Jim P

A better pic of the Oshigata, http://www.aoijapan.com/img/sword/kante ... i283-2.jpg

Hi Daniel, You ask is the mei shoshin IMHO, from a quick look. Not the first-generation or 2-gen mei, look at differences between some of the shoshin mei and yours viewtopic.php?f=1&t=15940 or check the web, lots of them. If you want some shoshin mei to look at (Fujishiro's) drop me a line and I will send them to you. If its Gimei I would have a look at Bungo Takada school this sword looks like it could come from that school maybe ? and it looks shinto from the photos mid to late 1600s is my guess . But I am not good at kantei and from photos so I may be way off

Hi Chris,Thanks for the update and the news "they have FOUND the missing reels!" Keep trying, you have done well to get this far

Hi Chris, A few of us are waiting with bated breath, thanks for the update

Hi James, this may help http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/ ... b22e296605

Hi Guy's, Something you do see a lot what is the proper name for one of these ? http://www.nipponto.co.jp/swords/KT127732.htm thanks.

Hi Brian, My thoughts are a lot of us are no longer looking for that find, like years ago, I strive to get as close to flawless and get papered blades why ? because don’t we all strive for the best examples? I like to collect koto and I understand that the level of knowledge required to Kantei o'suriage mumei swords I and 90% of the board does not have and like me probably will not have for a very long time but more likely never. I just do not have access to that experience and in some cases even the knowledgeable have problems have a look at Paul’s A Yamato Hosho Tanto are you going keep it unknown and have a ? or polished and get the best opinion you can? for me I would like to know what I have and as stated I do not have that expertise and let’s face it it’s the papered swords that are the reference’s and examples so in 2014 most strive for that level if they have the funds. I have a friend a long time collector who has one of the best Library’s in Australia who had a lot of swords in the 100’s but in the end only 10 or so were good enough to spend $ on when a well known polisher had a look at his collection and he has years of experience some like to hunt but a lot of the newer collectors are getting better advice don’t we say buy papered swords and look for the best examples in the end we all have different approaches and it's what works for you . :D

Hi Guys, I was speaking to Robert about a week ago He is in the process of writing some new books Koto & Shinto and has done a big upgrade of the site, he does have one of the best resources on the web take a look at the Ko-Mihara school he goes back a before Masaiye to the Kokubunji, smiths and back to SADACHIKA, SADAHIRA, HOKKE SHIGETOSHI, most don't go back that far. http://www.sho-shin.com/sanyo13.htm

Hi Chad, As you are in oz and in Queensland Kam, can help you http://jigokustudios.com.au/

Thanks Patrick,

Hi Guys, I tried to do some research on Settsu ju Kanekuni look at pics,but I am a bit unsure on nihontoclub the say maybe these 2 are the same smith ? but they list one KAN90, in Hawley's at 15 points and the other KAN100 is listed as 30 but I don't have a lot of reference books to do the research http://nihontoclub.com/smiths/KAN90 http://nihontoclub.com/smiths/KAN100 I looked in a reference of Hawley's I have but the closest I came up with was, Kanekuni, Satsuma no Kami Kanekuni Settsu 1673-1688 15 Hawley's KAN1271 Lived in Osaka. thanks for the help

Chris that's what happens when you are are crap at reading kanji and posting at 430am i think I fixed it now :lol:

Hi Mark, My good deed for the day oshigata for you

Hi Ken, A paper on Kiyomaro that sounds like a interesting read when/if are you going to publish? also if its OK can you tell us what sort of paper does your Kiyomaro have ? Not much point Stephen on the pros , cons on this one it would be hard to workout who made the gimei from just photos

Hi Stephen, Interesting sword I also wish you a happy Christmas :D and as George said as you are shrouded in snow we are having Hot 38c days in oz and if I won lotto I would love to play Santa for you :D (there is a big $30m draw jan, so I will get a ticket for both of us)

Hi Chad, Or if all else fails try sending Tsuruta san a email ? http://www.aoijapan.com/contact

Thank you Chris, The blade has that Bizen school look I will see if I can take some photos but its out of Polish and osuriage mumei and to me looks like a later one if it is one of the Kanemitsu smiths maybe mid to late 1400's but my kantei skills are not great :?

Hi all I would really appreciate your help on this, my kanji skills are not good enough . Also sorry for the bad photo it was taken on a old iPhone. Thank you

Hi Mark, This is what you are looking for viewtopic.php?f=1&t=13134&p=113512&hilit=Polishers+marks#p113512:D

Brian, The fight scenes do let it down a bit, but it does give an insight into the war wounds they faced.

Ken its on the net as , National.Geographic.Warrior.Graveyard.Samurai.Massacre. not a bad show.

The Tadakuni mei just to complete the pic's

Hi Mike,Your photos :D

Hi Mike, Check your email

Hi Mike, Congratulations on the papers, I would love to see what it looks like. If you send me the photos I will post them for you, will send you a email.