Brian

Yeah, there is zero doubt that the scabbard is from a different sword. Just very lucky it fits. That said, someone out there will be looking for the sword itself, maybe to restore or maybe for parts. I am guessing it would go higher than $500 as is.

You'd need to see it from the side, but in this case I suspect they cut the mei out as a "slice" and inlaid it into the new nakago by cutting a slide out of that. Looks ok to me. If they were trying to do anything suspicious, they wouldn't have made it so obvious.

This looks like a removed Seki stamp to me, and it's exactly where you would find a stamp.

I saw this one posted on Facebook, and the number of people saying it's likely gimei. Now I know most big names on kogatana are indeed gimei, as a homage. But when this level of detail was put into a hamon, and that can't have been easy, I think we have to at least give it a chance. The Yoshimichi line being famous for Sudareba etc, they did like to experiment with hamon. So for me, I would personally say likely just a homage, but with a chance of being by one of the Yoshimichi line. That said, a mei on a kozuka is never going to match that on a nakago, so only a shinsa would tell you for sure, and is that really worth the expense? The value even if it papered is still moderate and maybe not worth it. So you may just have to keep this one as a nice example of the art. It's already in a decent shirasaya.

Afraid not, confidentiality prevents me from giving out any contact details of any member. But I emailed him, pointed him here, and said if he's willing to contact you, he can do so here. That's the best I can do.

I think you're right (not left) in this case...lol. I think it's MY eyes, not yours. But then I have an excuse. The diabetes is playing havoc with my vision.

Relax Hamish. I doubt your Chinese translations would be flawless either. Some pretty big collections of Japanese swords in China.

Agree, this looks like a British type flintlock converted to percussion. I wonder which artist saw one and decided to put it on a kozuka. Very unusual indeed. The whole left handed thing may be that the artist wanted it facing the other way and just copied the right hand features onto the left side. I guess we'll never know, but it certainly is interesting. Maybe one of a kind.

I've sent this link to the email I have listed in file. If he has any interest, I am sure he will respond. Brian

Looks like a nice day trip, thanks Thomas. Swords and fittings are likely unaffordable at these markets, but sometimes there are nice trinkets like WW2 sake cups etc worth looking for. Will definitely slot that in if I go.

Not sure you know exactly what you are looking for. Mantetsu swords are purchased for their history and as militaria. They certainly aren't bought for their artistic traits. They don't exhibit nice hataraki or interesting hamon. They are arsenal swords, but made using certain techniques that increased their useability. Whether it's cleaned a bit or not isn't the prime factor in owning one of them. If you are looking for a nice WW2 sword with interesting hamon and showing hada/hataraki, then Mantetsu swords aren't where you should be looking. What were you expecting of this sword? It's a factory, not a particular smith. This is like buying a Type 95 Gunto and then lamenting that it doesn't have a nice polish or hamon.

Lol. Lanes strikes again. These are one of the things you see lots of in Japan in antiques stores.

IF I manage to go to Japan this year (and I am frantically saving as I REALLY REALLY want to go) then I'm looking at arriving around the 23rd October until just after the DTI. Sad thing is that this misses the 3rd Sunday of October, and the markets on the 1st Sunday...that's the DTI. Which is a pity, as I love Tokyo flea and antiques markets. Won't be travelling around Japan this time as I limited leave available, and want to spend 4 or 5 days in Thailand for the first time on the way back. Pity...I wanted to see Sapporo for once. But we will have to see if I can swing the trip. As much as the Yen has fallen, the Rand has done worse. I can pay for flights or accommodation...not both. Do as many markets as you can. You may not buy a lot, but it's awesome to see stuff that is actually antique among stuff made yesterday. But there are few bargains. If you can find a private person selling stuff off, you can score. But most are professional dealers who sell online when they are not at the market, and they think every tsuba is worth $500+

If you are talking about antiques/flea markets, one thing I must warn you about is that you are going to see a lot of cheap Chinese fakes among the real stuff, and usually at high prices. Unfortunately those have crept into Japan just like everywhere. I wish the Yasukuni market was still around on a Sunday, it was a great market.

People need to know that eBay is fair game, and there is no such thing as "keeping it quiet" so that someone gets a deal. EVERY auction is noticed by thousands. Very little slips under the radar, and everything is fair game to be posted here. It's frustrating for people who want to bid, but deal with it. Nature of the game.

There is no hada on these. They are made of mono construction steel and oil quenched. But collectible in their own right, as they are currently "in fashion"

Colin, afraid they have already done it with vast quantities of collectibles. They have banned many genuine wartime collectible bayonets and fighting knives. You can't deal or own WW1 trench knives with knuckles anymore, many serrated wartime bayonets are gone. No compensation, just banned. It can, and is being done.

I don't think you are going to fine many forgeries on shinsakuto, especially ones that are still alive. Too easy to contact and check with the actual smith. The few we see from sellers like Komonjo etc are easily identified by the work, and the source. When you have a dealer in Japan, I see far less chance and not much point. The differences can easily be explained by factors like John explained, as well as things like changing the chisels over time and maybe having a deshi assist. Wouldn't be too concerned as long as the work is similar and appropriate.

This....unfortunately.

Bargain. Damn...how would I get it to SA? Hmmmm

Sad to think that oneday, lkely in our lifetime, we'll have to write the UK off as a Nihonto and edged weapon collector location. And having extensively gone into the other pending legislation on what I have to go through as a forum where people from the UK might just be able to get in touch with each other and buy edged weapons...I can tell you that a ban on the UK IP network is going to be the solution for many online forums. I've gone through their entire risk analysis questionnaire and requirements, and they can bite me. What a load of (to use the UK colloquialism) codswallop!

This is a great offer. Those within traveling distance should definitely take up the offer, even as a nice social meetup. Hope you get some interest Jean, wish I were closer.

I don't really see anything here that suggests it was shortened. To me, it looks like it was made as a wakizashi originally and hasn't been altered. Nice wakizashi.

These courier companies aren't banning this stuff because they fear being injured...they are doing it because of the threats from the UK govt and backlash if someone underage happens to get hold of (gosh...the horror!) of something sharp or pointy. The kids have to be protected at any cost to freedom. The way to fight this isn't through trying to reason with the courier companies. They will rather err on the side of caution rather than be sued. The right way is to write to your politicians, and simply tell them that if they don't get logical and stop trying to legislate everything out of existence, you will be voting for another party. That's the only way you will get anywhere. The couriers don't care about your appeals. The govt cares about votes though. Poll all the political parties, see who is in favour of relaxing the rules...then actively support them.