machinist

Not sure if this has been posted yet

Well I cannot not say much but; "It looks like it was shortened to fit in the koshirae. So is the blade older than the koshirae?" The blade was shortened, they often are, either for compliance with weapon laws of the day or fashion or individual preference or other reasons. The tsuka would have been made to fit the nakago not the other way around. Unless there is a famous name involved I think you can do better for your money.

A sayagaki looks nice http://www.nihontoantiques.com/Sayagaki.htm Of course you will have to learn to recognize the kanji a bit.

Carl, for a shirasaya there is this fellow http://japaneseswordpolishing.net/japanese_sword_restoration.htm Or this one http://www.bushidojapaneseswords.com/swordpolish.htm And a few others, I have not dealt with either but imagine you would be happy with them. I believe at least one is a boardmember. Choji oil is just scented with clove oil but I think is mostly mineral oil, I have lohmans is good for this as some of the cheap stuff on ebay is kind of goopy

http://www.arscives.com/historysteel/japaneseintroduction.htm Kind of small, there may be better.

The southeast Asian board at Sword forum international would be more the place for this. http://www.swordforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=146 I believe it is a dha from burma

Perhaps he has friends in the construction and renovations business. You will never know what is behind a wall until you look.

Kappa, Robert? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kappa_%28folklore%29

With some carving http://www.japanszwaard.nl/zc11.html

That first tsuba looks like it should have a matching teacup to set upon it. Not knocking it mind you, I always love to see what folks have to show.

I have heard that some smiths just did it that way, part of their tradition.

looks like they closed it

I have been sad all weekend from not attending, I kept thinking of the attendees with rosy cheeked smiling faces as they ran with arms outstretched through a field of freshly blossoming nihonto. So yeah, post pics, tell story's, tell as any little thing that will make attendance next year more successful.

http://www.ksky.ne.jp/~sumie99/catalogue.html Usagiya always has some fresh blades down at the bottom of the page. http://www.e-sword.jp/newlineup.htm E sword also has many newish made swords. I think a lot of Japanese dealers seem to have them.

Would a service like this work for you Eric? http://www.japanauctioncenter.com/ I have never tried it so I do not know it's workings.

Would that be something like this? (later day copy) http://www.samurai-nippon.net/26/

I was expecting a painted grain of rice but this will do. Very beautiful.

The object in the lower right on the first pic may be a lotus seed pod.

That was an interesting read, I enjoyed the sumo part especially.

Be patient, many times people that are in your position think that wanting a sword means that you must buy one right away and then they buy a cheap one that will give them little joy. As has been stated go to the FAQ section at the very top left of the page and read that and then read it again. If you learn and buy books and read and spend time lurking this board you will increase the chance of getting a sword that you will be happy with. Put some effort into deciding what you want and then buy exactly what you want. If you want a beautiful mounted katana do not buy an out of polish blade with no mounts and think you will restore it, this is expensive and takes experience. And save your money, your budget is at the very bottom line and if you save another grand or so it will be worth it but only if wisely spent.

When the student is ready the armor will find him. :D

Daimyou54eb has some. I have no idea how good these are. I have bought other armor bits from him that pleased me. http://stores.ebay.com/World-Armor-Antique-DAIMYOU__W0QQ_fsubZ12 Shipping charges will be a large percentage of total

It looks like a blade cut down from a naginata called a "naginata naoshi". It would have been made by a swordsmith and them altered I imagine by a togishi from a pole arm to a wakizashi so yes it is nihonto. Sometimes a blade would be made originally to look like this and not be altered. As for era wiser minds than mine must answer.

There is a for sale section on this board and also at Sword Forum International, that would be best. Many flattering pics helps. Some dealers in the links section have consignment sections but I think that might be a slow way to move it. Sword show maybe or Ebay.

What books would be best to learn about Muramasa and his swords? Especially how to tell what is sho-shin. I have spent enough time looking at pics of these on the net to know simple basics like the mirrored hamon and the tanago-bara nakago but there must be fakes out there that have these features.