Bruno

Hi everyone, It is written in the Jim Dawson's book page 175, the following : "Tassels for late-war army swords are medium brown and differ from naval tassels in that naval tassels are darker chocolate brown." On page 177, there is nice full page photo of a showato Type with this medium brown tassel that fitted in the kashira hole without sarute. I have always seen blue/brown company officer tassels on this Type 3 ie on Ohmura's website, but never medium brown tassel. What is the true version? Does anybody know? Finally, I have been told that there are two type of tassels (for a same model) : a thinner one and a thicker one. Can one confirms that the thinner tassel was used for Type 3 as Type 3 with sarute are rare and very loose (simple piece of metal ring or shoe lace). I have tried to fit a thicker blue/brown tassel in the kashira hole of a Type 3 but does not work. On Ohmura's san website they seem to fit perfectly. Thanks

If you look at the bids details, you can see mainly 2 bidders were playing together. For a total of 24 bids only 9 different bidders and most of them at the very beginning. I would not be surprised to see it appear again.

I was thinking it could be a super badly polished but real blade. The odd kissaki appearance can come from this, plus the quality of the photo can make us think of an acid etched hamon. Like Roy, I would like to see the nakago, just to be sure.

There is nobody with such name in the Seki kaji tosho list.

I think Mr Ayashi would be a wise choice. Actually there are some photos of the blade which has been crudely cleaned. Not sure the blade can provides more infos.

Both mei are a bit different to me, not sure wether it is gimei or not. What do you experts think?

I agree with Chris and Brian. It is an older blade so not military, thus a "family" blade.

Thanks Chris!

Hi everyone, Does anybody know what the symbol next to the stock number is? Thanks

When you look at the bidders, it is quite obvious that "n***a( 1 )" is a fake bidder here to make the price high.

This one in San Francisco is good also : Jimmy Hayashi 415.922.0618

OK now my previous comment looks really stupid! :lol:

I think it is more likely an oil quenched showato, not traditionnal. I would not recommend to re-wrap it by your own but ask a pro to do it, price should be between 100 and 200 usd in the USA.

I see one, a partial Seki stamp. Otherwise it looks like Sadakatsu.

Hi Allan, Very nice gendaito! Really sad for the corrosion on the nakago. May you tell what is nagasa length please? Thanks

Not sure we are talking about the same but the W stamp appears on blades made by Takehisa and Haruhisa.

Hi Brian, You can try David McDonald in Montana. He does excellent work. As for the missing part menuki, seppa, sarute, tassel they are easy to find on Ebay.

The broom looks in pretty good shape and condition, looks like a good deal! :D

I think they are more contract number than serial number. As Brian said serial numbers are found only on NCO and Mantetsuto. I think without being certain, these contract numbers indicate traditionnal swords as they are here to control the supply of tamahagane. I am not sure.

Yes nothing special except maybe if cutting edge is several cm longer than 66 cm, in that case it could be a kind of special order for a tall officer. Otherwise no, value of it is around 700 to 1000 USD I would say.

Maybe NO SHU SEKI JU KANE......KAZUNORI SAKU

You will find this stamp on page 65 of SLOUGH's book. I do not have a scanner here.

I think the gunto is signed NO SHU SEKI....KANE......KAZUNORI SAKU

Thanks Eric, I will look at it for sure.

Hi Geraint and thanks. Ha yes thanks I think I see what it is now, well exactly what Morita san was showing! :D So the lack of visible funbari is like a mistake in the making of the sword?