@gun addict's thread Gimei Minatogawa generated some discussion, the outcome of which was the reminder that the best way to spot a counterfeit is to study the original. With that in mind, I like to begin collecting, here, all the Minatogawa gunto, pictorially, we can find. It would probably be useful to begin with a brief summary of what we know about the operation and the smiths involved. There is already a few good facts on the thread Minatogawa Shrine Swords, posted by @Ed. Dawson quotes