kuromido

Hi Jason, Please tell me you are screwing with us!! I dont want to offend but those are glaring examples of tourist junk. Question, Have you ever seen in any book on Japanese armor or swords a gleaming mirror chrome kabuto? Or a nihonto with mirror polished hada AND hamon? or a genuine tsuba with no patina? Books,shows,museums and study are the key my friend. With sincere appreciation for your passion and no insult intended, Cheers, PeterD

Hi, A lot of us "choke up on it" or try to get the best/largest shot by getting real close while taking a picture. A better way for me seems to pull back just until the picture is in complete focus in the screen then once taken crop it to enlarge. Also if you shoot in the next higher dpi and pull back as described or even a little further, then crop. You should end up with a sharp pic of the size needed. I hope this helps, PeterD

Hi Chris, Thanks for all the information. I looked it up in my kanji book and can see it now. Had the blade in hand today and it was a showato for sure. Once again, Thanks for your help, Sincerely, PeterD

Hello all, Have been offered this sword but dont have it in hand. I cant get anywhere with the mei. can anyone help with it and possibly something on the smith? Thanks in advance for your help. PeterD

From another novice, I think it’s the same tsuba. Probably a modern copy. The copper plating or inlay seriously overruns the arm onto the plate above the elbow and the plate looks too shiny and or waxy to me. Ok now where’s that darn crow??? PeterD

Hello reinhard and once again Thank you for your help, Do you have any suggestions on how you would crosscheck it? I found one kozuka on the net with mei and it is close but not exact. The strokes are slightly different but are all in the proper directions. I tried the jsl index but nothing for egawa Sorin , Sorin, or egawa masatoshi which is said to be another of his art names. I am still digging but if you (or anyone) can give any leads I would appreciate it. Also, I am now more curious about picture 2 than before. Can anyone help? Once again Thanks, PeterD

Hello All, Can anyone help with this kozuka translation? Here is as close as I can get. Pic one, Right hand line: Nobugawa munemichi +kao (probably wrong) Left hand line: Gyonen shichi ju ichi okina or “aged 71 years old” Pic two, Shimosa ori jo ? mura cho koku ? Any help with the translation or the maker would be of great help. Thanks, PeterD

Hello All, I am with andreas on the odd rust on the nakago. I looks to me that in pics 15 & 17 that the rust "overlaps" the polish ,rather than being removed by it. I also find the bright and off-angled scratches between the habaki area and going under the rust strange. It seems like recent work to me. Maybe to pretty up the heavy thinning of the blade into the nakago by polishing? I am a novice so please take this opinion for what its worth. Sincerely, PererD

Hi All, does anyone have a kinko meikan or other reference willing to give me a stsrt on this one? I have dug as far as I can and ---zip Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, PeterD

Everyone, I must love the taste of shoe leather! I am now looking forward to seeing this tomorrow. Stephen, if I end up with it I will be sure to post some better pics. Rich, Thanks for your amazing sword guide and your and others work on this swordsmith. I would like very much to get your take on this one with better pictures. Again Sincerely, Peter D

Hi All, Can I get some help with this mei. I can't find any of the kanji and actually think they look fake. I would not give it a much time if it were not for the blade and mounts which do look genuine. These pics are all I have seen of it so far but will have the sword in hand on thursday. What do you make of it? I Thank you all for your help and input. Sincerely, Peter D

Hello Barry, Any chance of a picture of the blade? Peter D

Hello Morita-san, Thanks for the quick response. I had the first kanji and knew that it also could be "taka" but it did not seem right to me. Its hard when I cant even get close on a 2 kanji mei. Back to the books, Sincerely, Peter D

Hello everyone, Can anyone help with this one? I believe it reads either Koitsu or Kotetsu but don’t feel confident about either. Also would anyone have info on the maker? Thanks to all , Peter D

Ah, so that's what its for. Thanks Brian. Peter D

Hello Morita-san, I for one would find this very helpful and adding the kanji even more so. Good luck with the project and Thanks Sincerely, Peter D

Sorry for the typos!! That is what I get for not checking. Peter D

Hi Franco, Thanks for the post and the link. I dont have that book but if anyone does I sure would like to see those examples. At any rate , Thanks for the help. Cheers, Peter D

"Only if the work is correct, like swords, its the workmanship that confirms the mei and not the other way around." Hello franco, I fully understand and agree with your statement. I am trying to find pictures of his work in various stages in his career as well as oshigata in same. (Any further contributions would be helpful.) Thanks for the link as well. I will research it further first but, it would be a great expieriance for me to send it for papers (however it turns out) if it all looks good. THKS again, Peter D BTW, How do you cut the quote like that???

Dear Franco , Ludolf and curren, I thank you all for your interest and input. Viewing the reference that ludolf posted I noticed that even with the very different mei on each, the kao is pretty much the same as mine. Do you think that this adds anything to the possibility that this the hand of Ichijo? I have several fuchi with only a Kao, Is there a compilation of Kao with artists out there somewhere? Also at the risk of going long, Can you give me any guidance on the process of getting it papered. I know it has to be sent to Japan but have no idea how one goes about it. I liked this one a lot when I got it for the imagery and workmanship. I only now know more to who “possibly” made it. ALL your help is greatly appreciated, Peter D

Hi Curren, sorry for the delay in responding, Here is a picture of the front I neglected to post. Forgive me; I have done this several times in translation assistance being focused on the kanji. I purchased 3 kozuka around a year ago and all had a very thin coating of clear lacquer over them? This is why the piece looks a bit slick and the cutting flat. I had never seen this done before but strangely only a few months later I previewed the oct 22 bonhams sale in person and noticed that a very important Yasuchicka kozuka # 3079 was treated the same way. Part of the group of 3 is the Haruaki Hogan kozuka I posted not far back. I had removed the lacquer on that piece before seeing the Bonhams one and decided to leave the others alone for now even though I really don’t like it. These pieces were collected many years ago and treasured by their former owner. Please let me know what your thoughts are Here or PM and don’t be afraid to be critical. Thanks very much for your input on this and my other posts, Sincerely, Peter D PS. Marcus, Thanks for the info. I just was looking in “sword fittings in the field Museum.” And found that you are correct about Goto Ichijo. Using Mitsuyuki and several other art names. Where did you find that info and especially about the ages of use? Very interesting info. Does anyone have a pic of a genuine mei and kao for Goto Ichijo? Q: What does anyone think about removing the lacquer? Brian, dont shoot me for the long winded post, I will keep it shorter.

Hello morita , Thanks for your amazingly fast response. Does anyone have any information on this maker? Possibly a picture / rubbing of his signature and Kao? I think he is a big name, should I expect it is gimei? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Peter D

Curren, I too like this type of tsuba, but can see how it might be viewed as somewhat generic in style. I see what you mean about papering this piece. It doesn’t really make much sense to spend the time and money to be told again what is pretty much clear. Thanks again for your input! Pete, would you like mastercard or visa?? Cheers, Peter D

Hello all, can anyone help with this translation. I believe it is : Ki ? mitsuyuki Kao but am not sure. Also, is this kanji gyosho or sosho Or just a free hand? Thanks for all of your help, Sincerely, Peter D

Hi curren, That is a nice tsuba. Thanks for defining the age, I was not sure if it was ko-mino or later. Do you remember if freds was carved on the edges as well? John, I looked it over with a loupe and there are no gold remnants anywhere, I see what you and James saw in the pictures but it is actually rub-off of the patina in some of the high spots. This is also carved very deep and sharp with highly raised areas in places. Does anyone think this one is worthy of being papered like freds? Thanks, Peter D