Brian

Scroll to the top of the forum, that whole horizontal list of things like Browse, Activity, Store, Donations etc? If you are on a cellphone (stop doing that) then you might have to click the menu at the top right.

Impossible to say without seeing pics.

If you are talking about the 2 items above, there is no such thing as menuki for it. It's not a tanto. The blades/kogatana are a loose fit, and are usually "glued" in with pine pitch etc. But it's normal to have a loose fit, it is only in there by friction.

Congrats Nicholas, we all wish you well and success in your venture. Added to the links.

Oli, It is indeed, and I stand corrected on the possibility. However that one is clearly signed as a Showato with arsenal stamp, so I still maintain that if it was a Showato...it would have likely been signed by a wartime smith, as we don't see many mumei Showato. But obviously the possibility is there, just have to weigh up the probability.

https://buyee.jp/?lang=en

No Franco. In this case, it is for someone to prove that it isn't traditionally made. How many Showato have you seen in these mounts? The sword is Japanese, it isn't a Chinese repro, we can see that much. Gimei maybe, but that isn't the point here. Do you think someone would take the time and effort to mount a Showato in these custom built mounts? For what purpose? When you look at a Japanese sword that is in non-Gunto mounts, do you assume it's oil quenched until someone proves otherwise? What can be seen of the hamon also doesn't tie in with arsenal blades, and since this doesn't appear to be a Meiji period mass produced export sword, and the nakago is well finished and shaped, I don't think it's unfair to default to Occam's Razor until proven otherwise.

https://www.japaneseswordindex.com/koa.htm

The sword is definitely genuine and traditionally made. There is zero chance it would be confiscated. Now whether the mei is gimei or not is uncertain, but that has nothing to do with the legalities of it in Japan.

2 More uploads added to the downloads section. One a fascinating article on the use of lighting for the appreciation of iron tsuba by @Steve Waszak, and the other a small presentation on Japanese swords originally presented in 2014 compiled into a pdf, presented by Prof. @Peter Bleed Thank you for sharing gents.

I think we are making more of this than necessary personally. As collectors, we came up with the words Showato and Gendaito to differentiate between arsenal/mass produced swords and handmade ones. That is not strictly correct and only concerns eras. But it simplified things and works for everyone and has stuck. Similarly, whatever works for us so that we know which model we are talking about, is fine with me. If someone says "Type 3" it may not be correct, but we know what they are talking about. Or if another term becomes commonplace, then we will adapt. As long as the meaning is known, I don't see a huge issue.

You have 3 Megs PER POST, and no limit on posts. Plus pics should be scaled down, we don't want 300dpi cell pics that are billboard size straight from the cell. It's easy enough to get pics down to 200kb or so. You could post 10 pics in one reply and still not hit the limit. Plus reply, and post more. Cropping pics so we don't get 80% of the pic being the table is also appreciated. Gold membership gives you even more space per post. Trust me , there is plenty space per person that many have thousands of uploads and haven't hit a limit.

No it's not Bruce. We know that Sho stamped stords are not fully traditionally made. That is accepted and set in stone. The fact that there are the occasional sword that slips through or the rarest of exceptions does not change that fact. Let's not go backwards.

That's by our own @Spartancrest

They are contemporary, and are honorific, not literal. These were sold as good luck symbols. Genuine, but not traditionally made and fairly crude.

Shrine souvenir, good luck charm.

This forum will surprise you :-) https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/14358-how-to-make-tanegashima-pan-cover-hollow-pin/#comment-150718 https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/35224-please-help-to-identify-my-hinawaju/page/2/#comment-364917

Shinogi zukuri tanto....Avoid.

The bottom hole takes a thin wire twisted to make sure it doesn't come out. Top of the pin/tube is hollow to take a little paper "umbrella" in case of rain.

Axis pin, if I remember correctly, isn't a solid drilled tube. I know it can be turned, but if you want to be authentic (and maybe @Bugyotsuji can confirm) it's a rolled sheet metal tube with a head....depends on how authentic you want to make it. Or maybe turn it, and cut a slit down the side so it looks rolled? May stand corrected.

Where can I send mine to have done by you? Great job. I expect you'll break all the edges, and patinate with some ammonia, will look fantastic.

Agree. Occam's Razor. These are fakes. There is very little to zero chance that any of these were made during the war or by Chinese for the Japanese. I know we don't like to be brutal and blunt, but facts are facts and giving false hope is really counter-productive.

Definitely a real Japanese sword, hand forged and antique. Adding spurious signatures is a tradition going back many hundreds of years, it is very very common. There are various reasons, you can read about them in the FAQ above the forum.

I think that's the most "heart" likes I've seen on a post. Guess that indicates exactly how gorgeous this blade is. Congrats!

Condition is faaar from bad. Minimal rust (get some oil on that blade) and a visible hamon. Enough to enjoy as is, until someone wants to spring for a proper polish if it warrants it. Where in the US are you, so we can see if there is someone near who can give an opinion?