Mark

Earlier this year we had the first Las Vegas Sword show as part of the Las Vegas Antique Arms show https://www.antiquearmsshow.com/ The first show went well and was well received. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/39743-las-vegas-Japanese-sword-show-jan-20-21-2023/ For 2024 the dates are Jan 26-27, 2024 for the public, set up wednesday night and thursday (Jan 24-25) https://www.vegasswordshow.com/ if you have questions or comments please let me know or post here thanks for the support mark jones

there is or was recently a club in the Seattle area. they had physical meetings etc. there are people associated here on NMB i think so maybe they can post

i have been happy with Josiah's work

i sent you a picture of what i have

i think they are a plus over Tokubetsu Kicho better respected

papers look like Koshu Tokubetsu Kicho papers to me http://www.nihontocraft.com/japanese_sword_papers.html#japanese_sword_3

looks like mumei ChoShu then description

you could attach a replacement ring to the ashi you have if you want to repair it. that would avoid saya damage from removing it

Costas who did you use as an agent? Could it be a communication breakdown?

since Matt mentioned me.............. here is a sword. $450 plus actual shipping and paypal fee... it is no treasure but i think i see some temper, it has a signed tsuba and decent fittings on the handle. a reasonable package

looks like it was made circa 1940, probably in Mino province and in the city of Seki. i would guess it is oil tempered

i will be there........... i will have a bunch of swords, some lower end for $3-500 and some nice items. I will have several dozen tsuba and fitting and will bring some misc items like sword knots from the Plimpton collection, tsuka, and odd bits and pieces. I am looking forward to seeing friends. Mark C has done a great job organizing the show and there will be people i only see when i am in FL so that will be nice. mark jones

kunikane a long line of makers spanning a few hundred years

civilian official on Formosa (Taiwan)

thanks to everyone for all the help....... it may take me a while to figure it out but as i first thought Hisa i now think 安次 (Yasutsugu) is a strong possibility. i appreciate all your suggestions

Steve Thanks!!!! guess i was closer than i thought........ the last kanji is faint.. here are a couple of other pictures just in case it helps

i am having trouble reading this mei....... the nakago is distressed..... it looks like 4 kanji ____ _____ Yasu? _____ my guess was ?? Hira Yasu Hisa....... i think i have Yasu correct, not sure on the other 2. I looked at Naminohira Yasuhisa but that doesn't seem right (i don't see the first kanji being the first part of Naminohira). I am hoping someone can read it or maybe recognize it thank you in advance for any help or direction

not sure i understand your statement Since all horimono (ancient and modern) are done ato-bori, there are plenty of swords that have horimono done by the swordsmith at the time he made the blade

i tried a quick simple search (search bar toward the top) and got 342 results.......... there is a lot of information here, (it has been discussed many times) try looking through it, a lot of your questions may be answered then you can ask specific questions if you could not find answers

you have it right. just make sure you use the correct Nobu kanji when looking him up

looks like 76

i would guess the list is an exhibition or display listing the swords there. I am not sure how you could ever identify which swords are on your list as Jussi points out there are multiple swords by the makers that are Juyo and some above. If you had the length or something else to identify the sword you might have a chance

you could start by trying to "nudge" the string a bit and see if you can find the mekugi and if so try and remove it....... another option, although i am hesitant to mention in, is the secure the blade in a vice (wood on each side) and tap the tsuba using a block of wood and hammer. You might be able to break the mekugi and slide the handle off and then remove the parts of mekugi from the tsuka.

nice sword. just to help others: are you sure you mean Kamakura era? Your original description says 1868-1912. I have had swords by him and i agree he is copying earlier styles as your description mentions

type of steel...... "Yasuki steel", that is how F&G have it, i think the i have seen the name translated differently as well mark