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Guys these are very nice pictures, I am going to get another review of the sword in the next two weeks or so and make some decisions about it and what I am going to do with it until the Shinsa, Ultimate goal being a new polish from an experience polisher, expensive for sure, and then we will see. If it is a Soshu Yukimitsu, we shall see and if it isn't it is still a beautiful sword that deserves care and a good resting spot for a few more years. Thanks again for the information Steve M.

I was finally able to get some better pictures of the blade with the grain and hamon visible. The background makes alot of difference obviously. I agree that in order to judge the sword it must be compared with one of it's kind and by someone that has held one before. Having never held one of this nature I can tell you it is a treat. I hope to get it to a shinsa in the near future to set aside any doubt as to it's maker.As to the name Honami Koson not being a landmark in todays Nihonto I can not say. Thank you again for the interest and observations. Steve M.

Eric, Thanks for the response I am in the process of taking new photos of the blade to see if I can get a better view of the grain. It is very tight and my camera skills appear to be lacking. It is surely user error. I am also working on some other saya information. I can't rely on it of course and I appreciate the opinions on it. Feel free to investigate it further and let me know. Steve M.

Edward G. The tsuba is a beautiful peice of work, looking forward to seeing what information you find out about it. Steve M.

Thanks, that is good to know, Rich, I have been trying to get on your web site, Japanese Sword Index today but can't get it to come through. I was looking for some tsuba information and general knowledge for future reference. May just be my server or something like that. Thanks again guys my cousin will be happy with the information as I am. Steve M.

Thanks guys, so the blade and mounts don't match up. If I understand correctly it's a manufactured blade and not hand made 100 percent. It does have file marks but the rust isn't that old in appearance. Guess someone mounted it differently after its production. Tsuba is heavy and unsigned, appears to have been cut to fit the blade. The fittings are nicely decorative but I believe they are also cast. Thanks again. Steve M.

Afternoon everyone, I recently received a sword with a showa stamp on it and various inscriptions, It belongs to a family member and they are looking for the history of the sword and its translation. It is not in great condition but could be managed into nice shape should they decide to do so. I have included several photos of the Nakago and blade itself. The hamon is faint but it is there, I am not sure of the quenching process on this blade. Upon consulting with a close friend we both felt that it would be well within the expertise of the members of the board to translate it if it can be done. I did not post it on the translation site as of yet because it is a military sword and I feel it should be here first. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.. Steve M.

Sorry didn't mean to leave you out of the thanks Dirk. Steve M.

Good morning Jean, Glad you stopped by for a look, if I am not asking to much could you give me an opinion on the blade and such. I have other photos posted on the Nihonto main page under old period Katana. I am really enjoying the expert imput from you guys. If I get this to the shinsa next year and it passes it will have a lot of history.. Thanks ahead of time and to all responses. Franco, Moriyama San and Edward G. Steve M.

Franco, Moriyama San and Dirk, Thank you all very much, translation class has begun. That is a lot of information, and several names I have not heard in reference to this sword. It is attributed to Saeki Norishige and mentions Soshu Yukimitsu and has several dates on it along with a value placed by Honami Koson which is not normal and was owned by Yumura Tatsujiro , a government official at one time. Keeping alll this in mind I will be making a shinsa at some point in the next year with sword in hand. As stated before it is a beautiful sword to hold and admire at any given time. One last question though is there any reason it would mention two smordsmiths that both were pupils of Masamune, and I have found out that Norishige was junior to Yukimitsu in the student ranking. Is it possible that one tutored the other in the making of the sword? Just another thought. Thanks you again Steve M.

Thats interesting, Honami Koson has been said before, can you explain the value of 150 gold peices. I was told the sword resembled ones created by Soshu Yumimitsu, and who is Yumura Tatsujiro. What does the 12th year Hinoto-Usi? i know it's a lo of questions about one sword but thank you again for the help Steve M.

Afternoon, I posted this sword under the general Nihonto section and got great feedback from the guys on the blade and a little on the saya I also began thinking I should have posted it here also for the translations on the saya. The sword is an unsigned Koto period blade in old Japanese polish, with a bright hamon, mumie, 28" cutting edge. a deep sori and 3-holes in the Nakago. The active inscriptions in the saya have a lot of history in them and I am trying to get it translated and working on it myself as well. It would be great to have the history of the sword and saya. I will get it to the shinsa next year when the details of one become available. Thanks in advance. Steve M.

Ed, Not being well versed in Japanese but still holding a great admiration for beauty I must say that this a beautiful sword with a very handsome grain pattern and blade shape. Good luck with the translation. Steve M.

Thank guys for the information I am going to try to make it one way or the other. I was able to finally get a close up photo of the blade which shows some of the grain, the sword is in good polish but not 100 percent for sure, any response is welcome.. Steve

Morning, I see the other attachments of the saya, are there any other saya photographs that have the inscriptions that are on the photos I submitted or are they just various information about the possible various owners and possible details of the sword. If so can you post the sites for me. I'm learning a little more each day about it.Thanks... Steve M.

I wanted to go to this one but the timing was off for me and that is a long trip. If you could kindly let me know where the next one is in the US next year, hopefully it will be posted and I will get to it. There is a lot to lean about this sword and I have only just begun to unlock its secrets. I may never be able to read the saya fully but it will make for great history lesson. Please keep the insight coming. Thanks Steve M.

Thank you for your referenceing, I have friend who studies swords look at it and he placed the time of it's making in possibly the Koto period, it is a very elegant sword and feels very natural to hold. I know that my late uncle brought it back with him after the war but Im not sure of its origins before that. I will try to get better photos if I can. I take all comments and knowledge on this blade.... Steve M.

Evening all, I am posting my family given sword for any knowledge on it. It is unsigned other than the many inscriptions on the Shira Saya, it has a gold foil 2 piece habaki with hi extending from the end of the nakago past the mitsukado. The blade is in old polish and had a bright hamon, mumei, a deep sori and 3 holes in the nakago and the length is 28". I am working to get the inscriptions translated but have been told that is to old for some of the translators I have spoken to. What I have learned about it is listed above and from a close friend that has way more knowledge than myself. If anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it. I was going to take it to shinsa but the time came on me to soon to plan it. I still will take it when I can but in the mean time any help would be great. I posted the photos in the links below. Thanks in advance. Steve

Gentlemen, Two rights do make a right, and believe me when I say the sword will be very well preserved and looked after with great care. I wouldn't have it any other way. All this help has made we want my other possible koto period sword out for review for you guys. It is unsigned but in a very actively covered shira saya I believe one inscription on is is Sukesada but the others are very old. I may post it later this evening if you are interested, please let me know. Thanks again for sharing you knowledge with me. Steve M.

Thank you very much I just got real confused but it is opening my eyes. Two makers for one blade, is that normal for the time period and now I am really confused about the possible dating of it. I appreciate the knowledge your sharing with me and I will keep researching on the sword and take all information given to heart.. Steve M.

Mr. Morita Thank you again I was able to find it in the Nihonto guide and found the top right four inscriptions for Hikosaka Akiyoshi which was the AKI 123. I thank you again. Steve M.

Thank you very much for the assistance it was very useful. I do not have the book you identified but I do have access to Hawley and was wondering which of the makers he might have been in this reference book. I have identified Aki 121 or 123 in the Hawley reference guide. If you are able to translate the other inscriptions I would greatly appreciate it. There is so much on it and I am not sure what they each represent and the age of the writing seems to be a factor for me. Let me know if you have time to do, thank you again this puts me on a different road but I am still going forward.. Steve M.

Thanks for the help Ed I hope I did it justice with the photos. Steve

Evening, I am new to the site and swords in general though I have always had an interest in them. I received my first by way of a family member and have purchased another. I have been able to idenitfy some of the inscription on the Nakago but there is so much on it that it is overwhelming. A close friend of mine was able to idenify Naomichi as the signature on it but we are not real clear on the rest of the inscription. I am really interested in the history of the sword so I am posting it for the experts. The tsuba is signed " Masafusa" on the left and " Bushu ju " on the right, we have figured that part out at least. It is a beautiful sword and I am really intersted in it's inscription. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated to say the least. I have tried attaching photos with a link but they may not turn out well. If not I will try again, thanks Steve M.