Mark

can anyone tell me if I have this correct, I make it Noritoshi, it is dated 1944 but I can not find a reference for this maker so maybe there is another translation? thanks! mark

Ray yes it is that sword

Arrive early, parking is a mess, you may end up walking a mile to get to the show wear comfortable shoes if you see something you want buy it, you may never find the same table again. stop by my tables and say hi

Members I had posted pictures of a tanto some time back asking for help with the inscription. Check out the pictures at viewtopic.php?f=15&t=17182 Around that time Kunitaro san had has posted offering restoration services see viewtopic.php?f=4&t=17115&p=150969&hilit=polish+restoration#p150969 So I gave his service a try with my tanto. I sent it in November 2013 and it just arrived back (very good turn around time). The results are amazing. I am very happy with the quality of the work. The lines are crisp, the temper is vivid and clear, the hada, although being shinshinto and very tight, is visible and brought out nicely. You will note the tip had been damaged, you would never know that now, it looks "perfect" the blade was reshaped properly. The polisher also carefully removed the red rust from the nakago so now it looks as it should. I took a couple of quick pictures. The shirasaya and tsunagi fit well. Thank you Kunitaro san and your craftsmen I am not very good with the camera and these are quickly taken as I am just back from Tampa

I have visited Mr Tsuruta's shop and he treated me kindly and I bought items. I also bought items online. That being said he is a dealer and very knowledgeable so you should expect him to be accurate but ask questions and understand the item clearly. That way you will be satisfied.

blade looks like it could be oil tempered, maybe a Showa era blade with old name

Sure! a NCO sword w/scabbard and an odd scabbard can sell for more than $150. just look at the NCO some of the fakes are getting close

August 1-3 2014

The Okissaki gives the suggestion of nambukcho but it is signed katana mei, did Bizen smiths sign katana mei that early?

I have these kashira. I have some fuchi as well and will dig them out

it is an ARMY officer's sword. This type was made from around 1900 until mid 1930's. Some were still in use in WWII. the blade looks like it is signed Yoshiyuki saku (made it). I may be confusing it with a different sword but I thought I saw this picture before, maybe on Gunbroker?

Izumi (no) Kami Kanesada

looks like a normal WWII army sword, the handle is not leather it is cloth but someone has put something, maybe varnish, on part of the lacing -- at least that is what I see. Maker maybe Kiyosada? hard to see at the angle. There are some collectors/dealers in that area not sure if they are NMB members Brian T, Alfred T etc.

I found another, as with the others they are all available for sale if you have a match or I am happy to buy a matching menuki, it would be good to get items together

it is a WWII navy sword. The blade is machine made from rust resistant steel. It is missing the metal part at the opening of the scabbard. Because of condition issues I would think it is worth $6-800

here are ones I have. I am happy to sell any or to buy a match. I have some odd fuchi and kashira also

the numbers stamped on the parts are "assembly numbers" used to keep all parts for a sword together when assembled. It is a bit unusual as the blade appears older and you might expect it was custom mounted

blade is 26 3/8" it is scratched and as I said the mounts are beat up but it does have the double button release that you find on the better late '44 mounts. Here are some pictures, in one maybe you can see the lines of sunagashi running through the chogi (hard to photograph as the blade is in poor polish)

Brian I am sure it is genuine WWII, it comes in beat up late '44 mounts that are right for the blade (and clearly fit and were made for the blade). It has chogi temper with nice sunagashi. I am positive it is a real star stamped blade. Maybe the guy was not that experienced?

I have a katana with a "star stamp" or RIKUGUN JUMEI TOSHO. I think it reads Sanemichi saku. I can not find any listing for this smith in the RIKUGUN JUMEI TOSHO. So maybe I have it translated incorrectly or maybe he is just unknown. Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated.

Gabriel as Brian said ***** great work*** having it laid out that way it makes deciding if genuine or gimei much easier than looking at one at a time. I think we will all come to our own conclusions but I think it is clear, at least for me

have you tried chogi oil? maybe leave it sit on the spots for a day? After soaking light uchiko? that is what I would do first

I had this one. I sold it to a friend last week. I am not really into matchlocks. You could use it to compare to yours. I think it is a genuine matchlock, probably the inlay is a bit "flashy" so I thought maybe it was added to attract westerners. anyway at least I am sure it is "real" Japanese

maybe Sagami Ju nin Sadamune "Big" name, if it were real it is very valuable

I think Hoshu (Bungo) Takada Ju Fujiwara Nagayuki.. I think you got the last 4 right and those are the most important as if you can look up makers named Nagayuki you can match the other kanji for a book