Bruno

I found this about Yasuki steel, interesting... Yasuki steel A Japanese steel derived from iron sand which is known to be traditionally used in the making of the nihonto. Hitachi metals used a similar iron sand to produce a material called Yasuki steel originating in the mountain ranges of China. Yasuki steel can be divided into white, yellow, blue and silver. White steel 100% iron sand, has a few impurities such as phosphorus & sulphur. Yellow steel 50% iron sand. Contains much more impurities than white steel. Blue steel White steel mixed with chrome, tungsten & Carbon properties. Silver steel A type of stainless steel. Highly resistant to rust, but dulls rapidly. White steel is traditionally said to create the sharpest blade. The more pure the carbon steel is, it is harder to work as a metal. Additionally, it must be cooled rapidly or it will not produce the true potential of hardness. As a metalsmith, it is a steel which becomes a show of skill level to work with. Blue steel is white steel mixed with chrome & tungsten. The mixture improves workability, while the carbon helps it stay hard & sharp, its properties can be compared to new ceramic material. Ratings of the Yasuki steel go from 1 to 3. 1 is hardest while 3 contains more impurities, however, 1 chips easier. The softest is 3 yellow Yasuki steel & hardest is super blue (one above 1 blue steel).

I think it is due to the shape of the Type 3 kashira, a mon cannot be glued on it. Also they were made to be less flashy than Type 94/98 so probably a shiny piece of metal was not a good thing.

If you scratch it with you finger nail, you should know if it is natural or plastic same.

I have also a Type 3 Kanemune with celluloid same. Low grade showato.

OK I see, and these HIKE are left because polisher did not see them, because he saw them but did not take the time to fix them or because for some reasons he could not fix them (ie not the right stone for it)? Weird to spend many hours and days polishing a sword and at the end left tiny scratches. It is a non sense to me.

Just to be sure, "HIKE" are tiny scratches left after polish?

I'd say late war and guenine. Value around 500 USD

Thanks Chris, George and Franco. Everything is clear for me now!

Hi everyone, I was wondering if you guys know something accurate about nagasa length of military swords including gendaito and showato. I have noticed many different lenghts around 65, 66, 67 etc till 70 cm and more. The most common lengths I saw are between 65 to 67 cm. And read that longer blades are special order. Were there strict rules regarding nagasa lenght (minimum/maximum) at that time? If so, why so much differences? And from what lenght a sword can be considered as " special demand/order"? I have a couple of books but nothing relevant about that, that is why I decided to ask here. Maybe showato/gendaito owners can share here about lenghts of their swords to have a better idea of what was done, allowed, asked at that time. It would be interesting to see if quality is related to length. Any infos would be much appreciated.

You should try better shots if you want a translation.

Please post better photos of the inscriptions so that one can translates them for you.

Joe, Did you sent it to Japan for the polish, or did you choose someone in the USA? That is fine if you don't want to share the info.

Thanks for the clarification Adam.

I am certainly wrong but the shino-ji should not be polished like a mirror?

You are welcome Tony. Not a big help but I cannot do better! :D

Thanks for the correction Chris, you are really good.

The first menuki is related to Lotus flower?

SEKI JU TAKASAKI KANE....SAKU MAEKAWA......SAKU

2 first kanji : hakusan for white moutain

Second photo looks like : NA N MYO HO A Buddah phrase?

Sorry no visible photos that I can see! :D

NOSHU JU SUKENOBU? http://home.earthlink.net/~ttstein/sukenobu.jpg

Hi Christian, May you please post clear photos of your Mantetstu wakizashi? I have never seen one before. Thanks in advance.

I have been told the author is working on an updated version of this book. Maybe better to wait then...

You can have a window opened on it by a togishi and then you will see what you have.