David McDonald

Morita Sama Thanks you for the information. later david

try this

Now for the images?? Sorry having trouble posting the images.

Dear All I am trying to get a translation of a paper that is with a sword in kaigunto mounts signed Seki stamp Noshu ju Yamaguchi Sadayoshi 濃州住山口貞善 In the picture of a sword being shown to Admirals Nimitz and Mitscher the Sadayoshi is in the background the paper is in the foreground. Any thoughts? Thanks david

Dear Charlie I agree with Mark 昭和六年五月 Showa roku nen go gatsu Sorry but I can not read the other side. later david

Dear Rob I understand but with issues I have had in the past this works. So if description sound interesting email me at jswords@mcn.net and I will email some images and answer any questions. later david

Dear Juliun Please email me at jswords@mcn.net and I will email some images. later david

Dear Jim Please email me at jswords@mcn.net So that I can send some images. later david

Dear Brandon Using the back of Nihonto Meikan index the following smiths used Etchu (no) Kami Kanekuni 包国 Kanemori 包盛 Kuniyoshi 国吉 Sadayoshi 貞幸 takahira 高平 Masatoshi 正俊 I hope this helps later david

Dear All So far I have -- with lots of help! Fuchi Kaianji (quiet sea temple) 海晏寺 (read left to right) Kō Kaede (Red Maple). 紅楓 (read left to right) Kaianji temple was a spot in Edo (Shinagawa) that is/was famous for its autumn foliage viewing of the red maple.　So the red/crimson maple leaf and other leaf with the gourd (sake bottle) would be what you would see at the viewing in the autumn. Thanks Morita-san for your help. This is very interesting and I always enjoy learning more about how themes are put together on Japanese swords. Now to work on your information on the kashira to understand what it means. Anyone have any thought on the right hand side of the fuchi with the smiths signature on the left hand side? 抱一公賀？ Hō kazu kō ga ? is what I see??? thanks again later david

Dear John Thanks very interesting. This evening in Legend in Japanese Art I found the story as you photo'ed above. He did not have a banner so grabbed a gourd and tied it to a pole. And then added a gourd for ever win. So that he had a Banner of 1000 Gourds (Sen Nari Hisago) as his standard. But I was wondering why he would have 6 katana in his obi??? later david

Dear Malcolm Thanks. So from the internet I see that a gourd (Hyotan) was used as a sake flask and they do have that nice red color as found on the fuchi. So is Toyotomi Hideyoshi know to carry sake flasks?? later david

Dear All I bought a mounted wakizashi (O-tanto) at the Minneapolis sword show. The Shinogi-zukuri blade with high shinoji is 12 ¼ inch (31.1 cm) long with a gunomi midare in nio hamon. The fuchi is signed by Mito ju Sekijōken Motokazu (H05878.0). I think I have identified some of the kanji on the right hand side but I am unsure what they mean? Any thoughts? Also there are 5 kanji on the side of the fuchi and 8 kanji on the kashira. I am unsure what any of these kanji are. Thoughts? The fuchi has a red gourd with maple leaves and the kashira has a samurai with a naginata? Is there a story here? If more images are needed please let me know. Thanks for any help David jswords@mcn.net

Thanks. I was thinking maybe Toshihide?? So is Unshu/Kumohide listed in any books?? I did not find him in either TooTaikan or Nihonto Meikan, did I miss him or is he just not listed. Does anyone have an good sample of his oshigata? Thanks for the help later david

Dear All Picked up this gendaito dated Showa ni ju nen (1945) At some time someone filed the nakogo to fit the shingunto tsuka. And I think Izumo ju ? hide saku 出雲住　秀作 Very active choji midare Any thoughts? later david

sold 14. Katana mumei koto (1400’s) Has saya and habaki. Blade is cracked

dear Stephen Email me and I will send you images. jswords@mcn.net later david

Dear All the following are a group of swords I have for sale. there are no Juyo swords here but some are very nice and some would be good for a martial artist. Number 14 has a number of cracks. If you would like images of one or two sword email me at jswords@mcn.net and I will send them. Questions or if you would like to make an offer also email me at jswords@mcn.net thanks david mcdoanld 1. Naginata, 20.6 inch, Kunitsugu, shinto, 越前大掾藤原国次 The sword is a naginata signed Echizen no Daijo Fujiwara Kunitsughu, Horikawa school. Great sword in full polish with NBTHK papers, with two piece gold foil habaki and shirasaya. This naginata has the vary rare graceful shape of naginata with shobu-zukuri kissaki. Active chu-suguha hotsure in Yamashira tradition with itame to o-itame to mokume hada Kunitsugu worked in Yamashiro around 1648 and is listed as a chujo saku smith in Fujishiro’s book. With letter from Michihiro Tanobe that both the signature and papers are real. In the letter he states the Kunitsugu mei is a very fine specimen. The blade has a NBTHK hozon paper to the first generation Kunitsugu, Kanei period (1624). Horikawa school, tempered down the entire back side until the naginata relief ends. There is the small groove up the blade like most naginata, the large groove is a ken but the middle Groove in the Ken has been polished out Nagasa 20.75" Nakago, 19.25", 2 hole (shira saya has two hole) Old shira saya Asking $3250 inventory 4/13/7 2. Katana 26 3/8 inch Yoshitada 1940’s Tachi omote 肥前国吉忠 - Hizen no Kuni Yoshitada Tachi ura 護国 - Gokoku　– Defense of the homeland A blade in very good polish with itame to masame had and a active suguha with Activity. Mounted in shingunto mounts with a silver wash habaki and brown lacquered saya. Some scratches on the blade. One fukure in the mune area. Asking $2250 inventory #8/16/6 3. Ito-no-maki Tachi, with 26.3 inch blade, (showa stamp) Noshu Seki ju Toki Sukenobu saku The blade is in fair polish with gunome hamon. Mounts are WWII period tachi mounts with new gold brown ito with brown lacquered saya. The tachi sageo is tied on the saya. Tsuka with dragon menuki. Asking $2750 inventory 3/13/1 4. Katana 26 3/8 inch 23rd generation Kanefusa Sho stamp 濃関州住二十三代藤原兼房作之 Noshu Seki ju ni ju san dai Fujiwara Kanefusa saku kore Good blade with gunome hamon some rust staining. Mounted in Shingunto mounts with the koiguchi on the saya having the stamped Parts number PT 282603 and PT 282604, family mon on kashira. Asking $2250 inventory # 8/16/5 5. Katana 27 3/8 inch signed Kawachi no kami Kunesuke. Nice fuchi/kashira of dragons most likely made of shakudo that has been cleaned now is a copper color. Menuki of dragon. All of the same-gawa has been removed and the ito is very weak. Tsuba is iron with a number of open fans. Black saya. Hamon is the kobuchigata (fist-shaped) choji midare. The hamon was started with the 2nd generation but this does not match the 2nd signature so most like 3rd or 4th generation. poor polish with some deaper grinding scratches. asking $1500 6. Katana 27 1/16 inch mumei shinto/shinshinto (might be late koto (sue koto) Fuchi/kashir of mino style with bugs with menuki zodaic animals. with black saya. hamon is gunome with activity. poor polish but you can see the workmanship. One kizu in mune area. asking $950 inventory #4/15/3 7. Wakizashi 18 3/8 inch mumei shinto/shinshinto Good spiny lobster koshirae with menuki and kozaka spiny lobster Nanban iron tsuba with green ito. Asking $1250 inventory # 4/15/3 8. Katana 26 inch Kobayashi Kunimichi 1940’s Poor polish with gunome hamon. Tsuka has iron kashira and brass fuchi with Shishi menuki. WWII shingunto tsuba and modern black lacquered saya. Asking $525 8/16/1 9. Wakizashi 15 inch, Bizen Kuni Yoshii Kiyonori signed and dated 1430 with papers and new polish. (has a folding flaw) Asking $1750 10. Naginata with great polish but gimei signature. Asking $1500 11. Wakizashi 18.6 inch signed kinju (early 1800’s) Kikuichi Monju Kinju 菊一文珠金重 Great hamon with toran-midare with tobiyaki and in very good polish. Asking $1750 12. Jumonji yari, 6 7/8 inch on pole currently restoring pole Heianjo Fujiwari Morikuni Asking $2250 13. Ken, 12 signed Asking $1250 14. Katana mumei koto (1400’s) Has saya and habaki. Blade is cracked Asking $300 15. Katana 25 1/8 inch Kanemune 1940’s Noshu Seki ju Fukumoto Kanemune Civialian mounts Gunome midari hamon Asking $750 6/16/1 16. Katana Kunihiro dated 1942 Late war mounts Asking $650 8/16/4 16. Efu style Tachi koshirae late Edo/Showa period No blade Asking $1150

Dear Bob I would try some sword oil and rub the tsuba down with my hands. This should improve the looks. Then rub lightly with a cloth. Post results and I might be able to add the next step if needed. later david mcdonald ( jswords@mcn.net )

Dear Jordy The tsukamaki is of the hineri-maki style and nicely done. Good luck later david

Dear All I am looking for information on a smith that signed Iki ju Shigemori saku 壱岐住重守作 I would take even information about smiths that worked in Iki. Thanks david mcdonald

Dear SteveM Thanks, interesting reading. later david

Dear All I am trying to translate the kanji on a flag. So far I have ? ? ? 稱Shō 何Ka 大Dai 明myō 神jin Can anyone determine the first three kanji and what is the flag saying? Who would fly this flag? Thanks david mcdonald

Dear Morita Thanks for your thoughts. Would the kanji 海中部 be Kaichūbu or marine division/department? So maybe altogether the 3rdmarine division??? the last missing kanji looks like it is made with the 式 kanji but I am not sure. later david