Sword maker Biographies?

[obiwanknabbe]

Hello everyone,

 

My question to all of my learned friends here is whether or not any of you know of a book, or series of books, that delve further into the lives of ancient swordsmiths? Sure there are some writings on makers like Masamune, but what about Gendi smiths or the like? Is there a book that goes further than, "worked year XXXX, School X, Died year XXXX?"

 

Thanks

 

Kurt.K

[SwordGuyJoe]

Markus Sesko's index does a very good job - best English language book I own in my opinion. The issue on gendai, is unless there were particularly good - or at least well known - there just isn't much information on them. It's hard to publish what isn't known.

[cabowen]

As far as gendai smiths are concerned, the best source of info on many is Ono san's Gendaii Toko Meikan. He sent out a survey asking 15-20 questions to all the living smiths in the early 1970's then published the results. It is all Japanese but because the info is presented in the same format for each smith, once you figure out the questions, the rest isn't too difficult. There is an English index floating around somewhere as well.

[Grey Doffin]

There is a near complete translation into English for Gendaito Meisaku Zuikan.

Grey

[cabowen]

That book only covers 20 or so smiths as I recall...

[obiwanknabbe]

Thanks guys.. I am trying to take your collective advice and bolster my reference library. That Gendaito Meisaku Zuikan looks great, though $500 for a book is a little out of my range right now. Maybe Ill get lucky at a book sale. I picked up a copy of "100 Masterpieces from the collection of Dr. Walter A. Compton" for $20.USD that way.

 

Kurt. K

[SwordGuyJoe]

Thanks guys.. I am trying to take your collective advice and bolster my reference library. That Gendaito Meisaku Zuikan looks great, though $500 for a book is a little out of my range right now. Maybe Ill get lucky at a book sale. I picked up a copy of "100 Masterpieces from the collection of Dr. Walter A. Compton" for $20.USD that way.

 

Kurt. K

 

That's my favorite book (GMZ). Absolutely beautiful, though I don't have the translation. And Chris is right, very limited, but the size (it's huge), and the quality is unparalleled.