Yumso

Not sure if this is the best I can get but here Thanks, I'll try finding way to leave a comment. Is it the mei that is suspicious?

Yes, I'm aware this would go over 100,000 yen and that's why I'm being cautious. Looking at this piece my mind ran like: The seller seems to have been selling very nice tosogu with papers or some other kind of certification at least recently, and for this kozuka they even show the page about Hosono Sozaemon Masamori so I assume the seller knows what they are selling... but why not paper it and then sell? Though it could be just because they don't have time to paper it... Or is this the auction's pitfall of "Too good to be true?" But... but... but... Everything is unsure but one thing I think is: Yes, it is beautiful.

Hello everyone, https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/t1221335764 I'm deeply interested at this kozuka signed 細野惣左衛門政守(Hosono Sozaemon Masamori), and would like to get advice of it. That design just hold my heart so I was all ready to GO... until some suspicion arose in my mind. Although Masamori's mei had various shapes this kozuka's mei makes me unsure if it is really his work or modern made fake. Especially 惣 and kao here looks kinda... wrong? Also kozuka overall looks very new. Considering Masamori's year of activity his genuine works should be about 300 years old yet I'm not convinced with this one. Is this red flag? It would be great if you could share your opinions about this.

Maybe number? 六三十?

Hi Patrice, welcome to the forum. Can you show us the tang too? If you remove the mekugi(the small stick plugged in the handle) you will be able to easily remove the tsuka. Many other experienced members here would be able to give you more detailed information.

□弘作 First character I'm not sure, maybe 乞 or 之? Though I don't think these two kanji were commonly used as name.

I think it's 大和守則永作 https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/NOR224 https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c1212387366

Rohan, Thanks for the knowledge. I have one more question: can nioiguchi also be restored by polishing? Or should the blade be reforged to make it?

Hello dear NMB members, Today I wanted to ask about what each hamon state tells about the blade's healthiness. Below are the 4 states of hamon that I've drew. From what I've read, it seems like #1 and #2's difference is only how the polisher polished the blade(something like "make-up" difference), so both are fine and in good condition. #3 and #4 are the ones that confuse me. For #3 I'm assuming the "erasing" occurs because micro scratches make the blade blurry, showing time has quite passed after polishing so it may be good time to get new polish for the blade. I assume that's not a critical flaw. Or maybe that's how blade's tiredness shows? For #4... where quite rough scratches(maybe because of cutting tests or amatur polishing attempts) seem to erase or disconnect hamon, I really have no clue about how I should evaluate the blade when I see them. Are these critical? Or would polishing fix them?

Here. I've once talked about this- to be short, 60cm ~ 60.5cm nagasa is somelike grayzone. Technically it would be wakizashi but what it was called and seen before is more important when it comes for labeling. Length classification that we use right now was artificially fixed in Edo period, so I think that's why those grayzones exist. Therefore I'd say that blade is a katana.

濃州住兼明作之 Noshu ju Kaneaki saku Kaneaki of Noshu made this.

They used it more like hitting rather than slashing or stabbing.

https://sword-auction.com/ja/product/25894/as24304-tanto-muramasanbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token/ The price is right now 8,500,000 yen ladies and gentlemen. But look at that mei, it's soooo well preserved...

Lewis, Great activity I see in that sword! Those pictures are so awesome... I'll try more. John, Oh, a fellow Shinto starter! The smith is quite known isn't he? I remember Nobuyoshi mei having kiku stamp on top of it, although I'm not sure what generation is. Sam, Those shows are something I always only dream of... since I can't go. Please show us some pictures of your blade after polishing is over, if you don't mind. I think we all will be thrilled to see it! Jarrow, I think swords in a good polish are the best ones to start- like yours! Good to hear you've bought this blade at the good deal.