Ganko

Welcome to the NMB Arnel and thanks for your service from another vet USASA 1966-1970

I like Hideshige

That swordsmiths name is "Raiko', a Kaga koto smith. Listed in Hawley as RAI1

It is kind of like bell bottom pants. :-)

Looks legitimate to me.

I had no problem going to his website.

Shoki and the demon is a favorite motif of mine.

Heat it with a hair dryer for a bit.

I think the menuki are quivers with arrows in them.

Nice looking tsuba.

Nice work Jon.

I prefer 3 and 4

Pictures won't open.

Looking at the white spaces, I still have a preference for #1(without the shakudo fills around the seppa dai). #2 is pretty close, #4 are just not well balanced to my eyes #3 It's rim is not concentric with the nakago ana. Out of balance

#1 and #2 are almost identical in form and quality except #1 has had shakudo fillers added around the seppa dai to increase it's diameter to match a saya and fuchi. This spoils the appearance and balance of the composition. The should have used a proportionately larger tsuba for mounting. #3 has fat and flat tree trunks which are too large and out of balance. #4 is not detailed or finely finished enough but, it is still better than #5 whose kogai ana is also poorly shaped. I think #1 may be the best one if all the shakudo fillers are removed. #2 is almost as good as #1

Good looking sword, enjoy it.

We are all patiently waiting, knowing that Markus will do an exemplary job on it.

Appears to have a Nambokucho shape, quite desirable if it is.

I believe it is Fujiwara Masayasu saku an Owari smith who worked around 1673.

I believe the original rim was sawn with a jewelers saw all around the upper periphery with the portion the legs are on left intact. The sawn area was then bifurcated and bent downward to form the stand. That is evident by the cracking at the 90 degree junction. Where it was sawn you can also see file marks that clean up the sawn areas. Also there is a hint of some masame like lines at the bent area. It makes an interesting display piece. Personally I would rather have it in it's original configuration.

Looks like lots of good activities in it. Shinshinto or maybe Shinto?

Many years ago,I was told by Kazushige Tsuruta of Aoi Arts "You should collect money, not swords". Obviously I did not heed his advice. No regrets.

I cannot really see the habuchi due to the heavy kesho. FYI, I found a good way to photograph both sides at the same time by placing a mirror alongside the blade with the blades edge up.

Markus' 3 volume set is done very well and the write ups on the smiths are great, but there are a few smiths omitted. Yazu Kizu was very thorough in the compilation that he did for Hawley, but there is minimal info on the smiths.

Appears to be a later cast copy, the mold flashing that Dale has highlighted makes it quite obvious.