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  1. This maybe a bit like asking what is your favourite colour. But very early on in my collection and study of shin-gunto, I made a list of what sword smiths I thought would be a good representative of the period, that were available, and wouldn't break the bank. I used John Slough's book and other research material, and set my sights on 10 swords that make up a reasonable and affordable representative sample, one that most people would know, and be a good basis for future growth to maybe better traditionally made blades. So here goes...... 1. Kanenori. 2. Teruhide. 3. Kanezane. 4. Emura. 5. Nagamitsu. 6. Masafusa (kobuse). 7. Kanemichi. 8. Koa Isshin Mantetsu. 9. Masayuki. 10. Masakiyo. So ok, these were in retrospect maybe not the greatest choices, but they were relatively easy to find good examples, and were not overly expensive. This formed the basis of an ever expanding collection, and a lot was learned. My question is, what do other collectors think of my choices, what would you add or subtract from the list (remembering affordability) for a beginner, and do others hunt down swords or pick up what comes along?
  2. ChrisW

    Unknown Gunto

    Hey guys! Been a while since I posted any new finds of mine, I have quite a few that are sitting on my back-catalogue of things to post! I will get to them all eventually... Anyways, today's item that I am putting out there for opinions and discussion is my most recent acquisition. I picked it up from a certain auction site from a seller who was selling a memento of his father's time in the service. His father was in the USAAF (airforce) and was a crew member aboard a B25 and he picked this thing up sometime during the war. Upon return, he did not talk about his time in the service nor did he specifically mention where/when he obtained this blade. It is in fairly solid shape and besides the mekugi-pin and one of the tassels on the portopee is entirely intact. What drew me to this blade is its rather interesting hamon style which is reminiscent of older swords and the pierced tsuba (indicative of earlier war models). This blade however appears to be very much WWII due to the lack of oxidation on the nakago. Its measurements are: Overall length 36 3/4". Nagasa is 27". My asks are as follows: What smith made this blade? Is this a gendaito or showato? I couldn't find any seki or other stamping upon it, just the two kanji. The nagako is also SUPER bright in the seller's photos, I will try to get a true-color picture of it in daylight. What style is this blade's hamon trying to imitate? I picked this up for $600. I wonder how well I did? Thanks guys! P.S. The photos in blue are the sellers, the crappy ones are mine.
  3. Collectors--St. Croix Blades has 12 swords listed for sale up on eBay currently. They run the gamut--from Buy It Now listings to Auction listings, from Showato to gendai, from fully polished to as-is. Take a look to see if there is anything you might be interested in. Here is the link: https://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=Japanese+swrod&_ssn=stcroixblades&item=362883002543&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313.TR11.TRC2.A0.H0.Xjapanese+sword.TRS1&_nkw=Japanese+sword&_sacat=0 Those of you who don't have an eBay account--or who want a lower price (I'll subtract the fees from the listed price), contact me for a direct sale. Thank you! Matthew Brice www.StCroixBlades.com
  4. So if a sword exhibits, Hada Hamon Habuchi Hataraki Is it a true nihonto, regardless of the type of steel used, or forging method employed? Folding and water quenching appear to be the only common denominator. I am sure over the centuries, other raw materials than tamahagane have been used. For example, if a 1942 Koa Isshin, or a 1943 Emura exhibits the 4H's above, it's a true nihonto?
  5. Hello everyone! I thought I would introduce myself. My name is Octavian and I'm from Canada. I'm new to this community! I have an interest in learning about anything from the Japanese culture. One of my interests over the last few years has been collecting and learning about nihonto Japanese blades such as the Katana and the Tachi. I have a very nice example for sale! I love this nihonto but I'm selling it to feed my other hobby, Japanese anime, original production anime celluloids. I look forward to learning new things and sharing this hobby with you as part of this community! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Den Dewa Ko-Gassan Gold inlay Nihonto Katana, Muromachi Era: 600 yrs (NTHK-NPO Kanteisho papered certificate) Price: SOLD Serious Offers considered payment: paypal (with buyer protection) Certification: Certificate No. 319248, Tokyo (photocopy included: original kept in Japan) Judgement Paper: NTHK-NPO Kanteisho (authentic swords paper) This is the second highest and more commonly seen origami certificate from the NTHK-NPO that offers a generous amount of information on the sword’s characteristics. The certificate will be issued for swords of considerable quality in which the mei (signature) is authentic OR in the case that if sword is mumei(unsigned), the judges will offer their opinion on who the smith or school was that forged the blade. Blade: Mumei signature: Gold inlay: Gassan Age: Mid- Muromachi era: ca. 1400 Length: about 95cm Blade length: about 66.7cm warp: about 1.9cm first nail hole: one original width: about 26.9mm Motoshige: about 6.5mm destination width: about 18.5mm Sakikasane: about 5.1mm blade weight: about 604g Shape : It is wide and thick long size katana. It has deep curve. Jitetsu : Ayasugi hada well grained with jinie attached. The ayasugi hada is well seen. Hamon : Nie plate suguha Edo Katana Koshirae Fittings: Fuchi: Higo Deito Iron fittings (dragonfly & floral pattern gold inlay) Tsuba: High quality round shape iron tsuba with carved partterns, Edo period Saya: Red lacquered saya (sheath) Edo Period: 400 years old Accessories: Silk Bag, NTHK certificate, Shirasaya (wood housing) included, wood blade included Description: This piece is quite old Ko-Gassan. In the koto times, most Gassan smiths signed with the school name only and so the names of individual smiths are mostly lost to time. This katana matches the features of the late 1400 period and early 1500 period, and bears the hallmarks of ayasugi hada and narrow sugu samishii hamon well. It is signed in gold inlay with the school name only, Gassan as was the tradition of the school. This katana makes it a nice representative piece of the Gassan school for a collector to own. It is also accompanied by very nice koshirae of late Edo period. This blade is a long 95cm total length which (per the accompanying NTHK certificate) dates to the mid Muromachi period. This katana is a beautiful example of a Gassan smith from the muramachi era. Japanese swords are made from folded steel. These lines are visible and known in Japan as a katana Hada. These lines will depend on how many times the blade was folded. Masame hada is produced when the steel billet is repeatedly folded over in the same direction with the sides of the billet being used to form the face of the blade. The lines seen in the grain therefore represent the 'stack' of layers formed during the forging process. Ayasugi hada is basically masame hada which has been distorted by systematically varying the strength of the hammer blows along the blade during forging. The Ayasugi hada is brilliant and a standout on this sword which comes fully mounted and adds to the value of this blade. The hada is a rich looking ayasugi that has some coarseness as in many koto gassan blades. History: The Gassan school derives, as its name suggests, from Mt. Gassan in the old province of Dewa (present-day Yamagata prefecture), and is characterized by a wavy grain called ayasugi hada. According to tradition, it was founded by a smith named Kiomaru (or Kishin Dayu, as he was also known), who lived in the sacred grounds of Mt. Gassan back in the 12th century. Ever since, swordsmiths have flourished at the foot of Mt. Gassan, and a number of masters have appeared, in a long succession. From the Kamakura period through the Muromachi period, swords inscribed with the Gassan signature were famous all over the country for their practical usefulness and the beauty of their ayasugi hada, but when the Warring States period ended at the end of the 16th century, the number of blacksmiths dwindled. From the start, Mt. Gassan was a site of mountain worship, and the blacksmiths who lived there were peculiar people who secluded themselves among the mountains to purify themselves before forging swords. They were ascetics, similar to Shugendo practitioners. Gassan was the name of the object of worship, and inscribing such a name on a sword would normally be inexcusable. Probably Gassan swords were originally intended for funeral rites, rather than as weapons. They were not meant for killing people, but were associated with the faith, I believe. The Gassan school’s ayasugi hada layer appeared when steel with different carbon contents were mixed and combined at a certain point, but the formula was kept secret. At the end of the Edo period, Gassan Sadayoshi, who was the successor to the Gassan smiths, moved to Osaka. I believe he wanted to show the world the Gassan spirit one more time. The Gassan school origins remains to this day one of the most prestigious and successful lines of sword forging. The roots of Gassan extend far back into the Kamakura period (1185-1333 AD), and it is suspected perhaps even as early as Heian period (794-1185 AD). The home of Gassan was in Dewa province in the northern region of Honshu where they were the only indigenous school to Dewa. The name “Gassan” actually refers to one of three sacred mountains of Dewa, or “Dewa Sanzan”, the other two being Mt. Haguro and Mt. Yudono. It is a very mountainous and remote region, and was even more so in the earliest days of the school. From the very earliest works of the Gassan school, they exhibit a type of hada called “Ayasugi” which is comprised of long evenly undulating stacked wave pattern. Interestingly enough this pattern of the same name is carved in the interior walls of the body of the Shamisen (a guitar like musical instrument) to improve the tone. This pattern eventually became the hallmark of Gassan works and is often referred to as “Gassan Hada” as it continued to be refined and perfected by the Gassan smiths up until the current Gassan head and Living National Treasure smith, Gassan Sadatoshi. The Gassan school faded from view around the beginning of the 17th century, and then was revived with Gassan Sadayoshi who was born in 1780. Sadayoshi traveled from Dewa to the forge of Suishinshi Masahide, who was striving to rediscover the techniques of Koto masters. Masahide was a proliferate teacher, and is said to have had over 200 students. Sadayoshi became one such student and later settled in Osaka to open his own forge. The line was re-established with him and his adopted son, Gassan Sadakazu became the heir to the line entering very difficult times for swordsmiths; the Meiji Restoration. The Samurai class was effectively abolished and swords were no longer a weapon that could either be worn, nor were they in much demand as Japan Westernized, so swordsmiths were relegated to finding work in other trades. Many turned to tool making, blacksmithing, or other related trades. However Gassan Sadakazu contined on with sword making and found a market making copies of famous swords for influential and affluent clientele, as he was quite gifted in making swords in the Bizen, Soshu, and Yamato traditions. He became a Teishitsu Gigeiin or “Artist under the Imperial Household” and thus was called upon by the Imperial Family to make swords that would be worn, or bestowed as gifts by the Imperial Family. He survived the times and his son, Gassan Sadakatsu, would become the luminary smith of the 20th century, and also receive the dedicated patronage of the Imperial Family. If you take a look at the blade first of all the forging structure catches the eye. It appears as continuous waves from the base to the tip whereas the valleys show some mokume areas. The jihada stands out and the steel is blackish. So all in all we have the typical characteristics of the Gassan school and an ayasugi-hada is therefore also called Gassan–hada. The hamon bases on gunome/notare/sugu-ha midare but the waves of the jihada force it into a notare-like appearance. The nioiguchi is subdued and the entire jiba lacks clarity and brightness. Thus this is a typically rustic work of that school and all and all typical Gassan.The koshirae is en suite and of dragon motif. There is a deep rich brown sageo and tsuka-ito to match. The rayskin ( same ) is black as well as the lacquer finish of the saya. Japanese dragons and the koshirai (日本の竜 Nihon no ryū) are diverse legendary creatures in Japanese mythology and folklore. Japanese dragon myths amalgamate native legends with imported stories about dragons from China, Korea and India. The style of the dragon was heavily influenced by the Chinese dragon. Like these other Asian dragons, most Japanese ones are water deities associated with rainfall and bodies of water, and are typically depicted as large, wingless, serpentine creatures with clawed feet. The modern Japanese language has numerous “dragon” words, including indigenous tatsu from Old Japanese ta-tu, Sino-Japanese ryū or ryō 竜 from Chinese lóng 龍, nāga ナーガ from Sanskrit nāga, and doragon ドラゴン from English “dragon” (the latter being used almost exclusively to refer to the European dragon and derived fictional creatures).
  6. I was recently gifted an antique iron Tsuba from a friend’s grandfather’s antique collection. It has a very similar appearance to one seen on the internet, listed as Kaga Myochin. My friend’s grandfather bought it in April 1986 from an Oikawa san and the description also mentioned 花刀無井 Hanai Katana. Can anyone help me with any identification and thereby history of my gift? I can post pictures if possible on this thread Thanks S.Merry
  7. Hello, i just bought this katana from a collector. Now we inspected it and found a button with an anker on it, Japanese text saying "山本" on the tang when we took the handle off. It also has a serial number just above the guard. 120 cm long. We think the previous owner painted the metalwork. Now I would like to know a bit more about the piece I bought (year, something about the owner or swordsmith, value) or maybe it's a replica I don't know.
  8. Hi All, I'm new to the forum. I have a sword in my possession which I was considering to buy but need more info on it to determine if I'm paying a fair price (Asking price is ZAR 30,000 or US$2000) (Don't think this is worth close to that). Any help would be appreciated. I don't have much info other than the images I took yesterday on inspection. I can see the tip is damaged. My intention with this purchase is to buy something worth investing in as art / an heirloom to pass on to my son one day. (I doubt that this piece meets those standards but would like confirmations from someone knowledgeable in this field) Thanks in advance for feedback and apologies if this is posted in the incorrect area. The Saya is Dark blue lacquered but very badly scratched.
  9. I am very new to using this message board, so please forgive me if I do something wrong. I was told this blade was stamped, cant tell or see in pics. Something im considering buying as a first sword before something more valuable. It is unique, as the mounts seem like civilian mounts, leather sheath, tenuki ring is beige ish yellow cloth unlike most gunto, not generic tachi fittings on handle. Here are nakago pics. I am aware that there are two different nakago, i dont remember which one is the right one.
  10. Can I have some opinion on this new find please . Shin gunto mounted sword with old blade. Nagasa 66.7cm , Motohaba 30mm , Sakihaba 24mm ,Kasane 6mm . O-Suriage Ha- watari 18cm .The tang is very nice smooth dark brown/black colour its been shortened 15-20cm? Thanks Geoff
  11. Hello all, Was wondering if anyone would be good enough to offer some translation assistance with this tang from a Shingunto. It appears to be out of polish but has a cloudy hamon and could be traditionally made even with the seki arsenal stamp (?). Also, I have attached a picture in the link below, of the Tsuba which also bears four stamps and I havent seen these before on shingunto tsuba (???) Any help or comment in due course would be appreciated. https://photos.app.goo.gl/BCFwUDnxXd88mKZR8 Regards Rob
  12. Can someone tell me what the top Character is please bottom is Kane?or is it Hiro? Thanks Geoff
  13. Hello. I picked up a sword which I will be selling that has about 45 kanji on the nakago. I could use some help translating. Thank you in advance! —Matt Brice 715-557-1688
  14. Greetings to all, Moving few blades to new caretakers to fund my new terrace and perhaps a new nihonto. So anyone interested in high quality ”younger” blades, heads up. Special thanks to Joe, previous owner of two of them, for lending me his website and descriptions plus photos. First one is a gassaku blade by Miyaguchi Ikkansai Toshihiro (Yasuhiro) and his son Miyaguchi Tsunetoshi Small transcipt to romanji courtesy of Markus Sesko: Ise-jingû go-jinpô-ken no yotetsu o motte “made from steel that was left over from making a treasure sword for the Ise Shrine” Tôto-jû Miyaguchi Ikkansai Toshihiro dô Tsunetoshi kinsaku Shôwa kinoe-umadoshi chûshû kichijitsu “on a lucky day in fall of the year of the horse of the Shōwa era [1954]” Tanaka Shûichi-shi no motome ni kotae Not sure about the reading of the commissioner's first name Shûichi. Can also be Hidekazu or Hideichi. The blade was made from steel that was left over from making a treasure sword for the Ise Shrine renewal ceremony. But it has to be understood in a positive way, i.e. not just as "leftover" steel but emphasizing that the very same selected/quality steel was used as for the sacred treasure sword replacement procedure. Link to information and photos here, more on request. https://www.jsc-mw.com/miyaguchitoshihirotsunetoshidaito Asking 8500€ for this magnificent blade made of highest quality of materials. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Second blade is from Ozawa Masatoshi a student of Miyaguchi Toshihiro a long and massive ububa blade. Link to photos and information here: https://www.jsc-mw.com/ozawamasatoshidaito Asking 6000€ for this one, beautiful activities to study and marvel. Please feel free to ask more photos and information. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Third and last but not least is blade by Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa, long and beautiful blade made on order. Few photos from Aoi below and here is the translation courtesy of Markus Sesko on both mei and sayagaki: Mei: ”Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa kore ko seitan (酒井一貫斎繁政精鍛之, “carefully forged by Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa”) – Setsuyō Amagasaki-jū Negi e -shi no motome ni kotae (應摂陽尼崎住根木栄英氏需, “made on orders of Mr. Negi Shigehide, resident of Amagasaki of former Settsu province”) Shōwa tsuchinoe-umadoshi jūgatsu tōka (昭和戊午年十月十日, “October 10 in the year of the horse of the Shōwa era [1978]”)” Sayagaki: ”鑑査 酒井一貫斎繁政精鍛之 昭和戊午十月十日刃長弐尺四寸七分有之 平成弐年五月上浣 龍水子識之「花押」 Mukansa – Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa kore o seitan Shōwa tsuchinoe-uma jūgatsu tōka hachō 2 shaku 4 sun 7 bu kore ari Heisei ninen gogatsu jōkan Ryūsuishi kore o shirusu + kaō Carefully forged by the mukansa Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa On Otober 10 in the year of the horse of the Shōwa era (1978) – Blade length ~ 74.8 cm Written by Ryūsuishi in the first third of May of 1990 + kaō” Blade information and measurements courtesy of Aoi Art: Katana in Shirasaya (guarantee NBTHK Hozon Token) has NTHK NPO papers Signature : Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa Seitan No Mune Tame #33 birthday Born commemoration Ou Setuyo Amagasaki Negi Eiei Uji Jyu Showa 53 Nen 10 Gatsu 10 Hi Sayagaki :Mukansa Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa Kitae No Syowa Tsuchinoe Uma Nen Oct. 10th (We divide 4 sections for each sword as Saijyo saku, Jyojyo saku Jyo saku and regular saku) This sword belongs to Jyojyo saku ranking. The blade is polished by good polisher. Habaki : Gold failed double Habaki. Blade length : 75cm or 29.5 inches. Sori : 2.1 cm or 0.83 inches. Mekugi : 1 Width at the Hamachi : 3.13 cm or 1.23 inches. Width at the Kissaki : 2.3 cm or 0.9 inches. Kasane : 0.66 cm or 0.25 inches. Era : Showa 53 (1978) Shape : The blade is long, wide and thick with deep sori, nice looking shape. Jigane : Koiitame hada well grained with jinie attach clear nice texture. Shinogiji : Koitame hada small samanagare hada. Hamon : Niedeki gunome midare with ashi. Midarekomi style Boshi. Special Feauture : Sakai Ikkansai Shigemasa was called sakai Shigeru. Showa 8th year he enrolled in Yasukuni Tanrenjyo (Yasukuni forging workplace) Showa 16th Rikugun Jyumei Tosho. His forging period in Yasukuni Shrine. He became Mukansa swordsmith in Showa 56, Mukansa sword smith is strictly choosen by NBTHK. He was good at Toshinbori(blade engraving) and made excellent engraving works. From AOI Art : This splendid blade looks Hosokawa Masayoshi’s works. The orderer was Negi Eiei, one of the famous Japanese sword connoisseurs, so that the blade is forged very well. Aoi Art estimation paper : whole Oshigata. Asking 8000 € for this one, please feel free to drop me a line to get more information or discuss sales. All prices are asking prices, will negotiate a bit on them, especially if you are in a mood to start your own Ikkansai collection by acquiring more than one of them. Have a splendid day everyone! Br, Antti
  15. Hello collectors. I have a great handmade gendaito sword for sale. The nakago literally says it was made with tamahagane--which makes it pretty cool. In this case, you don't have to guess traditionally made or not? 'Made with Tamahagane'--uh, let me guess. I am double-checking my translation of the mei. I get 'Noshu ju Seki Sato Sukemitsu Nobumitsu Tamahagane kore tsukuru'. But I would like to make sure I have it EXACTLY right. Can you guys help me out with an exact translation? Thank you. --Matt Brice 715-557-16888
  16. Hi, i got that shobu zukuri Katana that i bought only for the shobu zukuri style. When i recieved the Katana i had no informations about it and after i was checking it i translate the mei "Yasunori". After i did some google research i found out many things about yasukuni-to and Yasunori. Now im not sure what to think. Nagasa: 71cm Nakago: 24cm Moto haba: 3,26cm Moto gasane: 0.82cm saki gasane: 0,6cm Sori: 1,5cm I have only my phone to take photos, i hope thats ok and you guys can help me
  17. I am taking a bit of a leap and am auctioning off 3 swords. Each ends on eBay on Sunday night. Please take a look at them. You can contact me here in the message board, through eBay, or direct info@stcroixblades.com. Here are the links: 1. https://www.ebay.com/itm/362762540154 2. https://www.ebay.com/itm/362762540156 3. https://www.ebay.com/itm/113898616059 --Matt Brice www.StCroixBlades.com
  18. FOR SALE: I have a sword available that has the highest class Army mounts. Everything on this sword is of the highest quality. Not the least of which is the red sharkskin-covered saya. It has the over-sized tsuba, contrasting color seppa, premium sarute, family mon, etc. The blade is a nihonto--it is signed Kaneyoshi. This sword is available for $7995 obo. This sword has the highest quality Army mounts to be found. --Matt Brice www.StCroixBlades.com
  19. Hello, Please help with translation on this katana. Thank you. - RayM
  20. Please help translating all the kanji as its old and i cannot understand it. Thank you. Its a full lenght katana.
  21. Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Brandon
  22. Translation of the writing on a June 1945 Yoshitada saya would be appreciated.
  23. Hey guys, Got another blade here. I think this one is mid-1800's but I am unsure. I'd love a translation of the smith and what I believe to be the date? The nakago is really slender compared to the guntos I have, so I think this one is earlier. It appears to be o-suriage as it has an area that clearly was where the habaki was lower. It has three mekugi-ana though, which are all clustered rather closely together. The current habaki has been somewhat butchered sadly and is missing the 'flanges' that flank either side of the blade. Sadly, much of the geometry is eroded but there is definitely enough meat there to have it polished and brought back... if it's worthy of that luxury. If you want pictures of the rest of the blade, feel free to ask! It does have a shirasaya so there's no worry for that. The blade-edge measures approx. 25 1/2 inches. P.S. I apologize for my still-amateur photography skills.
  24. This is a blade I haven't shown before, its also my first proper gunto/katana. I've had it sitting a while in a glass case with some other important blades of mine and I only get them out to inspect/change their oils. (Much like a garaged classic car) I do not know who signed it or from what arsenal its from. It does have a hamon, though its difficult to see. Geometry is intact, but it has several nail catchers along the length of the blade. Nothing that wouldn't come out with a fresh polish and thankfully there are not any hagire that I can detect. The tsukamaki is definitely silk and it has rather nice quality ray underneath. There is a number inside the tsuka (2 for those that care to know) and there is what appears to be an '8' stamped on the obverse side of the nakago. On the mei side, there is also what appears to be a tiny plus ( + ) at the very end of the nakago. I have been unable to find any other numbers/markings on the blade or parts. It does have the remnants of a leather washer of some kind. I am unsure if the saya is original though it definitely has consistent age with the rest of it. The portopee is definitely not original, its just one I found to display with it. The meguki is not original either, but a nice piece of dark wood that fits nicely (could be horn?) One last quirk to note is that I am unable to remove the habaki, it seems firmly stuck on and I'd rather not risk damage just to remove it. Anyways, I just wanted to show this one. I started my collection of katana with it and its my second nihonto (my first is a scraggly wak that is likely beyond saving). I'd love to know who made it and from where it originates, and if it belongs to a possible school/manufactory. *Bonus picture of my blades in the fancy wall-case I have included. Pardon my mess with the stuff in the bottom!
  25. Greetings, Pictured are two Nihonto. As you can see, the polish on the mune at the kissaki has a "dull" or frosted finish that runs about 5 1/2 cm on the mune from the tip of the kissaki towards the mune-machi. What, if any, purpose does this have? The only thing I've heard is that this type of polish is for Tameshigiri to give a visual reference to be at the proper distance to the target. Any other ideas?
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