Cuirassier

Thank you to all, really; it is much more than I had hoped for.

Bruce, wow, my absolute pleasure to post something that creates such interest in tangents.

Can anyone say if this is Yoshida Kaneyoshi please? I can see no evidence he had a kokuin Any input gratefully received

Thanks Geraint - yes, a lot of meis that start the same

Morning all Can anypne help? Guesswork / great experience involved! I got Bizen (no) Kuni I think then Yoshi Naga But what of the nissing kanji? Any help greatly appreciated Thanks PS I've included the plain reverse side also for reference as it has an interesting ridge

. Thanks Ray, at least I got the first 2 kanji correct

Having spent over an hour trying to figure this kanji out, my best guess is yasu tsuga naga mori ki saku kore But, I am sure, I have only the last two (duh) characters right!. Help please! I am using Arts of the Jaapanese Sword; any other book recomemdnations also welcome

Thanks Jan, very much

Good day Anyone? Please. The menuki hole made this even harder for me. It is off a small wakizashi

Thanks Ray. And OMG, you certainly put me to shame.

Help me out here guys; I am really unsure about "masa" Thanks you

Thanks John. They are very nice; I think palm tree tops

Morning all. I have a standard shin gunto in every respect, except for the menuki, which are clearly original to the tsuka. Does anyone know what / why? Cheers

Thank you Koichi

I wish blade smiths would write the same! I believe kanenobu, but..... Appreciate any help

Thanks Dan, Piers, Colin Very much

Thanks guys, so 1st March 1364?

It is just too feint for me I have nailed the mei (I think); Sagami (no) Kuni Junin Hiromitsu But the date Thx in advance Mark

Thanks Piers I thought the last two characters were saku kore

Have I possibly just got quite lucky? Or am I about to get shot down in flames?

Thanks Mark.

Please It is worn, after all.... Thanks and a Happy and hopefully Peaceful New Year

Thanks Guys. As Tony Norman is no more and no-one to replace him and been quoted 520000 JPY to polish and paper in Japan, I guess it will remain a secret!

Hello Geraint. Thank you. I can see the file marks on the tang in the photo I took; can you not? I will try and take the other photos soon, family permitting. Regards, Mark

Thanks Joel I came to the same conclusion; yes, Christies is on the right. The Christie's lot sold for $57,600 in 2005; now that is something I would understand people making puerile comments about. But, Christie's said the two character signature was typical for this smith. Yes, mine (on the left) has patina. So it at the very least is a decent old blade worthy of a polish. I can not find ANY such authenticated examples for Horikawa Kunihiro. So, who knows? A polish is not going to be wasted money IMHO, and...... Thanks again Regards Mark