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I have read several articles on robert soanes, and he seems to be doing a very good job indeed.

@Spartancrest is a NMB National Treasure

https://wikijp.org/hashtags/seiryuken - sorry no information with this one - I love the colour!

This was just posted by Andrew Ickeringill ( @Andrew Ickeringill ) on Facebook, and I thought it was worth posting here, and pinning for the future. Andrew is a FULLY trained traditional polisher and one of the most qualified to make these statements. Before bringing up the subject on this forum, and risking a storm of fire, please read this and take it to heart. Amateur sword polishers… I know you probably won’t listen, but I’ll try anyway. Recently, I’ve been seeing more and more rubbish from amateur polishers on the internet, it’s not a new problem, but with social media being what it is, amateurs have been given a platform where they can prosper. It’s beyond frustrating, it’s infuriating, and it's working directly against what I'm striving for, the preservation of Nihonto. I’ve had to correct the damage caused by amateur polishers many times, and the damage is always severe. Correcting these hack-jobs takes a lot of work, and it means removing more steel than would’ve otherwise been necessary if the blade had previously gone to a traditionally-trained togishi. A traditional apprenticeship in togi takes years to complete for a reason, THERE’S A LOT TO LEARN! It means giving up everything else to spend your time in servitude to Nihonto. My apprenticeship was 12 hours a day / 7 days a week / for over 6 years, and even my spare time (what little I had) was usually spent studying nihonto. But if you want to be a togishi, this is the way it must be, you have to go all in. Through arrogance or ignorance or both, amateur polishers have completely forgone this necessary training. Some of them may have attended seminars in Japan, or visited a togishi for a few days… but this obviously doesn’t equate to traditional training. And for many amateurs, the bulk of their training consists of reading books and watching youtube videos of swords being ruined without a clue. Unfortunately, these videos receive plenty of misguided encouragement from those who don’t know any better… “wow, so shiny!”. Amateurs will often argue… “this sword isn’t worth sending to a pro, should we just leave it to rust?”… but how would THEY know? They haven’t been trained in kantei, they have no idea if a sword is worth a professional restoration or not. A cold chill passes up my spine every time I think about this, how many great swords have been ruined by amateurs? I know I’ve already seen a few in my time. If you’re an amateur polisher reading this, let me give you a tip… this job is not for you. This isn’t something that should be attempted by anyone but a traditionally trained togishi, and if you haven’t realised this fact by now, then you need to develop more respect for Nihonto and the craftsmen who have worked their butts off to complete the proper training. Please stop scraping the life away from these works of art, you’re doing far more damage than repair… this job is not for you!

Good morning, I'd like to share this tsuba with you and get your opinion about it: I'm trying to verify the signature into the wakayama and I found these: The seller, by describing the author says : "Sekijoken Oyoma Motozane is late edo artisan" and after that "Mototan Taiyama studied into the Nara School, in Edo and after being returned in Mito, he meshed different style like Nara, Hamano and Yokotani but he did really good work with the Akagiken School". Said that, I tried to look for these two names and I found some references into the Wakayama. I don't understand if we're talking of one man only or if there were two men that worked together on the same tsuba (so each of them signed on one side). The tsuba sounds (and is magnetic) like iron. Measures: 8 x 7,6. Any comment would be really appreciated, Thanks for the help

Good morning, I recently aquired this tsuba. Apart for the really good dark patina, the generous plate, and what it seems to be a Mito Dragon, I've no other information. What do you think? Do you have other Mito tsuba representing Dragons?

I took better endoscope photos of the hachi mei (shown below). It definitely reads "Yoshihisa saku" (made by Yoshihisa). According to the Shin Kacchushi Meikan, the Myochin Yoshihisas who signed in this simple way (Yoshihisa saku) include: Myochin Yoshihisa (1532-1555 or 1528-1532, depending on the source) Myochin Yoshihisa, Fukui, early Edo period, died 1675 Of course, in the end it is just engravings on a gilded iron stripe, and there is some uncertainty about the Myochin lineage and evidence of self-spun genealogy among the Myochin line. The fact that the seller apparently did not know (and did not advertise) that the inside of the hachi was signed given the intact ukebari makes this discovery particularly fun. Thanks to everyone who helped piece together the above information.

I'm pretty sure the first one is signed, 宮城 守國 (Miyagi Morikuni). Pretty sure he's an RJT smith who made gendaito only. Second blade I can't see well enough to make out characters

Wow I like that one! Do you think the hitsu were added latter? The holes look lined in silver? Very much a Chinese style seppa-dai [sure the Chinese don't call it that - no idea what it is in Chinese.]

Okan, I forgot to ask if there is any 'niku' [raised borders] on your guard? It looks like it in some areas but the images are not definitive. There is a lot of wear. I don't think it is a Mon design. There are a few similarities to these Kamakura-bori guards but I couldn't say yours was from this period or style. [six inome around the seppa-dai] https://varshavskycollection.com/collection/tsu-0345-2018/ and https://tsuba.jyuluck-do.com/KamakuraTsuba.html might be as close as I can find - both Kamakura 'style'. I think the guard would have been much better than it looks now. [Okan & Jesse - Yes I was rescued from a deep pit by Nicolas Cage back in 2004 - although I look like a bald version of John Voight ! - Film fans will work it out. ] [ Glen - OK, Hercule Poirot without the moustache!

Outstanding detective work Dale!

Beautiful workmanship on that one Dale Spotted another nanban tsuba variation that has a castle and fish as well, with an unusually large and round seppa-dai for a nanban tsuba:

I noticed Yuhindo website was down, and I was thinking, hmm that's not like Darcy. So I came here, very sorry to hear about this. While I never met Darcy in person I had alot of email conversations with him regarding all kinds of Nihonto related stuff. Darcy we miss you! Darcy, Odin makes ready the benches for a feast! You will be drinking ale from curved horns! The Valkyries summoned you home!

Dale, thank you, that makes sense!

Sometimes you have to be very careful there is a fine line between re-shaped and trashed guards. Like this one - https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1051664170 it says Tachi tsuba but in reality it was probably an O-seppa that has been broken and 'evened up'. [and not that well either!] Or this obvious cast sukashi that is just the remains of the seppa-dai This one is to be found in the Toledo Museum of Art from the Edward Drummond Libbey collection - obviously cut down from a very common form. [No colour image available] number 1912.720 it is amazing how the removal of two lines can change the look.

Wow @Spartancrest!! This is some academic level work. I guess someone drilled it to see what's inside or tried to make a necklace I'm not sure. So this is a suriage tsuba.. from a wakizashi to a tanto Thank you very much for your hard work!

Pat, (Please edit, the rule about first names is well known) There are few stupid questions. But apparently stupid answers are a thing. That was uncalled for and rude. Take a short break.

When being condescending is the real “marrow of the bone”, being gracious and ‘helping’ really isn’t a consideration.

@Baba Yaga You clearly didn't even read the question. He's asking about Nagashi lines and you are talking about yasurime. Lets imagine the question was Yasurime...How could he able to search it without knowing the word? On top of that, what's wrong with helping out a new member?

I wish there was something to keep up with 😆 You clearly are an idiot - period. J.

Possibly?