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Note, I have made a change to the above template, and added a "Returns Policy" to the template. Note, nothing is mandatory about the fields in the template, but sellers should consider using it, and consider adding your returns policy clearly, for buyers to make a decision on a purchase. It is highly recommended and I think a good thing to consider and clarify before making a purchase.

Inoue Shinkai. Dated Enpo roku nen ni hatsu hi. (井上真改 / 延宝六年二月日 - A day in the second month of the 6th year of Enpō, 1678) Echigo no kami Kanesada, made with nanbantetsu. Sagami no kuni Tsunahiro, dated Bunka go nen hachi gatsu hi (相模国綱廣 / 文化五年八月日 - a day in the eighth month of the 5th year of the Bunka era, 1808)

There is a simple solution to this. Buyer is not happy, send sword back. Seller refund buyer when sword arrives. If seller wont refund buyer than that wont help with future sales.

Well, I would try to keep things in perspective. Statements like “...so far, I've always come across honest people,” or “...I definitely feel cheated” imply that the other person is dishonest and a cheater. A situation like this is always very emotional and, in a way, understandable, but I would still be cautious with such statements. If no consensus can be reached, the only thing left to do is to warn others: “...hey, this and that happened to me recently. Make sure to ask for better photos if necessary, or explicitly inquire about specific details that are important to you!” Because what is of great importance to one person may not be a priority for others. This is a very simple thing I can do as a buyer, and something I can fully understand as a seller as well. “Everything has always been fine so far, and I’ve trusted the seller” is therefore rather childish and naive. Anyone who’s been involved in this hobby long enough has surely had to gain enough experience of their own and could tell similarly unpleasant stories involving much larger sums. I found my visit to the last DTI—and, in that context, to several dealers—particularly noteworthy, as it was a mix of highs and lows. Some pieces turned out to be better than expected, while others I would describe as “skillfully photographed.” The blades’ weaknesses were also definitely not described on the dealers’ websites. And this was true even for dealers who are highly regarded here. That was quite sobering, but also a wake-up call, because by then I had come to believe I was quite good at interpreting photos.

Hi! This is 濃州関住美濃守源貞継謹作 Noshu Seki-ju Mino no Kami Minamoto Sadatsugu Kinsaku 昭和十六年極月 Showa 16 (1941) Gokudsuki (December).

From the series 風流花鳥尽 (Compilation of Tasteful Flowers and Birds) by Hiroshige 2nd. 雉子つづじ　Pheasants and Azaleas きくうづら　Chrysanthemums and Quail 藤の花つばめ　Wisteria and swallows Some of these are in hentaigana, so they look different to what I've written above

I may be harsh or suspicious but... I think it would help you if you post a picture of the sword with your name / date written on a paper ?

I would agree with this, if you agree its far more important for a seller to ACCURATELY describe their item for sale in the first place instead of trying to deceive a buyer with poor pictures and false descriptions.

By Yokoyama Fujiwara Sukenaga, 59th generation descendant of Tomonari, living in Osafune Village, Bizen province (Biyo Osafune)

Hi! The last word is 造(made by...) in Chinese seal script, often used on bronze products. Working on the rest...... Wait, if this is posted on May 17, then why am I seeing this popping off my feed just now orz Ah! This says 義道造, Yoshimichi Zou, made by Yoshimichi in Japanese, in Chinese seal script font.

Just been reading this thread today, late to the party. There is plenty to learn and enjoy in this set, as Malcolm says, and you could even do some gentle cleaning yourself to make it more presentable. Ask for cleaning tips first! Stabilizing the cracking and huge lacquer flakes will take some thought. So much is lost on the kote that reducing them to bare iron could be a consideration. The kabuto looks nice underneath, and the overall shapes of the bowl and the shikoro look fine. The dealer probably knew little about it, as the sune-ate were upside-down. I'd look closely at the ho-ate though, as that could be (painted) fibreglass showing under the chin(?). I would mend or even change the maedate too as the destruction of the horn tips draws the eye and is ugly to look at. I feel that this armour will be happy that someone is giving it a home, and in return it should give you the new owner hours of pleasure. No need to listen to any negativity. Just save what you can of history, and eventually pass it on, hopefully in slightly better condition.

Not going to allow people to start commenting in sale posts and linking elsewhere. It's buyer's responsibility to search the forum and read through posts to find vouches or previous deals. And that would open the forum to a ton of problems. What happens when someone has a bad deal with a popular seller? Allow someone to post on all his sales and link to their bad experience? Plus..I refuse to be a judge and decide on a matter and who is wrong or right. You had a bad experience. Maybe someone else had a good one. No forum allows comments in sale posts linking to a past experience, hope you understand the complexity of that and why we can't.

Interesting and informative comments from @uwe Again stressing my beginner status on armour, the use of nerikawa during the peace times of Edo was popular because you got the look but not the weight or the cost. Parading around on horse or foot in a heavy iron yoroi, especially the Kabuto, Menpo and Sode would be rather uncomfortable on neck and shoulders I think? So the lighter nerikawa was widely used (or so I have read) including by higher ranking Samurai. Couple that with the more luxurious lacing and a Kabuto/shikoro and Menpo that I personally found attractive with its high central ridge (ignoring condition) and you may have bought something that was once really quite decent. But of course I could be spouting rubbish🙂…..someone correct me if I’m wrong please.

Hello, John. I believe the two should not be confused with each other. The Edo period of Japan marked the golden age of netsuke craftsmanship, while China was in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties during the same era. Back then, China also had ornaments made of bone, wood and other materials, such as pendants for scholars' folding fans, clothing accessories, and handheld curios for appreciation. From my perspective, it is impossible to draw a definite conclusion about which country such craftworks as netsuke originated from. Similar artifacts in different regions developed independently and in parallel. I I am also a carving enthusiast. I prefer to call my works bone carvings rather than netsuke, for my master is a bone carving artisan. What I am doing now is to refine my carving skills and infuse my creations with modern ideas and insights. This is one of my small pieces. Some people may find it unpleasant or even repulsive. It depicts a modern baby lying on the skull of a primitive human, connected by an umbilical cord. I intend to convey that modern humans share the same bloodline with our primitive ancestors, and that humanity has continued to reproduce and thrive through generations. Admittedly, this work may not appeal to everyone. To my mind, whether it is bone carving or netsuke, the essence lies in the inner meaning and cultural heritage. I have always looked down on those who merely copy works and make counterfeits for profit. t is just that Japanese netsuke gained widespread popularity and public attention. Influenced by this, many Chinese craftsmen in modern times have begun to create works in the style of Japanese netsuke, and even produce counterfeits for sale.

Gents … this sword has been Sold

Dear Elias, Welcome. Many people here have provided excellent answers. I will just chime in on one point your raised: In terms of prestige, a good estimate is to look at designation (how many elite designations relative to less elite designations) and provenance (who owned it and was proud of it). For example, if the extended Tokugawa family held many swords by a smith compared to other families (high GINI coefficient) - you can infer that prestige during the Edo period was high. Importantly, also look at the classical indicators, Fujishiro (the "Saku" ratings) and Toko Taikan (market price observations during his life). They all more or less depict a similar prestige landscape, with some divergences here and there, and their own types of flaws, which you don't need to delve into too much. You can learn about the Sa school here: https://nihontowatch.com/artists?school=Sa And the Iwato Ichimonji school here: https://nihontowatch.com/artists?school=Iwato+Ichimonji&q=iwato Of course, first and foremost, the work must stand on its own merits, a point which has been well made. At the level of investment you're considering, it's important to understand how rare designated works are, if there are any top class works (TJ and above), to understand the long tail of excellence and appreciation, the history of the smith, his archetypical style, and so on. Finally, before you buy a sword in Japan at this level, I always recommend to get due diligence done in Japan by a third party. I can point you to how you can organize this, PM me. I hope this helps, Hoshi

Good afternoon Raouf, What you have is a perfect study piece for you at your stage in the great game. What you have paid is what is often referred to as "School Fees" in the Antiques Trade. Now you need to get to see as much of the best quality as you can, either physically at museums or using Google Museum search etc, and compare it to what you have, in a positive, take it on the chin and move on manner. I can remember my first purchase of an armour, way back, it cost me £20, an absolute fortune in those days, when woke meant something to do with the interim betwixt sleep and awake and Nihonto were dumped into old Tea Chests at the back of the Antiques shop with a standard price of £4 Ten shillings for a Wakizashi and £ 5 Ten shillings for a Katana. (As you are in the Americas, I think that would probably equate with a Burger and Fries for the wakizashi and a Burger and Fries and a Milk shake for the Katana....... and a slap up table for two at Dennys for the armour. But to a 12 year old, Fledgling Katchubunny, I thought it was amazing, and I was absolutely sure that Toshiro Mifune had worn it at the Battle of Sekigahara......... I looked at it so closely, every rivet, every delamination of the Urushi, every rust hole and fraying of the Blue odoshi, that it became like a road map. So, have the courage to fail old chum.

What I find surprising is that a collector/dealer did not notice a chip to the kissaki mune…..the kissaki is one of the first things you look at very closely. Also the mune ware are clearly visible…ok, not massive but they are there. That rust looks to have pitting, ok again not a massive area but does not look a few weeks old imo, especially as the sword was shipped oiled. And afaik an Iai koshirae is not an assembly of Frankenstein adapted parts but one that can be safely used for Iai As said above….lessons to be learned by both parties. A dealers reputation is hard won and easily lost. Buyers have to ignore all the sales BS and focus on asking the questions that are not answered in descriptions. Bottom line…..if you are going to buy from images you’d better know and be able to trust the seller. ……and the best way to deal with a rightfully aggrieved customer is to apologise and refund his money….as Alex says above. But then I’m very “old school” with an exaggerated sense of transparency and fair play.

Ernie @Stegel has one (or is it 2) coppers with original brass-ended saya with what appears to be original welded-on drags. I don't recall serial numbers, but he believes them to be possible transitions to the newer styled saya with drag.

I think you have every right to be concerned and point this out. Hopefully Elias will return and provide a response that sounds like its written by a human. The considered responses posted here by our resident experts take time to formulate in an engaging and informative way, so if it comes to pass we we're communicating with a bot its a little disheartening. Although I've learned a lot so its not wasted effort.

Have to mention, that is stunning craftmanship!

The — is the biggest giveaway. Nobody uses — when - is available on the keyboard

New sword listings...and more on the way. https://stcroixblades.com/product-category/Japanese-swords/ Call, email, or text to order. --Matthew Brice info@stcroixblades.com 715-557-1688 phone/text

I’m certainly learning from all the thoughtful responses by our generous members. That said, I do have some concern that many of these detailed replies appear to be directed toward content from the OP that seems heavily AI generated. Using AI as a translation tool is one thing, but in this case the posts across a couple threads now read more like fully generated responses rather than translated personal communication. I do appreciate the expertise people are contributing, and I only mention this because every “thank you” reply so far appears largely copy-pasted from an AI prompt... For a purchase of this caliber; I would personally feel a more sincere form of engagement would go a long way. Sorry if my views toward AI are a bit strict; but all this just gives me cause for concern... When this happens; it can be really hard to distinguish between what could be a bot, versus what could be a sincere inquiry. -Sam

Undeniably, I am a craftsman from China who carves netsuke, yet I prefer to call myself a bone carver. My master has been creating bone carvings for decades, and people of his generation knew nothing about the concept of netsuke. I’d like to share a small piece of my work here. The main body is the skull of an ancient Homo sapiens. An umbilical cord extends from the eye socket of the skull and connects to a modern infant lying sound asleep atop it. The piece carries profound symbolism: the protection of ancestors and the dawn of new life. It depicts an encounter and reincarnation spanning millions of years. Generation after generation, humanity thrives and moves forward through the cycle of life.

Sesko uses 'omi' "YOSHIOMI (義臣), Shōwa (昭和, 1926-1989), Gifu – “Yoshiomi” (義臣), real name Takeyama Kazuo (武山数男), born April 3rd 1910, he was the younger brother of Yoshinao (義尚) and worked as guntō smith, ryōkō no retsu (Akihide)"

Well yes. Any honest and decent seller will have sword in hand and will see obvious marks or flaws and should point them out to the buyer. Though we know that's not always the case and also as mentioned, folks can genuinely miss stuff. Whatever the case, there should be a refund if the buyers is not happy, no doubt this thread will make some sellers and buyers more cautious. No one wants a sword in the post for two journeys so better doing it right the first time. Glad Brian as added the "Return Policy" to the template. Personally, wouldn't buy a sword from anyone that does not have one.

長船 Osafuné 郷 normally read as Gō Heavy? One kilogram or more? Be careful though as there are many Sukenaga fakes, making for a wide disparity in values. The real Sukenaga worked around 1830-1850 ish

I think its a good idea for every seller to accept payment and leave the money to one side and stand by the rule that's its not your money until the buyer confirms the purchase is good, anyways, that's what i believe to be fair.

Strange, I'm only seeing this post now...... Anyway, Hi! This says 備陽長船郷 友成五十九代孫横山藤原祐永 Biyou Osafune Kyou(or Sato) Tomonari Gojyu-Kyu Dai Mago Yokohama Fujiwara Sukenaga, meaning explained by Mr. Singer!

A Gama-hada tsuba from the A.H. Church collection [Ashmolean museum] Tsuba with gama-hada, or toad skin, surface (EAX.11186), Bequeathed by Sir Arthur H. Church, 1915.

I have to take this good offer. PM

Its BACK!!!!!! https://www.aoijapan.com/katana-mumei-transmitted-as-masamune-伝-正宗nbthk-tokubetsu-hozon-token（tsubanbthk-hozon-tosogu）-consignment-sale/

Hi Uwe and others, I had a long drawn out back and forth with Google AI about what is the correct pronunciation of this swordsmith's name. According to AI this kanji has multiple valid readings: "its standard standalone reading is "Omi", but when used at the end of a male's given name it frequently takes the traditional reading of "Tomi". Both are linguistically plausible." However; according to "Seki Kaji Tosho", "Yoshi-omi" is the preferred pronunciation for this swordsmith. So Uwe, you are exactly right. Thanks for the correction, Tom

I believe I didn’t ask similar question for more then a year :] Sometimes it can give impression that I spam with trash findings. I see this forum in near future as biggest database in a world. With this amount of examples, comments and proper tools maybe it would be possible to create new chatbot? Dunno how it is regulated in the rules. Who is an owner of comments made here? If there is a possibility content at forum should be „spoilered” yet not readible fully via general search engine like google or be used for comercial unfamiar chatbots for machine learning. Also there should be time limit for sale offers and „bump” amount depending on the account type - self-clearing for „normies”

Good afternoon Sam & Sky. Thank you so much for your confirmation, I really appreciate it. It moved to the end of November a few years back as I recall. Being utterly selfish, such a shame, as it was a great combination of the Meiji Jingu Embu and Dai Token Ichi over the same weekend. A Brief moment of pause to remember Guido, who made DTI, DTI De Luxe with his wry humour. Sadly missed.

I am not trying to be difficult here but the questions really don't make a lot of sense to me. For example, please define what you mean by "history" of the blade? Are you talking provenance? The history of the period when it was made? How the smiths and schools were seen by history? Given that one sword is attributed to a smith who was the son of one of the most important sword makers in Japan, and the other is broadly attributed to a school, is that the kind of historical touchstone you are referring to? These decisions for many collectors are normally based on their own interests and collections. If you collect Nanbokucho Soshu, then the Sa blade fits. If you collect Kamakura Bizen then Ichimonji would be the way to go. Other collectors just buy what moves them. Some just buy Juyo. Some want blades w/cutting tests or battle damage. Some want swords from particular time periods or schools. Now, broadly speaking Iwato Ichimonji is viewed as the least prestigious of the four Ichimonji traditions, the others being Ko-Ichimonji, Fukuoka Ichimonji and Yoshioka Ichimonji. Hard core Ichimonji fans love the first two. But it ultimately depends on the sword, because even the worse Ichimonji can be great. That said I have seen MANY ho-hum Ichimonji. In fact, I was kind of unimpressed with the hype surrounding Ichimonji swords until seeing Paul Davidson's Yoshioka Ichimonji two years ago at Sothebys. It was like a revelation, like seeing a sword for the first time: a brilliant habuchi with choji that looked almost three dimensional; layers of floating utusuri like the clouds a plane passes through on its way to a landing. Never handled one like that before. I've seen some nice ones but this was the first and only one I ever handled where I remember thinking: "So this is what all the Ichimonji excitement is about." So, If my pocket were full of change, and if I were hunting for an Ichimonji blade, I would want something at least which approaches that. But that's aesthetics, not history. Elias, while I appreciate your desire to touch history, my recommendation is almost like a mantra or broken record on this board: keep your money in your pocket. Study. Look at as many swords as you can. And when you decide what school or time period moves you, then go shopping. Until then, keep your powder dry and your mind open. Buying swords is easy. Buying the right sword takes study. Best of luck.

The blades are radically different — different traditions, different aesthetics, different emotional impact. In some ways, asking whether the Jūyō Iwato Ichimonji or the Jūyō Sa Yoshisada is “better” is like asking which classic Hollywood star was more beautiful. There is no objective answer. The real question is: what are YOU looking for? Do you want the flamboyant, aristocratic elegance and luminous choji of Ichimonji? Or the darker, more intense, more inwardly powerful atmosphere of late-Soshu Sa work? Those are fundamentally different experiences. At the Jūyō level, you are already operating in rare air. Many collectors on this board have never even handled a Jūyō blade, let alone had the opportunity to choose between two. Is this an investment question? A market-value question? A “best bang for the buck” question? A school popularity question? Or is it about which sword actually moves you when you hold it? Because ultimately, that is the only thing that matters. The sword you keep coming back to in your mind — the one that pulls at you a little — is probably your answer. On the matter I will say only this: there appears to me to be no shortage of Ichimonji or Rai school blades out there in the market. If you miss one, another one will come along, both better and worse. The same can't be said for blades directly attributed to Sa School smiths. But, again, it all comes down to what moves YOU. Nobody here can answer that but YOU.

I'm assuming Elias has put a hold on both swords and is now trying to decide which to buy. With all due respect, if you are asking these questions you are not ready to make such a purchase, especially a Juyo level sword sight unseen. I was where you are a few years ago. The excellent advice I received back then was to learn as much as I can about Nihonto, invest in good reference books, see high quality swords in museums or sword meet-ups eg NBTHK-EB (since you're Germany-based), the annual Japan Art Show in Utrecht etc. You need time to educate your eye and sense of appreciation. This invaluable time spent researching will help you to define what interests you most. There are so many blades available from all eras, traditions, schools, different blade shapes. With that knowledge you can begin to make a decision thats right for you and not someone else. Thinking about financial appreciation with regards Nihonto, Tosogu etc is wrong. These are not investment vehicles or a way to diversify your investment portfolio. Chances are you will lose money when you sell especially after you add 19% VAT and import duties to those prices. The blue chip investment pieces are healthy, signed, ubu blades by important makers. Personally I would take a step back. Spend 6-12 months researching nihonto then visit Japan if possible, or attend a show like the JAS in Utrecht to find a blade that speaks to you based on some criteria you have established for yourself. Photos are not a good way to determine whether a particular blade is right for you. And I certainly wouldn't put much weight behind a dealers marketing fluff. At the end of the day you have to make the decision, but that right decision for you will be very different to that made by someone else.

Jean … nooooo (respectfully) … not on one of these machine made blades. Any disassembly strongly not recommended on these. It is a great thing not to see a mekugi ( or screw) on a copper NCO sword, or it is likely a fake if you do see one. It’s a key feature not to see one on the copper variant. I will add additional photos on request for a serious buyer.

Hi, I would like to ask for translation assistance on 3 swords that landed on my table. If anyone would be of help it would mean a lot and be of great help. Didnt have time to take proper pictures of the blades, hopefully I will get to it later this week if anyone is interested after translation. Thank you for your time everyone, Best regards, Martin

I only use the long dash in formal writing (like in my Type 95 download). Only becasue it's a part of the Chicago Manual of Style formatting requirements in certain situations. To use it casually on a forum is a huge AI red flag. Like you say, it's not a convenient or natural hotkey to use. -Sam PS. It's not inherently wrong or even against the rules to utilize AI. But when it's seemingly 90%+ of a users content, it raises many of my moderator red flags; asking myself "is this a bot?".

Because generally, it's more likely to be true – and as someone offering your expertise on someone else's gamble, it's better to be conservative and wrong (nice surprise for them) than optimistic and wrong (that's when the knives come out). Even the NBTHK will sometimes give conservative attributions to blades that look a little "iffy" or ambiguous between schools, and only go out on a limb when a blade gets to the upper echelons of recognition (TokuJu, Kokuho).

Rapid fast! Thank you very much!

Another one spotted on eBay. No scabbard

Gunbai motif at koiguchi? It’s more appropriate for comanding Japanese at the end of war then auxiliary unit. Cut off from homeland.

Lots to be learned here by both buyers and sellers. Ok, so 25mm and 10mm respectively. So now all we need is @djcollection to explain why this is not a clear misrepresentation of his description stating "NO FORGING FLAWS". Those are YOUR words, are they not?

The Iwato Ichimonji has passed through several dealers after passing the Jūyō shinsa. 2021 - https://web.archive.org/web/20210612111517/https://katananokura.jp/SHOP/2105-K02.html (without koshirae) 2025 - https://web.archive.org/web/20250322181409/https://www.samurai-nippon.net/SHOP/V-2114.html 2025 - https://www.toukentakarado.com/item-tk017-juyo-den-iwato-ichimonji 2026 - https://www.aoijapan.com/katana：mumeiunsigned-den-iwato-ichimonji-65th-juyo-token/

Update: Yamanaka Newsletters Volume 5 (the final volume) Issue #1 available: Yamanaka V5 NL01

Good question Jean. This pattern of the Type 95 is secured with a barrel nut where the sarute is located. On later patterns, they added a mekugi in the more traditional location. Nice looking Pattern1 Copper hilt type 95. For those who may not know, they made less than 7000 of this pattern, making them pretty rare. Best of luck with the sale, -Sam