oli Posted July 8, 2025 Report Posted July 8, 2025 hi @Toki , welcome, nice to see more people from germany joining Quote
Bloodaxe924 Posted July 12, 2025 Report Posted July 12, 2025 Hey! I’m Shaun. I live in Kentucky and I have just started to research some items from my Grandfather and his brother who were both in the marine corps. My Great uncle was a little older and joined just as WW2 was ending and luckily never saw combat, although he did see the aftermath as he was stationed on midway island when the bombs dropped. He was a (very organized) hoarder and saved every scrap of everything in his life until he passed about 10 years ago. He left a treasure trove of memories and historical items behind and I was lucky enough to inherit a few things, including the Shin Gunto and the silk painting that I recently shared. My family also has a lot of German items from that time period as some of the family emigrated from there in the 30s. Everyone has been super nice and helpful so far. I really appreciate it! 1 1 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted July 12, 2025 Report Posted July 12, 2025 Welcome, Shaun! Now that you've dipped your toe in the Japanese sword world, do you plan to start collecting? Quote
Bloodaxe924 Posted July 12, 2025 Report Posted July 12, 2025 5 hours ago, Bruce Pennington said: Welcome, Shaun! Now that you've dipped your toe in the Japanese sword world, do you plan to start collecting? As much as I enjoy Asian art of all mediums, I am much more of an amateur genealogist than a collector. My passion is in finding where my ancestors came from and their stories along the way. This sword and silk painting are just a small blip on the map of my family’s story and in my opinion never truly belonged to them other than the fact that my uncle was on midway island. No disrespect for military collectors, it’s just not sentimental to me in a way that some things are that directly tell a part of my family’s history. I have a deep respect for Japanese culture and art and find it very interesting, but I am not financially stable enough to collect any of it. Especially recently as I have been on disability due to medical issues. I was asking because I was curious about not only the value, but the history behind the sword. I’m not sure if I want to sell it currently, but I would love for it to go to someone like the kind folks I’ve conversed with on this forum. I know anyone on here would care for it and respect it and appreciate as much as I have and even more. Thank you for the information you’ve shared. I was really stumped about the black saya. Sounds like a lot of folks are as well 😂 1 Quote
Izu Posted October 21, 2025 Report Posted October 21, 2025 (edited) Hello everyone, My name is Karol and I’m excited to join this community of Japanese sword enthusiasts. I've always had a deep appreciation for the craftsmanship and history behind nihonto. I’ve been collecting for a 10 years now (or actualy got my first pair of swords- shin gunto hand made and nco one) and am eager to learn more about the different styles, techniques, and care practices. I’m particularly interested in late muromachi period as im die hard fan of 1980 ,,Shogun" and all historical aspects f it. I look forward to sharing insights and connecting with fellow members who share my passion. Thank you for having me! Karol Edited October 21, 2025 by Izu 2 Quote
Scogg Posted October 21, 2025 Report Posted October 21, 2025 Hi @Izu Karol, welcome to the forum! Something that is often overlooked by new members, is the "Nihonto info" and "Downloads" section up at the top of the page. Lots of amazing content and resources in there. Welcome, and feel free to share your swords with us if willing. All the best, -Sam 1 Quote
MassiveMoonHeh Posted October 28, 2025 Report Posted October 28, 2025 Hi, my name is Brett (ブレット) from Australia - first time poster, long time follower. I decided to join as I have always been in awe of the craftsmanship, care and attention the Japanese put into everything they set their mind to working on so that it is not just good but the best in class; be it Whiskey, Furniture, Cars, Silks or Swords. It is always beautifully done with a wonderful understated elegance that hides the hours put in the back rooms perfecting their craft. To say I am fan is understated. In this regard, Nihonto Swordsmiths quite possibly set the standard that other Japanese pursuits attempt to replicate and follow. You can see why their work is so revered. I love the artwork and craftsmanship and whilst this is something I think most people globally appreciate, I feel it is probably the most under rated and under valued art form. I would love to see this change. Can you imagine when rare and beautifully crafted Nihonto are auctioned off at Christie's or Sotherby's during their annual art auctions at the same level and frequency as any Old Master, Impressionist Painter or Sculptor - not just some one off collection in 1992? When international art museums scramble to ensure a few of the great names are part of their collection? When Masamune is considered globally as great as Leonardo Da Vinci in terms of the mastery of a functional work of art? I think only then will we be able to say the world has cottoned on to the magic of this art form - until then this is flying so far under the radar. I like to think that the Old Masters only really started hitting record prices some 200 plus years after they laid their hands on a paintbrush in the late 1800s. Japan only opened itself up to the rest of the world in 1853 when Matthew Perry (not the Friends guy) and the US ended the 220 year period of self isolation introducing the wonders of the Japanese culture to the rest of the world. Japan for most the world is still relatively new in terms of discovery and experience of culture. Yes we have all tried Sushi and perhaps even did Judo or Karate as a kid (to be like Karate Kid) but we have not all seen a Kamakura Tachi. People understand craftsmanship. It's time will come. As an aside, did anyone else notice that one of the greatest to ever master the craft Gō Yoshihiro is also part of the 27 club? Things I think about. Any way, that is me. I look forward to reading and learning more from all you wonderful people and hopefully we can start putting some colour and flesh onto the wonderful histories of these incredible artists - the Nihonto Swordsmiths. Thank you. ありがとう 1 Quote
FNewguy Posted November 29, 2025 Report Posted November 29, 2025 (edited) Thanks for letting me in. I was given a sword from my in laws at Thanksgiving. The note said that it was given to my wife's grandfather at the end of WWII. Edited November 29, 2025 by FNewguy 3 Quote
Bruce Pennington Posted November 30, 2025 Report Posted November 30, 2025 Hi Nick! You have a nice sword there. It is an old family sword refitted for World War II. You might want to post this on the Nihonto forum, they will want photos of the bare, naked blade, a measurement of the cutting edge and a couple of close-up shots of the body of the blade and the blade tip. They should be able to give you a ballpark idea of how old the blade is. https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/3-nihonto/ 2 Quote
arge Posted January 14 Report Posted January 14 Hi All, Craig from NSW Australia, have been following and interested in Nihonto for quite some time. only recently in 2025 made my first purchases after studying the pit falls through collecting. I am here to enhance my knowledge and possibly chat with other collectors in my region. 4 Quote
CarstairsCowboy Posted January 15 Report Posted January 15 Howdy y'all! I just found this board and signed up recently. Name's Connor and I am based out of Calgary, Alberta, and I have always loved swords and history. A bit ago I started digging more into the history of Japanese swords and swordsmithing when I inherited a katana from my father, who inherited it from my grandfather. I would love to find out more about it, since a few people I trust have told me it is a gimei. I would love to find out more about it and see if I can get it properly restored and refitted one day! In the meantime, I do my best to keep it in tact and clean, and do the digging I can. 2 Quote
kissakai Posted January 15 Report Posted January 15 Hi and welcome to the NMB At the moment please do not touch anything If you happen to damage it at this early stage it can be irreparable and we are better than that Get some images on the forum and they will guide you through the care of this sword As it's passed through the family there is no reason to think it is gimei The one possibility is it's been signed by an early smith Quote
CarstairsCowboy Posted January 15 Report Posted January 15 Hey Kissakai! Yes, right now all I have been doing is some light cleaning to keep any further patina or damage from happening. Otherwise I have left it entirely in the state that I inherited it in. What would be the best thread to put it in, since I am not entirely convinced that it is an authentic Nihonto. When I say it is inherited, I should clarify that my family is not Japanese, but that my grandfather served with the British during the Burma campaign and tactically acquired it from the previous owner. That being the case, which would be the best thread for me to post the pictures I have into in order to not clutter anything up? -Connor Quote
Rawa Posted January 15 Report Posted January 15 46 minutes ago, CarstairsCowboy said: Hey Kissakai! Yes, right now all I have been doing is some light cleaning to keep any further patina or damage from happening. Otherwise I have left it entirely in the state that I inherited it in. What would be the best thread to put it in, since I am not entirely convinced that it is an authentic Nihonto. When I say it is inherited, I should clarify that my family is not Japanese, but that my grandfather served with the British during the Burma campaign and tactically acquired it from the previous owner. That being the case, which would be the best thread for me to post the pictures I have into in order to not clutter anything up? -Connor If sword is in military mountings do thread in Military swords. If not go for translation assistance Quote
PNSSHOGUN Posted January 15 Report Posted January 15 Welcome Connor, given it was acquired in Burma I would hazard a guess it will be in Military mountings. If you post it in the section you can kill two birds with one stone: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/45-military-swords-of-Japan/ Quote
CarstairsCowboy Posted January 15 Report Posted January 15 1 minute ago, PNSSHOGUN said: Welcome Connor, given it was acquired in Burma I would hazard a guess it will be in Military mountings. If you post it in the section you can kill two birds with one stone: https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/45-military-swords-of-Japan/ Great timing! I actually just fired a post into there, since I am unsure what the actual provenance is. I'm honestly expecting it to end up in the fakes thread, but at least I'd still know a little bit more about it either way. Cheers -Connor Quote
RATOYO Posted March 13 Report Posted March 13 (edited) Hello, everyone! I'm Liang. I currently live in Spain, although I am originally Chinese. Because I grew up using Chinese characters, it is somewhat easier for me to recognize and understand certain aspects of Japanese writing and culture. Since childhood I have always been drawn to finely made objects. Over the years I have enjoyed collecting different things, including amber, Leica cameras, silverware from Britain, the United States, and Denmark, as well as various forms of metalwork, sculpture, and some pieces of militaria. And of course, like many boys growing up, I have always had an interest in knives and firearms. Through this interest in craftsmanship I eventually discovered Japanese sword fittings. I find tosogu truly fascinating — the level of craftsmanship can be extraordinary, and the variety of subjects, schools, and techniques seems almost endless. It feels like a field that one could study and appreciate for a lifetime. While trying to learn more, I came across this forum. I have been reading many discussions here and I really appreciate the atmosphere and the knowledge generously shared by the members. I hope to learn from everyone here. Edited March 13 by RATOYO 9 1 Quote
Brian Posted March 14 Report Posted March 14 Welcome, and glad to have you on board. Feel free to share some of your other interests in the Izakaya. We have lots of members interested in your other hobbies too. 1 2 Quote
MidareObserver Posted Wednesday at 09:19 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 09:19 PM Hello everyone, my name is Faustus. I’ve been reading the board for a while and thought it’s time to join. I’m based in Germany and still relatively new to collecting, although I’ve already picked up some smaller pieces along the way. I’ve been fascinated by Japanese culture since I was a child, but what really got me into Nihonto was my first trip to Japan in the middle of last year — that’s where it sort of clicked and I started looking into it more seriously. Since then I’ve been trying to learn step by step, looking at different aspects of Nihonto collecting. At the moment I’m waiting to receive my first katana from Japan and I’m really looking forward to studying it in detail. At the same time, I’m starting to get into topics like lighting setup, sword care, storage, and presentation. I really appreciate the amount of knowledge shared here and I’m looking forward to learning more. Best regards, Faustus 3 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted Wednesday at 11:31 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 11:31 PM Welcome Dr. Faustus! There is a lot of information stored here, so have fun learning! Kind regards, Jean P.S. There is no "presenting" swords unless you run a museum 1 Quote
MidareObserver Posted Friday at 05:25 PM Report Posted Friday at 05:25 PM On 4/2/2026 at 1:31 AM, ROKUJURO said: Welcome Dr. Faustus! There is a lot of information stored here, so have fun learning! Kind regards, Jean P.S. There is no "presenting" swords unless you run a museum Thanks, Jean! Regarding the title: I think I'm a bit too old to get my 'Dr.' now, so I’ll just stay with Faustus. As for the 'presenting' part - I might be taking your museum comment more literally than expected! I’m currently in the middle of preparing a dedicated room for the collection (see the 'blank canvas' attached). It’s a lot of work, but I want to create a controlled environment where I can focus on proper storage and study. I’m especially looking into getting the lighting and humidity just right. Maybe it'll end up being a 'private study' rather than a museum, but I’m enjoying the process of building it from the ground up. Best regards, Faustus 2 Quote
ROKUJURO Posted Friday at 06:02 PM Report Posted Friday at 06:02 PM That looks like a good space for storing a collection! 1 Quote
MidareObserver Posted Friday at 06:36 PM Report Posted Friday at 06:36 PM 31 minutes ago, ROKUJURO said: That looks like a good space for storing a collection! Thanks, Jean. Glad you think so! Once the basic construction is a bit further along, I’d love to share my plans for the interior and get some feedback from the community. I’m sure there are plenty of tips here that could help me avoid some beginner mistakes. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.