miner1436

other side of the kiyohisa nakago: http://img41.imageshack.us/i/uniforms038.jpg/ Rich r.

More pics of kiyohisa: http://img24.imageshack.us/i/uniforms027.jpg/ http://img685.imageshack.us/i/uniforms026.jpg/ http://img29.imageshack.us/i/uniforms028.jpg/ Do you think this blade could be from this smith? http://nihontoclub.com/smiths/KIY87 Should be getting pics of the other side of the kiyohisa nakago tomorrow. Rich r.

Hey guys, I am considering buying this blade, but I was wondering if you could help me out with the translation of the nakago? http://img249.imageshack.us/i/uniforms029.jpg/ And what do you think of this,ō-suriage? or just late WWII crudeness? http://img29.imageshack.us/i/uniforms031.jpg/ Thanks Rich r.

I think I have maybe found this "Minamoto Kanemori", he is either the 2nd or 3rd smith on this page: http://nihontoclub.com/view/smiths/list ... to_one=245 It says both of these guys are in a Hawley book, does anybody have this book, and if so, can you post more info on them? Thanks Rich r.

Ok so I was examining my Gunto's Tsuka today, and I was looking in between the ito and noticed some paper with blue kanji on it. Of course I am not going to unwrap the ito just to read it, but is this common? And if so, what did the paper normally say? Thanks, Rich R.

Hello all, I recently picked up a nice gendai Gunto, and thanks to the members here the mei was translated to: 菊一文字源包守作 - Kiku Ichimonji Minamoto Kanemori saku. I was wondering if there was any info on this swordsmith, I have only ever seen one other blade by him. Here is what we know so far: here is some info by Doctor Takeuchi from Swordforum International: "However, the problem is that those lists use the tosho's real surname combined with their art first name, and this particular tosho signed his mei using his art surname (Minamoto [Œ¹]) and art first name (Kanemori[•ïŽç]). In fact, I am still unable to find "Kanemori[•ïŽç]" with any surname in the Japanese versions of "Army Ranking List" (Tosho Iretsu Hyo) selected by Kurihara, Hikosaburo and published by then Tosho Kyokai or in "Seki Tanrensho tosho" list compiled by Jinsoo Kim (on his internet site)... I was not able to find this particular "Kanemori" in Tosho zenshu (Shimizu, 1996) nor in the list of currently active gendai-tosho by Tsuchiko (1999), either. As I mentioned in my previous post, it is a common knowledge among Nihon-to circle that when you see two tosho who share the same surname (be it art surname or real) AND one character of their art first name (i.e., less common "Kane[•ï]" in this case), chances are that those two tosho are closely related either biologically/through marriage (in case of sharing the real surname) or apprenticeship (in case of sharing the same art surname). In some cases, the two tosho may actually be the same individual as some tosho changed their art (first) names occasionally while retaining one character yet replacing another in their "niji (two character) mei" for various reasons (e.g., Miyaguchi "Ikkansai" Yasuhiro/Toshihiro[–õL/ŽõL]) (Kishida, 2000; Shimizu, 1996; Tsuneishi, 1990). According to Tosho Zenshu (Shimizu, 1996), there is a Showa era gendai tosho by the name Moriguchi Jiro (a student of late Miyamoto, Kanenori and Kasama, Shigetsugu) who used the art name Minamoto Kaneharu [Œ¹ •ïŽ¡] (with the same "Kane[•ï]" character with the one in his teacher's art name and the one in this particular "Kanemori"), who actively made many shingun-to during WW2. For the reasons I explained above, I still suspect that there may be some connection between this particular tosho "Minamoto Kanemori" and Moriguchi Jiro (= Minamoto Kaneharu) who worked during the same time period.... Regarding "Yasuki hagane," here is an interesting piece of information for those who are interested in Japanese officers' swords. According to existing record, the Ministry of Imperial Army of Japan also decided to look into the possible use of the famous "Yasuki hagane" (i.e., Yasuki Shiro-gami 3 go = Yasuki hagane type "white paper" model No.3) in their production of high-end zohei-to (gun-to that conformed to the military specs, but made not only by the jumei but also by private tosho), despite the fact that "Yasuki steel" was very expensive and not suitable to be use for production of gun-to. As a matter of fact, in 1939 Army Production Laboratory in Kokura ordered several civilian tosho in Iwakuni-cho, Ymaguchi, pref. to produce zohei-to in some sort of "san-mai" construction using this "Yasuki steel" as the ha and smelted Japanese steel as the cover (Troll, 1998). Existing records of Imperial Army lab tests indicate that those "Yasuki Hagane" swords performed as well as other conventional and mass-produce gun-to in "maru-kitae" construction in terms of cutting ability and edge holding, though they would eventually brake (instead of taking a set) during the impact tests on the side and on the mune. (For specific information on the testing procedure, see Troll, 1998). In the official Army report, the identities of those civilian tosho who supplied the "Yasuki hagane" test blades were kept confidential to minimize any bias in favor of or against particular tosho (Troll, 1998). Therefore, I have no information to substantiate if this "Minamoto Kanemori" was one of them..." Tang: http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2663/scan0010v.jpg http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6044/scan0011l.jpg Blade: http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/7420/scan0013qz.jpg http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8052/scan0012o.jpg Any information on the smith would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Rich R.

Ok, do you know of any polishers I could contact? Thanks, Rich r.

Do you think it is too worn to be polished? Rich r.

Hello, I have been offered the chance to buy this wakizashi, but there is no signature or date, can anybody tell me how old it is and if it can be restored with a full polish? Blade mesaures 24 inches total with a 19 inch cutting cutting edge. http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/505/73288356.jpg http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/8858/53812927.jpg http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/5744/56768698.jpg http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/720/92847431.jpg http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/5571/70872666.jpg http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/5616/54322244.jpg http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/3246/21905793.jpg http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/524/97166201.jpg Any info appreciated. Thanks, Rich R.

Ok, I don't have a camera capable of taking quality pictures so I will try to describe the problem the best I can. A couple of weeks ago I bought a great WWII Gendai Katana, it seemed flawless to me until I discovered a very small 1 inch long crack ruinning along the mune, I think this is called a ware? Do you think this is repairable? Or is it a fatal flaw? The crack is so thin you could barley fit a hair through it. Thanks, Rich

Intresting, do you have any idea how much this sword in full army mounts without scratches or pitting/rust/chips would be worth? Rich

Wow, that explains a lot, thanks! Is there a way to know if the blade is made of yasuki steel? Thanks, Rich

I noticed those scans didn't come out all that well, hopefully these are better. Thanks for the info so far. Also, how much do you think a blade like this is worth? http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6065/scan0015af.jpg http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/7978/scan0016d.jpg Thanks, Rich

Some more pics if it helps: http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/7420/scan0013qz.jpg http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/8052/scan0012o.jpg Rich

Could somebody translate this Mei please? And if possible tell me a little about the smith? And when it was made if it has the date? The blade is from a shin gunto I bought online recently. http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/6044/scan0011l.jpg http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2663/scan0010v.jpg Thanks, Rich