Ed Hicks

The first tsuba maker's name? Thanks. Ed

School and Mei information on tsuba request I have a customer who asked about these and I have no expertise in this area. Any details on school and maker would be most helpful Thanks for looking. Ed

I mistakenly posted the mei as Nobukuni...I posted without looking at which sword I was working on...The first kanji is what I meant to ask about, the second is Nobu unless I missed that too. Ed

Ubu tang

Koto wakizashi in good overall condition with strong hada and hamon and should stand a polish well...Not researched, but it is a quality blade...Photos stink, but that's all I was given so far.

Thanks. I am familiar with the forge, but not with this smith (I likely read it wrong). Ed

Grant, This is a bit of an odd one. It appears to have hada and a hamon. I have owned other swords with anchor stamps that were apparent hybrids with mixed steel. Ed

Nice Naval Officer's Sword...If anyone has a reference for this sword smith please let me know. Thanks for looking. Ed

Surrender tag translation needed...any help is appreciated and thanks for looking. Ed

I know Jimmy and Moses, but I don't think I've seen the others work. Ed

Thanks, Brian. Can I think it over? Ed

I'm about 20 years behind on having swords polished. Suggestions for polishing this one?

Yes, along with about two dozen that need to be polished! I'm not sure who to use this time. Ed

This sword did well in the shinsa-78 points.

Horimono

John, thanks for the translations. Ed

Thanks, Steve, Corection, Katsumitsu...I was messing with a Sukemune paper and transposed names. The other papers do not have that red seal on the right which made me curious. This is a really good sword and Chris Bowen went over the work sheet with me, but this looks different. Ed

Sukemitsu NTHK-NPO Kanteisho Paper Translation Help Needed...Translation needed for the main points. What is the red seal on the right side? I have posted a paper of another sword without that seal for comparison. Thanks for looking and for assistance. Ed

NTHK-NPO Shinsa Paper

Blade is unsigned and partially of stainless steel...Well tempered with clear hada, but edges are scratched from light sharpening attempt...My initial thought before removing the handle was that it was a sword tip.

It was a gift post war written in English on the opposite side: from K. Takizawa Governor Yokohama Prison November 1945 to Mr. Erickson

Tanto Sayagaki translation needed. Thanks for the help. Ed

A couple of interesting observations have been posted. The dagger I posted has not been refinished, is not a fanciful reproduction and I believe it is just an exceptional example of a pre 1945 dirk. I have not seen a reproduction of this model or any repro military daggers that approach the quality. This my opinion based on my research and experience, of course. I've owned many WWII era swords and daggers in better condition than this one. For comparison if anyone has seen a portion of Mike Quigley's collection you'll find many mint military mounts of the highest quality and near new condition. Ed

Thanks for the help, I wasn't even close.

A client sent this signature and I am stumped on this WWII mei...I think ____ Iye saku, but I can't read it. Thanks for any assistance. Ed