Leaderboard

I generally find anti-Muromachi sentiment prominent among many collectors to be both understandable and strange. There was a ton of crap forged between 1500 and 1550, the kind of crap the jigane is so coarse it barely holds together. There are blades of true mastery - more during Oei to Onin, but some of Tensho work of almost zero level names was very-very impressive.

Uchiko from Robert Benson is of the highest quality. The uchiko is already processed. It just takes a day to put the ball together…

This is kiri motif or Paulownia Dan Massey has one signed for sale on his site http://www.nihontocraft.com/Moriyoshi_Iyo_Shoami_200.jpg

海軍燃料廠 – Navy fuel factory 製油員 – Refinery operator 里村清吉 – Satomura Seikichi 第三蒸溜工場 – The 3rd distillery

Shozui Founder of hamano school.

Fox trap?…..vague memory I’ve seen something like this on a tsuba where a farmer was trying to catch a fox.

Interesting! A much nicer example. Thank you!

Very much agree. I consider the upper-tier Tensho Bizen-den blades to be peak Koto sword making. Bizen had some of the best local materials and culminated knowledge from generations of master smiths, combined with the mastery by that time to forge blades for maximum damage and survival in combat when they had to be used. Then the mudslide of 1591 came along and basically reset sword making in the region. While earlier Heian/Kamakura and later Edo period upper-tier blades are rightly treasured for their beauty, personally, I believe the late-Muromachi>Azuchi-Momoyama>Early Edo blades to be peak functional craftsmanship and metallurgy. Everyone has their favorites for sure and reasons behind that. For me, history is the major driver, so late Sengoku is where it's at (it has to be for most that are drawn to the history of true samurai warriors). Combine that with the beauty of the Bizen-den jitetsu, jigane, and utsuri ..... and I get excited :D The longer this period is looked down upon in nihonto collecting for all of the mass-produced lower-tier swords that it keeps the pricing of the upper-tier blade reasonable, the more I'll be able to collect. Just as taste in the shape of the hamon has ebbed and flowed with the centuries and even recent decades, this too may perhaps change. Now that I have my feet wet after years of study, I'm feeling cautiously confident to spend much more on the next one I acquire on perhaps a juyo blade.

I will admit to liking Japanese dealers. Yes, certain nonchalant description writing can be next level compared to western ones. There are no guarantees. Communications can be edgy. You want to pair koshirae with a blade from different dealers, and as a rule they hate each other and proud to make impossible. But I am yet to see a western dealer (though youngest generation shows great promise) who would close the knowledge gap compared to upper grade Japanese ones. Or have an actual impressive personal collection NFS. Which again speaks to personal knowledge, re: ability to pickup the magic guntos that matter. Yes, Japanese dealers have "make money" attitude, and they have solid acceptance of the fact they are traders by profession. Frankly, dealing in some loveable items and making money - why can't one be proud of this profession? Comparing this with a certain (common) type of Western dealers... I actually wish they would accept being professional dealers, and be more concerned about the knowledge gap, rather than investing into building a brand of a warrior-scholar who is not doing this for the money.

The kakihan looks like a cut test kao.

I think satomura kiyoyoshi is correct, however it may be pronounced Kiyoshi. 里村 (Satomura): Surname (Village/Home + Village) John C.

I wanted to share a picture now that everything has arrived and I've had time to go through it all. Close-up images of the blade will have to wait until I get some appropriate lighting just for that. I've built a custom display in my living room with lighting that I'll post images of once it's all set up in there.

An exceptionally rare kenukigata tachi–style Japanese sword available. This Edo period utsuchi (tribute sword) faithfully recreates a National Treasure kenukigata tachi from the Heian period in tanto size. A kenukigata tachi features a distinctive mekugi-ana shape in the nakago. Kenukigata translates to “tweezers shape” in Japanese (or dog bone shape). This tanto shares the graceful sori (curvature) of an early tachi and closely mirrors that elegant profile. The blade displays a fine hamon and remains in excellent polish. The mumei blade measures 12 1/4″ (31.1 cm) in nagasa. The kaigata (oar-shaped) saya further enhances the presentation. Notably, it features a kurikata carved in the form of seashells. The mounts include a leather tsuba. Two photos below are provided of early Heian swords for comparison. Historical Context: Kenukigata Tachi The kenukigata tachi represents a rare and early Japanese sword style from the Heian period (794–1185). Craftsmen forged these swords from a single piece of steel, piercing the tang (nakago) with an opening that resembles tweezers (kenuki). Consequently, they stand as a crucial transitional form in Japanese sword development and serve as ceremonial predecessors to the traditional tachi and later katana. Key Features and Significance History: Swordsmiths developed the kenukigata form during the mid-Heian period, evolving it from the earlier warabitetō swords of the Tohoku region. Therefore, historians regard it as a prototype of the curved Japanese tachi. Usage: High-ranking imperial guards (Efu) primarily carried these swords for ceremonial purposes. Elite warriors also wore them as symbols of rank and prestige. CONDITION This fine kenukigata tachi–style sword remains in beautiful polish. Importantly, the blade shows no openings (ware) whatsoever.. Additionally, the lacquer exhibits only occasional small dents consistent with age. Overall, this antique Edo period piece presents exceptionally well and retains outstanding collector appeal. $3400 plus shipping w/payment via check, Zelle, Venmo, bank wire (add 3% if paying via PP or credit card) Visit StCroixBlades.com for more photos

According to the "Orders and Medals of Japan" (Peterson), they appear to be the 6th and 7th class Order of the Sacred Crown (see boxed area of pic). They were bestowed on ladies who exhibited distinguished service. John C.

This appears to be Hisamitsu. Best regards, Ray

We cant see the whole object but I'm 98 per cent sure this is a bat gaff for commercial fishing, probably tuna, made in Kogushi machi, likely before 1956 when the area still used this name. It's called a bat gaff because its short, truncheon to baseball bat sized. It uses a 90 degree bend hook and short lengh for hauling fish over gunwhales and moving fish around on deck/at market, compared to a long pole gaff design with a more classically shaped J hook used for controlling and lifting fish out of the water from above.

菊一 - Kikuichi

The best advice is always to buy the blade and not the papers. The internet makes that very hard and many of us are no novices to what you said, the lies of omission, downplaying of kizu, and romanticizing the blade to discount its flaws. A good buyer should know that the fluff is just that. Fluff. Even papers, which are supposed to be a certificate of authenticity aren’t always the source of truth many claim to be. I’ve seen faked papers posted here. I’ve also seen blades faked to match real papers but with a different sword posted here from a notorious Jauce auction. And most disappointingly of all, I’ve seen real swords pass Juyo Shinsa with fake mei to grandmaster smith’s showing that even Shinsa judges have been duped by nefarious means. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as we are in a hobby where gimei blades are abundant and we have a saying “green papers are no papers. Even then, right now on eBay I can go and purchase the only other extant daito signed “Sa” in the world besides the Kokuho daito! My Samonji collection would then rival that of the TNM and most seasoned collectors for only a few hundred bucks!

for that cheap price, you might aswell just use salt