Jon MB

Hi Geraint, thank you for that. I am pleased you say that as that was my feeling also, Shinshinto.

Much appreciated, as are the other comments here.

Some more pics.

Thank you folks. It was sold as Chinese, but I have not seen Chinese work of the Jian type that is as good as this is / was.

An old Ken, for your examination folks.

Total length 84 cm. Nagasa 65 cm.

Any insights appreciated.

Hope everyone is well.

Jon B

So this is KUN1938 in Hawley.

Has anyone here handled work by this smith? Briefly described on the web as an early influence on Osaka Shinto schools.

Not adding pics presently as away from home.

Thanks,

Jon MB

9 hours ago, PNSSHOGUN said:

Could you please show us the mounts as well?

Shall do once home, might have the tsuka restored first. Thank you for your interest. The tsuba is the high end 'fat', pierced type, numbered.

10 hours ago, 16k said:

Did you clean the nakago or just the active rust? Because it looks a bit too clean to me.

Hi, it had lots of red rust, I put a small amount of sewing machine oil on and rubbed it by hand and then dabbed the surplus off with a soft cloth.  Nothing drastic. 

Many thanks! Very much appreciated sir.

Hello Folks,

Hope everyone is well and staying safe.

This mei is from a 69 cm blade, sat in high end Gunto mounts, now in poor condition.

The blade appears like it might be saved, the corrosion here being the worst overall.

Requesting assistance or some pointers with this kanji...

Many, many thanks in advance.

Jon MB

Ok, thanks Ray.

Thank you for input Ray, appreciated.

As you see, o-suriage.

Hello All,

Any comments appreciated on this piece.

Nagasa 61 cm.

It has sumi-hada, like Aoe pieces, hard to photograph though.

This piece was in Gunto mounts.

Thanks in advance,

Warm regards,

Jon B

Thank you adam and Ken. I will look to clean it up a bit and take better pictures. The yokote issue is more to do with photography I think.

  Comments appreciated. 

It was in bone export mounts, but is real nihonto as opposed to the metal bar that is usually present in those bone fittings.

Was evaluating to see it I would fix it up for Iai.

It was in non-traditional koshirae and has some sort of residue on the nakago.

Any opionions much appreciated.

Thinking later than Koto, based on shape

...Has Masame hada....but not in good polish.

Shin Shinto?

But has been shortened...

Any and all comments appreciated.

Warm regards,

Jon B

Another good post from Chris.

As this is a gentlemanly/ gentlewomanly forum, unashamedly abrasive posts, disguised as analysis, are not great. Surely we want informed but free expression, in order to explore ideas.

Apologies if this is an obvious point. And I am partisan, Paul, thank you for all your work.

I agree with Chris's verdict.

Ok, here is my opinion. Its a waki. Could be older. Its mounted in a homeland defense koshirae in the last days of the war.Overall very low quality. Thats the best guess i can give.

The ito is lacquered red and it is wraped in Japanese style.

 

For me it is a Japanese made sword. Not a fake.

 

The best is to move the thread in the military thread. Neil, Shamsy and others have a huge collection of such kind of swords. Maybe they could find out more.

 

For the blade i dont want to give a false answer. Maybe it has some value. I could really recommend that you give it in trained hands. The mune looks promising in my eyes. But what i know.

If you are serious about nihonto, I think one needs to recognise the spiritual aspects of Japanese sword culture that have evolved over time, even if you don't subscribe. After all, many pieces from the start are created as amulets or a form of spiritual as well as possibly physical protection. Look at the state of mind expected of smiths, and as noted elsewhere, the moment of yakiire is when the 'spirit' of the sword is born.

Also thank you Steve, and John & JP

Taira..

Thank you Morita San, much appreciated. Nice find then.

Looks like a quotation, letter or declaration...Carefully mounted, I'm guessing 19th C.

Black ink on silk.

                         Aesthetically pleasing overall.

Any comments much appreciated, O Japanese language scholars...

If turns out to be Chinese, pardon par avance...

Many thanks for any help

Warm regards,

Jon B

Thank you Ken