Brian

No "serial numbers" on these. Just assembly numbers to keep all the parts together. So you can ignore that aspect.

As a major knife guy, collector and dealer, I can tell you that thermocycling is used a lot in custom knifemaking nowadays. It is used on high end knives. Now that may be unrelated to the topic at hand, and is unrelated to utsuri production, but saying it is not widely used or not economical is not true at all. It's used by numerous factories and custom makers seeking the best possible performance out of steel. Also, carbon content is definitely closely linked to utsuri...all the articles you read mention differing carbon content in various schools and smiths, and I think it's obvious that both temperature and carbon content are vital in the production of utsuri. Edit to add: Actually, I think the knifemaking process may relate quite a bit when it comes to Nihonto, considering they are both dealing with the crystalizing formations and normalizing to increase strength and durability https://knifesteelnerds.com/2021/08/28/how-to-thermal-cycle-knife-steel/

I have seen videos where Nihonto are quenched more than once, I think it is more common than you think. Also, in Markus' essay on utsuri, he quotes:

Also not sure what the argument is here. The process of making Nihonto consists of thermo cycling. The only difference is how much and how exactly, when we are talking about utsuri. But the process of repreated heating and cooling, and quenching, is essentially thermocycling. So you can't argue that it doesn't happen, that's how you get a hamon and hataraki. Now you can debate how they do the thermocycling to achieve utsuri, but you can't debate whether it happens or not at all.

You'd have to know the construction of your sword quite well, as it would be easy to go through the outer layer and into the core steel unless you know the skin steel isn't thin. Risky imho.

I agree with Rayhan. It's a well known process in manufacturing and only logical when forming utsuri. It's also the reason why utsuri follows the hamon, based on the repeated application of clay and allowing the smiths to control the shape and extent back then. They didn't do it just for looks...so only logical it was to reduce stress.

Makes perfect sense. You arrive and declare it. They give you a limited time permit to transport it to the licensed dealer, who then has a certain time to register it.

Looks like a ken to me.

I don't see anything really indicating this is cast. Especially since the condition has rounded off a lot of the detail, including mei. For me, not cast

I would think these are mass produced Saga Kaneie works.

General consensus is that there was no such thing as a Ninjato, and that they used regular swords just like everyone else. The idea of a Ninja sword being straighter or different is apparently a myth. Someone said they sometimes had very large square guards so that they could be used as stepping stones to climb a wall...but I won't dignify that with a comment.

"Ouch! That hurts! Leave my ankle alone!" "Oohh...sorry. I was trying to end your suffering" "Ouch!! Dammit...stop poking me with that blunt instrument. Bloody hurts!" "Hmm....how about this?" "Aaaah....stop it! That's sore. Think you left a bruise now. That's going to leave a mark!" "Ooh. Apologies dude...I was told I need to do this to end your misery. Stop wriggling like that" Lol....sorry, couldn't resist. Have a whole Monty Python-style thing going on in my head now.

Indeed. Would be near useless if it were thrown. Grain of salt...

I have never seen a kogai with a point sharp enough that it will piece anything. I call shennanigans on that claim. Especially since they were usually made of soft metal. Nah...not believing that one. They even say it was blunt. Maybe the kogatana...maybe an umabari/bashin. If the kogai was meant for any sort of piercing, it would have been sharp, and we would see many more iron ones.

To me, looks genuine but the front part of a longer broken blade, reshaped.

I would think those hangers are something personal to the previous owner, maybe something for good luck. Don't think they are any more than that

Very sad to hear this. His username was @Vermithrax16 and he was a member for 8 years. Condolences to his friends and family. We are losing too many people we know. It is very sad

I know that RVA Katana are fairly respectable, I watch their videos and the guy seems like a nice guy, who often refers to @Ray Singer and seems to refer to Ray for advice/mentorship. Although they specialize in modern cutting swords (China etc) they do have some originals and seem very approachable. The sword seems ok to me, a genuine Nihonto as far as I can tell. I highly doubt they would sell a fake, although approach ALL Japanese swords without papers as possibly gimei. That applies everywhere though, and the sword is still legit and antique. Also, they mention a guaranteed buy back through Sohei swords for a lower amount, so maybe they have consigment from Sohei, but this is also a known and reputable dealer, and one of our members with a Dealer listing here.

I would second Moriyama san's deduction. Nice piece of history.

If I can make it to Japan this year (health still uncertain) you can bet that I look forward to seeing Moriyama san again, and he will hopefully accept the forum taking him out for lunch or dinner on me

The geometry is completely wrong, the habaki is completely wrong...very typical of Chinese fakes. Markings on the habaki (and these are gibberish) are typical of fakes and not present on real ones. The handle wrap is completely wrong...not even close. The edge "sharpening" is completely incorrect, and even if was present on a real one, would render it worthless. Can't tell if any of the fittings are genuine, but it's irrelevant anyways. And this style of fake is generally modern, so calling it early 20th c is misleading, and I would think subject to a refund. Man...that habaki is bad.

Yip, correct. They were all made by TGE, and the number produced is correct. Very sought after model Correction: Just remembered: I think that there were only 550 made by TGE....they are very rare. I think the rest were made by another factory.

My Baby is in shockingly bad condition. Came from China, must have been captured and stored there for 60 years. Congrats, great Grail set. Very desirable grouping.

Yes, but those cloths can pick up particles from everywhere, not just the blade. Put the cloth down on a table or wherever you store it, and you have to be careful you don't get some dirt grains on it. Best to store it in a clean small box or something, and even then make sure you keep it clean. I'm inclined to agree with Tom. Something in the scabbard at some point. Maybe gone now. But could have happened at any point. Blow out the saya with a compressor carefully. Tap it upside down on a table. Whatever did it might be gone now, but you'll need to pay careful attention.

This is Ray's dealer section, which will also give you a link to his website https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/forum/121-swordsofjapancom/