Daniel

It's a fake. The wrapping is wrong, the Sarute differs from all the types I've seen, the colour of the fittings and the saya is wrong and as mentioned before it has a chinese feel to it. I know it's hard to find swords in Sweden but have a look at the for sale section at this site. If you don't feel comfortable importing a sword there is a guy in Sweden who are selling genuine Japanese swords. I think you can get in contact with him via the swedish nihonto forum Sharpweaponcenter.com Best regards Daniel

This stamp is pictured on page 227 in Japanese military and civil swords and dirks. I quote what the authors say. Unidentified. Noted only on the reverse of signed, but undated, tangs (one of which had a Seki stamp) by the Showa period smith Shimada Yoshisuke. Probably the logo of a private manufacturer/retail company. Regards Daniel

I guess sometime a mistake happen when they register a blade. I have a seki stamped blade signed Asai Yasutsuna with torokusho. Regards Daniel

Hi it looks like a put together koshirae at least from my point of view. The tsuka and tsuba are from a type 98 gunto koshirae and the saya is from a type 3. So possibly the leather cover could be mismatched as well. Kind regards Daniel

Yes they have the same sarute. I have a Kai Gunto with the clasping hands variant. Regards Daniel

I shall add I have always described them as Showato in type 98 gunto koshirae and Gendaito in type 3 gunto koshirae and so on. Maybe I already had the answer because this might be the right way to classifie them. Cheers Daniel

Hi thanks for your thoughts. I knew about tachi mei and katana mei so it is the type or what type that made me confused. I thought maybe I wasn't the only one that felt a bit confused about these types of koshirae. Thanks folks for you replies

Hello, What's the correct word for swords in type 98 and type 3 Gunto koshirae? I guess you can call the type 94 Shin Gunto and the Kai Gunto for Tachi with two ashi, but what about the other types? The reason I ask is I own a type 98 with a leather covered wooden saya and a Gendaito in type 3 mounts but I really don't know what to call them. So Tachi, Katana or maybe Handachi? Can someone explain please? Kind Regards Daniel

Hi all, I was looking for an Ichihara Nagamitsu in type 3 mounts for quite some time, but since the prices were high and my Wallet was light I decided to search for other alternatives. It was not only a money issue as I also understand that his or his students works whoever made the blades and that is also a concern differs a lot in quality. So I bought another sword from an RJT smith instead wich I'm very pleased with. So here's my stupid question. How's the quality of an average RJT smith's work compared to an average Nagamitsu work? I got the impression that maybe sometime Nagamitsu is overestimated and the star stamped RJT smiths are underestimated. What's your view on that? I know it's a stupid question but there aren't many swords to study here in Sweden and especially not in the small town were I live so you have to rely on your gut feeling, and try to get information elsewhere. have nice day or a good night depending were you are. Best regards Daniel

Hi non-traditional could for example mean that your sword is made from other steel than Tamahagane, it could be oil quenched instead of water quenched. Daniel

Thank you Stephen. Daniel

Yes me again. I´m sick and home from work with nothing better to do. But at last I had the time trying translate the date myself. Mark gave me the answer May 1944. This is what I got. Showa, 10, 9, year, May, month, 6, day. and that means 1945 the sixth day of may or am I wrong? If I add 19 to 1926(the beginning of Showa) that equals 1945. What do I do wrong since I get 1945 and Mark who I expect has a little more experience than I do got 1944. Regards Daniel

Sorry attached the same pics twice no I´m not drunk.

For those of you who might be interested I´ve dowloaded the pics from the listing. Credits to Jason as he was the one taking the photos. Just want to point out that there is a nice turnback at the boshi as this is hard to see from the pics. Have a nice day. Daniel

Hi it isn´t an Nco since the nakago on those look different. Regards Daniel

Hello Jason Yes I do like it I must say it even look better in reality than in the eBay listing. Yes it took a while for the sword to arrive but gladly it was unharmed. Nice to see that you to are a member here, it's a small world and the nihonto world is even smaller I guess. Best wishes Daniel

Hi thank you for your help, I really appreciate it. I googled Masahisa before I placed my bid on the sword and the only hit I got was the list of Jinsoo Kim so I understood that there probably didn't exist that many known swords by this smith. I will continue my research and if I find something I'll let you know. If there is someone else who might have some info please let me know. Once again thank you for your replies and efforts. Daniel

Hello all I just bought this sword http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0596197035 Sorry I haven't had the time to take my own photos yet. Can you help me translate the nakago please? Question No:2 I know this smith (Masahisa) was a Rikugun jumei tosho but do you have any additional info of him. At last opinions of sword are most welcome, and yes I know it's not a National treasure but I like it. Thanks for your help. Regards Daniel

Hi I bought the book Japanese military and civil swords and dirks at ebay. Today I got a note that the package was returned to sender. The idiots thought the package contained a sword how retarded must one be to classifie a book as a sword. It has to be a very special and secret ninja sword if you can hide a sword in a package like that. I don't know wether to laugh or cry. But I do know that it's time to act, so to all the swedish members what do you say isn't it time to give them hell. Write to them, email them and phone them. Let us be a real pain in their arse. Regards Daniel

Hello John Please let us know how this mess ends.Regards Daniel

Lucky for me I didn't read this a few weeks ago before my sword arrived. About two weeks back I bought a sword from an nmb member in Ireland and that sword was delivered by the postal office without any problems. Did you order your sword from outside of EU? Maybe it just slipped trough customs since it it was ordered from another EU country and therfore the postal office didn't know what the package contained. Anyway thank you for letting us know because I'm just saving to buy a Nagamitsu. Regards Daniel

Hi I'm thinking of buying the book Japanese military and civil swords and dirks,but since I already got Swords of imperial Japan Cyclopedia Edition by Jim Dawson is it worth the money.I mean it's not just a 50$ book. Is there anyone who read them both.What's the difference between them. Thanks in advance regards Daniel

Hi again if it legit or not I do not know.The seller never showed me the torokusho before I bought it so he didn't try to fool me.He imported it straight from Japan for me and when it arrived it had the torokusho attached to the saya.What I mean is that the people who writes the paper maybe isn't always experts themselves.Well anyway the topic are about star stamped swords so I shouldn't hijack it with this.This is maybe another question.Daniel

I know that type of sword shouldn't have one.Just wanted to show that if a sword has a torokusho or not maybe doesn't mean that much if a sword like that slips thru please have a look/Daniel

Well if a sword has a torokusho or not really doesn't mean anything I guess since I have a seki stamped showato with a torokusho see pictures in the military swords section page 2 topic help by me Daniel Regards Daniel