cabowen

I believe a teppo has the same export requirements. I have exported one in the past and went through the same process as with swords.

Thanks, that film is really wonderful... Not much has changed at his home or forge since the film! It was a nice touch to show him skipping stones with his children along the Chikuma river-priceless...

Sori seems really shallow....Interesting sword...

Wise choice....

maybe 　平貞宗

Most likely western steel and oil quench....

A dealer once told me that the DTI is kind of a fashion show for sword dealers- more about making an impression than a sale....Prices there, even during the bottom of the economic collapse, didn't really reflect the reality of the market and were higher than what could be found in other outlets in my experience. It appeared to me that things changed there a bit once a larger contingent of non-Japanese started attending but by and large it is definitely full retail shopping for the most part.

Seki stamp Ido Hidetoshi 井戸秀俊

The last kanji, after taking a better look, is indeed kotobuki, 寿....

Generally, the smith when doing the rough shaping/polishing prior to handing it over to the togi-shi will define the fukura which gives the togi-shi the rough location of the yokote. A togi-shi can indeed reshape a blade to give it whatever kissaki size he wants. As Barry notes, whether or not this plays depends on the boshi/hamon. If the hamon was say, sanbonsugi, and the boshi sugu, it would look quite odd for the boshi to change mid stream from sanbonsugi to sugu within the kissaki. I once had a really nice WWII era blade that had a large chip an inch or so before the yokote. The hamon/boshi were such that by enlarging the kissaki to an o-gissaki, the chip was removed and the boshi looked liked it was made that way. It saved the sword and made it look quite attractive. My polisher wasn't happy as it was a lot of extra work to reshape, but he did a great job. Yes, o-gissaki are quite popular among many collectors. I think it would indeed be possible when the conditions are right, as in the case I just related, to modify a blade to create this feature and make it more saleable. Not saying it is the right thing to do, but it is possible.

If you want help, please post a picture.

That is also what Miyano sensei has mentioned to me as his key to kantei. Indeed....An eye opening experience, isn't it? Glad you had the opportunity....I know what you mean by goosebumps....

It could be several different things: it could be some sort of rubbing or abrasion, it could be the border between two steels of differing hardness, it could be a line of fine inclusions between two layers of steel, it could be fine lines of nie (probably not though as nie is defined as individually defined/observable crystals. It is not niju-ba....

南山寺 Nanzanji perhaps... Name of a temple I would think....

Is there any utsuri?

This blade purports to be by Shinkai, the nidai Kunisada. Here is a valid signature for comparison:

Report him to Ebay. If you won the auction, and paid, he is legally obligated to deliver the sword. Isn't this the same seller who was listing a Mantetsu tachi for $20K? You have to love Ebay- even when you win, you can lose...

Eisho Gan Nen Hachi Gatsu Kichi Jitsu 永正元年八月吉日 lucky day, August, First year of Eisho.

Could be an unrecorded smith....

城州 ≠　摂州

That would be Tampa, Feb., 2016....

Compare the two and see what you think: Yamato: 大和 Daijo: 大尉 Also, keep in mind that titles do not start with "daijo"....You can have Yamato no Kami or Yamato Daijo.... Can you post a photo of the entire nakago? The blade looks nice but the nakago looks oddly shaped...

Could be Yamato Daijo....

Looks like Ginza Choshuya! Nice work!

Doesn't look very old to me...