nulldevice

兼定 - Kanesada Showa 18, 10th month (October 1943)

Noshu ju Kaneshige A day in Showa 19, 2nd month heres a link to another star stamped sword by this smith. Kaneshige

Just a FYI to add to what Brian said. HTTP only sites are usually fine to visit in this case, just don't enter any passwords or sensitive information as that information will be transmitted across the internet unencrypted. PS. Sites should also update their certificates to be HTTPS in 2025 but a lot of these sites aren't made by web developers so understanding that, it's somewhat to be expected.

IDK if it's just me but it seems that just in the last few months the quality of the photos on Eirakudo's site are compressed and blurry where they used to seem more crisp and clear. I wonder if they just got this blade or if they were holding it back from DTI. There weren't a lot of Kunitoshi or Kunimitsu daito at DTI this year that I saw. Lots of tanto for both makers and 1 or 2 Kuniyuki so an item like this would've stood out at their booth.

Its a wartime (WW2) blade and has a "seki stamp" which is a stamp on the tang of blades that identify they aren't traditionally made. Non-traditionally made typically means they aren't made from tamahagane and they aren't quenched in water (usually oil quenched hamon). There are more nuances beyond this but these are the 2 biggest factors. So if you want a war-time sword, this will fit your objectives. If you wanted a handmade, traditionally made blade made from tamahagane and with a water-quenched hamon, you'll have to look elsewhere. Since you're asking about 2 very different blades in your 2 photos, it might be best to first ask, what are you looking for?

I saw that blade in person last week. Very nice, very tight. Kotetsu personally isn't for me, but they let offered to let us see it even though they knew I was mainly looking at earlier koto blades.

Did you find any worth pursuing at DTI? A number of tables had a lot of very cheap blades and I kept thinking back on this thread when I saw you wandering around the show!

Unfortunately the Darcy you’re quoting passed away in recent years However there are other members here who will probably be able to answer your question about top blades at auction. One such blade was the Mikazuki Kanemitsu from the Paul Davidson collection that was auctioned off this year. More info on that can be found here: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2025/crescent-moon-the-mikazuki-kanemitsu-from-the-paul-l-davidson-collection?lotFilter=AllLots

It has Juyo papers and a nice koshirae. Price is unknown. I know a few people who asked and nobody got an answer. They were very kind to let me see the blade however and study it.

https://kanji.sljfaq.org This site works well for unknown kanji when they’re drawn clearly on the blade. You draw them and once you have the correct or most of the correct kanji, you can start your search and find the correct smith pretty easily using other nihonto-specific indexes.

I don’t remember who had the Go. Iida had the Yoshimitsu and many other phenomenal blades Sokendo had the signed Yasutsuna

Shingendo had the following that I remember: Osafune Motoshige osafune Chikakage Norishige Sairen Ko Aoe Tsugu(yoshi?) I can’t remember, very slender blade other standouts from the show were lots of signed Rai tanto, an Awataguchi Yoshimitsu, Ko Hoki signed Yasutsuna, TJ Go, Ko Bizen signed Masatsune, 3rd TJ Yukimitsu daito, and many many others that I can’t name them all.

I have a photo of Eirakudo and Shindendos shop.

I have seen this blade and it is spectacular

I’ve been here for 6 days already! Seen a couple of amazing swords already and excited for much more this weekend!

I will be there!

Yeah I agree. Posting 11 swords here and asking "Which is legit or not" with the hopes of buying one of them isn't the best way to get into this hobby IMO.

*Answered in other thread

*Answered in other thread

*Answered in other thread

Looks like the same blade to me. You can see a tiny obstruction in the mekugi ana at the 6 o clock position that is seen on both sides.

Do you have a clearer photo of the mei? You say the kuni character is visible but is there anything left of the other parts of the signature?

Hi Don, Unfortunately based on the photos, its relatively easy to tell the sword you've presented isn't of Japanese origin. The biggest tell is the damascus steel like pattern of the blade. Real Japanese swords or even WW2 mass-produced swords don't show any such damascus looking grain and the fake blades often found all have them. https://www.jssus.org/nkp/fake_japanese_swords.html <- This link has common tells of fake swords and if you look at the grain section, you'll see that it looks exactly like what you've presented here. I know stories of how blades were acquired in the war and whatnot are always emotional and sincere, but in this case the blade presented is not real.

It depends. Here's the most succinct answer I've found: Juyo Token 1) Blades made in a period from Heian to Edo, having Tokubetsu Kicho, Koshu Tokubetsu Kicho, Hozon or Tokubetsu Hozon papers, of extremely high quality workmanship and state of preservation, and judged as close to Juyo Bijutsuhin, may receive Juyo Token paper. 2) Blades that meet the criteria given above and made in or before Nambokucho may receive Juyo Token paper even if they are mumei. Blades made in Muromachi and Edo periods, as a rule, have to be ubu and zaimei to receive Juyo Token paper. Now a blade can be slightly machi-okuri as you stated and still be ubu. The criteria above dont mention that but just mention if the tang is ubu or suriage and zaimei or mumei.

I'll also say that it looks suriage to me. If you were to assume its ubu and bring the machi down, you'd have a very short and stubby tang even by uchigatana standards and compared to the examples you showed as well as Jussi's 2 Juyo reference oshigata. Plus as you mention the nakago-jiri is atypical for Kanenobu. The Tokubetsu Hozon papers don't make any distinction on machi-okuri vs suriage blades. Looks like a nice blade! Post pictures when it comes back from polish!