Mark

they made copper handles, aluminum painted handles, wood handles. no brass handles

it is a fake

Tom no shinsa this year. We had one last year and this year there one in Tampa.

Tampa is past.... so next show is Chicago. Information at http://www.chicagoswordshow.com/ If you have questions or need information contact me at nixe@bright.net tables were sold out but i have one dealer who may not be able to come so if you want a table let me know. The hotel is already about full, there are several others close by, one across the parking lot so let me know if you need help with that. Large free parking area.

George If you are going west at the end of April stop by the Chicago Japanese Sword Show (info at chicagoswordshow.com). There will be several experts at the show. The NBTHK -American Branch will have a display/lecture/discussion on saturday. You could get a few good opinions in one place. I also know Darcy and he is very reliable.

Walter? or Weedebe (not sure i saw your name), i see you are in NYC there is a club there, maybe they could be a resource https://www.facebook.com/nytokenkai?fref=hovercard&hc_location=none&__tn__=%2CdC-R-R looks like they have a meeting Sunday

i had one that was poor quality, a lot of ware', and i had another that was decent but noting special, then i also had a very nice one with notare temper. So from my experience the quality can vary.

Norinaga mei looks like older blade

i look forward to seeing it Chicago, please introduce yourself. There will be a lot of knowledgeable people there and you will get plenty of opinions/information

here is an image of the ashi with missing mon. I want it the same depth etc so don't think having a mold made from the other one will work. I have a couple of people who can do the work and they asked me to remove the remaining one so they can duplicate it

I have a tachi that is missing one of the Mon on the ashi. I included a picture i found on the internet for reference ( it is the part labeled Taiko-kanagu) There is a mon on one side and the back is a plain round "button" or circle same size as the front with the mon. I want to remove the remaining one so i can have a duplicate made. Has anyone ever removed one of these? I can't tell if it is screwed together or press fit or something else. I understand there may be multiple options but thought i would ask. It fits tightly together so i can't see in between to get any clues. I want to do it carefully so i do not damage the remaining fitting. any suggestions? Thanks

hard to say for sure without holding it, but from the pictures i would think if you had it on a table at one of the big sword shows it would bring $1500-1800. I think if you asked 2k you would get interest and offers, if you asked 3k, or more, it would sit. Blade is mediocre but real, mounts are interesting and "flashy" but not Goto or top end. It looks like something produced(the koshirae) in the late 1800's for sale to westerners. I don't think anyone would want to spend money for restoration, if you invested 2500 in it you would never see 5k from the restored sword. So the buyer must like the sword "as is". I don't think you were swindled, the owner had no idea what it was, i think it was a fair deal and the sword will now be preserved and cared for (no more glue). If you are worried offer it here for the 2k you paid, or a little more, and see if it sells. Again just my opinion for pictures

Masahiro from Seki in Mino Province, not sure the personal name i would have to look it up. Not traditionally made, probably oil tempered Showato

it looks like there is a line on the blade by the habaki showing the habaki has been moved a bit. maybe someone tried to remove the handle without taking out the peg. That might be jamming the peg, try a gentle tap on the end of the tsuka with the palm of your hand with the blade pointing up, try to reseat the blade in the tsuka then remove the peg

Steve and Uwe Thanks for the information, makes sense now, i appreciate it and will try to remember this if i ever see it again mark

thanks. what does 切手 mean? I try to translate and get " postage stamp" or Kitte "off hand" i am sure it has some meaning i don't know. Steve yes part of a test but in the spot where i usually expect the date

Can you help read these 2 kanji please. I think i see ____ Uma so i am thinking a zodiac date but i can't match the first kanji with anything that makes sense. any thoughts appreciated Thanks!!! Mark

i don't see a picture? Maybe you are adding later?

you would think a price tag might have been removed when purchased, or at least not put on in such a way that seems to make it sort of permanent.. strange

there is no Omi.... Hizen Kuni Ju Nin Tadayoshi

looks to my eye that it is signed Bizen not BiShu

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Japanese-Saumari-Sword-Original/362480261143?hash=item546581d817:g:Nb4AAOSwwSJb4cwy:rk:1:pf:0

i just listed one on ebay. you can check it out and get what you need, if i did not show what you need let me know nixe@bright.net https://www.ebay.com/itm/223218926465?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

it looks genuine. i have seem this type of horimono a number of times. i do not think only one smith or group did it so as far as i know you can not attribute it from this

yes Showa 19 first month