Brian

I don't see anything genuine Japanese here, and if it was, it's toast. Sorry, but really too far gone. But I suspect Chinese anyways.

Charlie, I think Colin is correct. The MOP isn't inlayed into the metal, the base is lacquer over the iron, and the MOP is put into that. Still maazing craftsmanship, but they are putting the designs on lacquer with a clear coating to smooth it out, and not cutting out the shapes in the metal and putting the MOP in.

Definitely a bad Chinese fake, never been in Japan. It would be illegal there.

You can't. And you shouldn't.

No, they are real. Just in poor condition. I believe the one is fitted with half a double habaki and you'll want to get that sorted sometime.

VERY

That nakago was severely messed with. Junk with an acid wash

Yeah, would go so well with a small cased pocket pistol. Really nice bag flask.

I LOVE that Dixon flask. What size is it?

Hamish, I've never had selective rules here, and not about to start now. Although it's a PITA, the rules say post a price and I expect you to do so too. Not going to allow a post with vague pricing and no real info with a "contact me" Number them 1 to 7 and post prices at the very least. If people are interested, they can contact you for more info. But prices are mandatory and I'm not making exceptions.

I believe our own @Volker62 has a very charming and personal history with Yasunori :-)

Here's the best write-up I've seen on Taketoku https://yasutoku.blogspot.com/2014/07/tachi-by-kajiyama-yasutoku-may-1936.html

Nice watch.

Guys, it's almost Xmas, can we get less defensive and a little more chilled in our discussions? Let's have a peaceful December. Ed has been around the block more than most, and I can assure you he is just giving the facts as he knows them.

We still have no conclusive meaning of the signature below the ana? I know there is talk of onkashi-to, but those had the same on the same side as the mei. So a bit confusing.

I think this would be of interest to @Volker62 and @PNSSHOGUN

Yeah, I think at some point the fittings were changed, as the solid tsuba has 2 regular very thin seppa and the tsuba has has a slot for that leather retainer. I'll look at sorting the fittings out sometime. Interesting leather combat cover with lacing, and a brass? protector at the bottom.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut :-) I think I got my Xmas present. About a week ago, a respected and high end US collector of Gendaito posted on an SA site asking for advice on shipping a sword from SA to the US. All I could offer was the name of a lady that does knives for the collectors here, and the advice that shipping a sword from here is very complicated and difficult. None of the courier companies want to handle them. Anyways, I was interested how a decent sword would be found in SA of all places, since we hardly ever see Nihonto for sale here, but I forgot about it. About 3 days ago...I was browsing the website of a large local auction company that regularly has antiques and collectibles auctions. I have bought from them a few times, but almost never Japanese stuff. Usually knives and other small things. Imagine my shock when among the lots, I see a Shin Gunto for sale. I assumed it was a fake, but opened the pics anyways, and was surprised to see it was genuine, with a nijimei signature. Took me a few minutes, and I was gobsmacked to realize it was signed Takenori! (Later I realized it was Taketoku)| Realizing this was the Yasukuni smith, my heart went into overdrive. I realized this must be the sword that the collector had his eyes on, and i knew on an SA budget, there was zero chance I could compete. But I bookmarked the auction, and started planning what my budget was. A Yasukuni related sword has always been on my bucket list. Before the auction ended, I took the bid to a winning bid of about US$1150, and prepared for a fight at the end, and to see it end at far more than double that. Auction time, the lot eventually came up, and I prepared to lose, but at least to put up a fight. The lot starts...the price sits there. I'm waiting for other bids. Nothing? My heart is about to burst. Final call comes up...usually for about 5 seconds...this time it sits there for about 15 seconds. I am having a panic attack. Closed. I win it at $1150 plus about 20% premium. I don't know what I did to have some luck for a change, but I'm not complaining. Maybe shipping overseas was too complex. Don't know why locals didn't bid, that's cheap even by local standards for a regular Gunto. I was lucky..a friend was flying down to that city yesterday and driving back, and he agreed to fetch it. After some complications (Auction house decided to close yesterday and i had to reach out to the owner) my buddy brought it back late last night and I got it today. A lovely Kajiyama Taketoku Gendaito, made privately while he was working at Yasukuni but after he changed his nakago shape to kijimomo to prevent confusion between himself and his nephew Kotani Kenzo. Dated 1937 and in very good original polish, some stains but everything can be seen. Cleaned up nicely with isopropyl alcohol and some oil, and has a stunning sugata, tapering to a small ko-kissaki. Kijimomo nakago, nagasa is 655mm. Signed below the mekugi ana, which is something I need to research. It's only in hand you can appreciate how different these are to military swords. Light in the hand, with a Koto feel. Has a straight and active ko-choji hamon that I am still getting into examining. Lots to see and beautifully forged. Hard to take photos, so will add as i go along. But consider me one very happy guy. No idea how this got to South Africa, or the story behind it. But for now I am happy to be its owner, and thanks to that collector for giving me the shot at it. It has a good home and will be well cared for.

Agree. From what we can see so far, not genuine but a fake. The signature definitely is, and the nakago is wildly out of shape. Have to see more pics

Not really menuki, and possibly not Japanese. May be useful to someone as decoration for something but this is why the backs are so important.

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/files/file/29-the-namban-group-of-japanese-sword-guards-a-reappraisal/ But a good reminder for collectors

Upside down. Edit the post and repost the right way up

Honestly, I don't think the horimono is up to the standard we'd want to see. It's good, but not at the higher end. As far as the blade is concerned, I think it looks Koto, but I'm not qualified to say more. But overall a nice piece that I probably would have grabbed myself. This is the sort of horimono I'd want to be seeing.

I don't think it's even close, and think your chances of it being shoshin are in the negative numbers. Never mind the fact that if it had a chance, the seller would have sent it for papers. Nah....no ways.

Menuki will never sell without a picture of the backs. This is as vital as the nakago of a sword is.