). Patina there looks pretty close to 'real' one. I'm sure there are ways to produce rust/patina like yours in a short time too.

Hello, Thank you gentlemen for your comments. I also asked around Polish community yesterday afternoon. I bumped into Iaido Sensei who apparently bought few "Gendaito" for his students. He seems to follow same narration about these swords. They look like being made by same smith, same polisher, outside of Japan. Although, he says these are quiet good replicas (comparing to other Chinese reproductions) suitable for Tameshigiri. That was also the purpose, to use these swords for cutting without remorse. Koshirae also was described as poorly made, and he advised to buy raw blade and order new Koshirae. In general it looks like these swords are good as a 'tool' but nothing worth time from collectors perspective (talking still about Gendaito). Anyway, I will look for more forum topics before I decide to buy something. His pricing (auction) and shipment (USA, no issue from there) are tempting.

@Brian @David Flynn Can you please elaborate more about your opinion of Komonjo? This is important to me as I'm tracking his offers and even tried to (lost on auction) buy something from him. From what I'm seeing, his so called Gendaito swords (with his comment ' bid on steel, not the mei') are made outside of Japan reproductions. With fancy Mei and same type of polish (same polisher or smith?). Koshirae (the 'new look' ones) are Chinese or Iaito-poor type fittings. What about old swords? Quiet often I see NBTHK (usually old ones) papers attached.

I've seen that more then once and not only with Shirasaya (same with Koshirae). As others mentioned, don't put to much force to fully close it. Let it 'fit' and leave it. I think Grey's reply answers the question completely. PS. My advice, before drawing the sword always 'break the seal'. By that I mean use your thumb to go pass the first stage of sword being 'stuck'. With Koshirae use thumb on Tsuba. With Shirasaya, use both of your thumbs (left+right hand). I apologize if it doesn't make sense (language barrier in order to describe this better).

Hi, Same (by looking on pictures, before reading other comments) assumption here. Hada and Tsuka looks Chinese made to me. Can you make close-up pictures of Kissaki? Usually Chinese fakes also fail in there (Yokote). Removing Tsuka will revile more, I'm expecting Chinese Nakago.

Being a Gimei doesn't mean that blade isn't old. This one looks like Shinto indeed. Also, it doesn't mean it is poorly made. On the contrary, one could have try to mimic Tadayoshi since he found this blade being made well enough to go for the shot. PS. I edited my previous post with some additional comments (Hamon). Enjoy the blade, and please post more pictures if you can (full blade, with Nakago, tip up. Maybe some more Hamon/Hada pictures if you can).

Hi, You can find good read here, related to my (most likely Gimei) Tadayoshi. A lot of useful information. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/45103-shinto-wakizashi-hizen-kuni-mutsu-kami-tadayoshi-please-comment/ AFAIK Tadayoshi did sign on Tachi-mei, but only on Uchigatana. Wakizashi should have Mei on the standard (left) side. As for Hamon, it is also not typical for Tadayoshi (especially 1st gen.). All papered swords from this smith have Suguha as far as I can tell. 3rd gen. did experiment (also my example) but his work is very rare, mostly Gimei. Your Hamon looks like Notare with poor (used up) Hadori. PS. Please note that I'm complete newbie on the Nihonto topic, so I can be totally wrong. I hope my mistakes (if any) will be pointed out by other forum members.

Well ... it pains when you learn that your precious blade is Gimei. Been there, done that. Although, I don't think that 'rage quit on forum' is the best thing to do.