cabowen

I applaud your desire to create a period koshirae Jean but, and I am not a connoisseur of koshirae, I wonder if the execution of the tsuka couldn't have been done at a higher level...

Bob- Can you post some pictures of the complete date side of the nakago? As I said, it appears from the one photo posted that the date has been defaced by chiseling into it....it would be useful to see a full length photo.

The one that Geraint linked to is much closer to the one the OP has found as both are later, daisaku (student work) made for the war (sosho mei). The kaisho mei blade you have linked to is an earlier blade not made for the war and done by the smith himself, so quite different, actually.

I agree with Guido and offer my own experiences as proof: I attended sword shows in Chicago back in the 1980's while in college. I had gone as far as all the books I could get could take me and was really excited to finally see some great swords and meet the "experts". It was quite a hurtful experience to have all my questions dissed or ignored and to basically be told "run along kid, you are bothering me" by these "experts"...I just couldn't understand why they wouldn't share with someone who was sincere in his desire to learn. About 10 years later, after I had lived in Japan for a few years, I would get phone calls and letters from these same people who had ignored me, asking ME questions! It was at that point that I finally understood why they wouldn't give me the time of day and share their knowledge- the fact was they had precious little to share. It was all bluff and bluster... I had the occasion to meet some of these same people at small sword gatherings over the following 10-15 years and while they continued to enjoy their status as "experts", it was obvious they still wore no clothes.... I had quite the opposite experience in Japan, where people went above and beyond on a regular basis to help me. I found that sincerity and earnestness will open almost any door in Japan. I carry a tremendous debt to these people and my way of repaying it is to share what they so selflessly shared with me. I encourage everyone, no matter your level, to take the time to share whatever you can with those that seek knowledge. Passing along knowledge (education) is essential to cultivate interest and to secure a safe future for the art.

This is what is being mentioned as scratching:

It may have been mounted as an iai-to during or just before the war and retasked as a gunto. Without seeing any other pictures than that of the end of the nakago, it is hard to say with certainty but going solely on what can be seen, it looks like a WWII era mass produced blade.

Mark has it- it is Ujifusa. It is also a showa-to.

I will bet it was a later addition.... Don't wait for a book that may never be published- get what is available now....

Do you have Markus' swordsmith meikan? If you don't, you should...Try google. If you find little to nothing, it means he is not a smith of any note. Would that be a prison horimono? :lol:

Was there more than one from Izu working in Keio????

The date side almost looks to have have been defaced....strange....

Kobuse is the most common among modern smiths but some sometimes use others. It is probably a safe assumption that he uses either kobuse or makuri. Why do you ask?

Kasama Ikkansai Shigetsugu Saku. Pretty well I would say!

Should be quite beautiful in new polish...congrats!

sorry....

They will always be Bob's students .....The other qualified polisher in the US would be Jimmy Hayashi in San Francisco. I am curious as to what Bob refers to when he says they have "certificates"....Any one have any idea?

I agree with Arnold. The ”boshi ga taoreru" is the "tip off", so to speak....

Stephen- That verifies what I have been told- that Bob is basically retired and that his students do most of the work presently. I have heard Byron has a real estate career now and does little to no polishing. The light bulb test is a dynamic test that pictures can not properly capture. Appreciate your effort though and it is good to hear that the foundation is well done. The first few generations of Tsuguhira are highly regarded- your sword demonstrates why.... I hope to see it some time. Maybe when we have a get together at my place once we move in I can talk you into attending...

Nice blade Stephen! I've been told that Bob is basically retired from the sword polishing end of things and that he has a student or students that do the work. I would assume that is the case here....How is the foundation polish?

Here is a link you may find interesting: http://sanmei.com/contents/media/A55478_Y1525_PUP.html

The last time I visited Fujishiro san, which was many years ago now, he was using a microfiber cloth instead of uchiko.

It looks like you are seeing the boundry between the high carbon edge steel and the softer kawagane, or jacket steel. The sunagashi and other activity takes place at the border between the two. Who made the blade?

Kinsuji, inazuma, sunagashi, etc. are not "planned" per se, but rather they occur when the right steel, the right forging, and the right heat treatment all combine. A smith can do what he can to make a "fertile" field for these activities to appear, or set the stage, but exactly where, the size, the shape, etc., are out of his control for all practical purposes.

this is/was on ebay.　I believe the same sword (or very similar) was on a Japanese auction as well: http://entry.winners-auction.jp/productDetail/20911 It is known that Horikawa Kunihiro traveled and made swords. It is known that he was called to Sawara jo and one would imagine he made some swords there as well. One story I read said that he made gimei of top Soshu works there to the request of Tokugawa Ieyasu...This seems to be a gimei.

Unless it is gimei or has hagire, I see no reason why it shouldn't paper....