All Activity

I’m not a scientist, I’m only into Money, Antique, Art. Slowly building up my collection, my aim is for a Juyo Token piece in the next 2 years

Number 4 crazy

And how does he do it?

Love Poem origin of the design: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/39664

I'm not a collector, I'm only interested in knowledge.

That’s how I took it as well!

I could use some help identifying which generation Yoshimichi made the sword shown in the photos and any info on the odd hamon which appears like a combination of Yahazu and Togari. The signature appears to be from Osaka line and looks most similar to these: https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/antique-Japanese-sword-wakizashi-signed-by-tanba-no-kami-yoshimichinbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-certificate/?srsltid=AfmBOopEJ5cJyjAIyS7PQ6qPEWMvuLweeUd9zm-1XhXXnHDNA7UwpRCL https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/antique-Japanese-sword-wakizashi-signed-by-osaka-tanba-no-kami-yoshimichi-nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-certificate/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ2BspleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0aTMyZEFneGJ2Q2dFVEdNAR7vpDv2dpFIy7oFSNbu_-w4ZP0Blc1haSzJh3R27o02DArP9NqSGE_cNiGsLQ_aem_HcQyqs4YMK5w_7KoMpEraA https://www.samuraimuseum.jp/shop/product/antique-Japanese-sword-wakizashi-signed-by-osaka-yoshimichinbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-certificate/?srsltid=AfmBOoo4Pvwxuts88FRXEyGfmVNe1DQsA34eHDdHzsr4OqDq5LSkTnCz

Thanks, just goes to show that you should always check whether what you read or are told is relevant or not.

This exhibit was really impressive, where are the pics of Kiyomaro?

Fujishiro classified the blade as naginata naoshi.

Learned something there! Thank you @Franco. So it's akin to tachi, nagamaki is about the koshirae and less the suguta of the blade? So Jussi pinned it as Nagato which is the right terminology?

I would like to take a moment to apologise to the JSSUS for not verifying and doing my research properly before posting one of their magazines (taken down long ago). If I had been more clinical I would have found this link https://www.jssus.org/Japanese_Sword_Society_Archive.html That has a full host of valuble materials and made available for free. Ladies and gentlemen of the JSSUS please forgive my oversight and arrogance. And for those students please check the link to see great material for beginners and seasoned collectors alike. Rayhan

https://imgur.com/a/7Cuq5YM enjoy ahah

Catalin, even in this condition, any skin contact should be avoided with your blade. Don't test your sword! If it was mine, I would make the best photos possible and send them to a traditionally trained polisher to get a first assessment. In case the HAMON is really gone (by a fire), the blade has not much value left, but it may well be concealed by an improper treatment (when trying to polish it).

Silver does not oxidize under atmospheric conditions. The brown-blackish patina is silver sulfide, a result of the chemical reaction of silver with hydrogen sulfide.

Thanks everyone for your comments. Bit by bit, I’m starting to find some useful information, even a few blades with inscriptions that are somewhat similar. Unfortunately, it looks like someone may have tried polishing the sword at some point, because from what I'm seeing with the naked eyes the hamon is no longer visible. That said, despite not being professionally restored, the blade is still razor sharp. I gave it a quick test by running it lightly over the hair on my arm, and it actually shaved it clean off .

You're right, Jacques, it is very clear. Which is probably why the NBTHK, Mr. Tanobe, and Kanzan Sato all agree with each other. And don't agree with you. First, Sato writes that "nagamaki" refers to the way these swords were mounted. Followed by "Therefore, nagamaki should properly be called naginata." Which blows the copies claim theory out of the water. Why? Because despite the marked differences in shape, they are still "naginata." Further, anyone reading Sato's article should realize that Sato is talking about blades made over multiple time periods encompassing a number of different shapes. To that point, when being reconfigured to other uses, katana, wakizashi, modifications would be adapted and customized to the individual sword. It was not a one cut fits all. Which accounts for the differences we now see in the boshi between the different types of naginata-naoshi. On the subject of "impossible to know." Again, Jacques, you are mistaken. When naginata-naoshi underwent a shape change there was a narrowing. That narrowing changed the appearance of the sword. When properly restored by today's polishers, excellent polishers will recognize this distortion and reconfigure the shinogi to give the sword more of the original appearance, as the maker intended. When it comes to nihonto, it's just when you begin to think you know something that you find out how little you know.

I agree with Curran. I am well acquainted with the patination of silver from numismatics. Pure silver oxidizes in a different way, even if you artificially apply a patina of this color to pure silver - one way or another the metal would appear (on the edges and impacts), such a patina is unstable. Alloy shibuichi seems very logical to me. The patina matches. And since the jeweler wiped the top layer on a rag, he just took silver oxide, which is certainly present in this tsuba, I think, at least 30%.

more pics.

$1750 + shipping. See Pics and PM interest or questions, including anything about shipping.. --I paid off the Juyo tsuba. ---Now paying off the down payment on the new(ish) car. The olde Jaguar was ready to go heaven. This is a top notch Jingo being sacrificed towards that end. [Note: Going forwards, it is going to be very hard to get custom boxes made in Japan] Curran in Southeastern USA

Please consider shibuichi as a material. Given the ko-kinko appearance and possible age of the tsuba, you should consider the possibility of shibuichi that has an imperfect silver-copper ratio. Very glad it was not cleaned by the jeweler, as it might have taken a long long time to get the correct patina back.

I primarily collect sword-makers tsuba. The aim being to own work by sword-makers whose blades I would otherwise not be able to afford. The only boundaries are age, health and pocket book. I suppose I am the soul of my collection. I have two pieces at the heart of my collection of which I am very proud; a Juyo Bizen Morisuke tachi that is ubu signed and dated to 1335, and a juyo tosogu daisho set of tsuba by Chikanori custom made by order of Mito Rekko. More than this I cannot hope for so am very content with what I have achieved thus far...

Really nice gunto, Hamish. A bit rare, too, with double release buttons on that color saya. Nice item.

I thought this would be around 16c. But blade is in bad shape