Doug

Hi Greg, I’m not sure exactly what you’re asking, I would think that papers would actually be reassuring to new collectors. I (and I’m sure others on this board)have at least a few blades that I haven’t bothered to paper because I am confident by the mei and workmanship that they are what they say they are and I have no plan to sell them soon. If I was selling them I would consider papering to increase the range of buyers. I think price is also a factor. No matter how good a blade looked if it was 8-10K and upward I would feel better with an NBTHK/NTHK imprimatur. Just my thoughts, not sure if that addresses your question, the paper issue has been well hashed and I’m sure opinons will vary. Doug

They are indeed awesome. I’m probably reading way too much into this but the one man and cock seem so much more serene then the other I couldnt help but be reminded of a Chinese tale by Chuang Zhu: Chi Hsing Tzu was a trainer of fighting cocks for King Hsuan. He was training a fine bird. The king kept asking if the bird was ready for combat. “Not yet”, said the trainer. “He is full of fire. He is ready to pick a fight with every other bird. He is vain and confident of his own strength.” After ten days he answered again, “Not yet. He flares up when he hears another bird crow.” After ten more days, “Not yet. He still gets that angry look and ruffles his feathers.” Again ten days. The trainer said, “Now he is nearly ready. When another bird crows, his eyes don’t even flicker. He stands immobile like a block of wood. He is a mature fighter. Other birds will take one look at him and run.”

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/3909-gimei-and-the-lazy-genius/ A great thread started by Reinhard I stumbled across that I thought interesting and relevant.

Hopefully Mr. Robertshaw will weigh in but I think the “chippy” look might be a trick of the light source as the mei characteristics seem spot on to me, albeit I’m without my books as well. If gimei I I think a very good one and look forward to different pictures and shoshin mei side by sides.

Edit: I meant hollyhock mon Search “hollyhock mon mei”pretty famous classic mei shouldn’t give you too much trouble

Id say gimei but it doesnt really appear to me to be trying to be THE Sukenao aside from some slight flourish in the suke which i feel is rather artfully handled. Blade and nakago look newer to my eyes Is there any known gendaito smiths by this name? Doug

According to Seigen Ishin (Ch'ing-yüan Wei-hsin): "Before a man studies Zen, to him mountains are mountains and waters are waters; after he gets an insight into the truth of Zen through the instruction of a good master, mountains to him are not mountains and waters are not waters; but after this when he really attains to the abode of rest, mountains are once more mountains and waters are waters." (D. T. Suzuki, Essays in Zen Buddhism, First Series, 1926, London; New York: Published for the Buddhist Society, London by Rider, p. 24.)

Obviously should be seen in hand but given the nakago color in the pics, the random utsuri-like blotchiness in the ji and feel of the habuchi leads me to think sai-ha. I hate saying that and hope to be wrong but just has that feel for me. Doug

Ah Bruce, well said, oh that I could be so deferential. Yes, the engineers I know speak succinctly and respectfully, especially when discussing matters in which they are admittedly ignorant. I've seen this same pout in various iterations on this and other boards and it never fails to disappoint. I frankly feel we are owed an apology for a "rant" typed knowing it "would upset even more people" and yet was sent anyway. Sans apology, adieu to you sir.

Oleg, I, like Stephen, would also qualify my response as my unqualified opinion only. That said, given the overall correct shape for period, the well cut not commonly forged mei, and most importantly the outstanding horimono, I would be extremely surprised if this turned out to be gimei. If it was for sale I'd certainly take a chance. Doug

Gang, Since we're just having fun ,I'm going to side with Jean C. and say Naotane Den utshushi. "Heavy in the hand"with a 7.5mm kasane pretty healthy for koto, and something about the sunagashi otherwise just a feeling :-)! Doug

If it were me, I would use a cut off chopstick as a nailset to drive the apparent mekugi out but if that didn't work I would not be against using padded pliers and cracking the core open, slip the handachi kashira off, and see if opening it from the bottom helps. ANYTHING to avoid drilling as I would think it's highly like you would mar the nakago. New handle not a big deal, repatination and moving metal are. Just my thoughts. Doug

Picasso hori do saku? :D

I have to give credit to Mr. David Pepin senior and subsequently Andy Quirt for my interest in nihonto. 1983, thirteen years old, and jet father bellows "come here boys"! We scurry to the kitchen,my brother and me, and my dad shows us a late war 7.7 Arisaka. Turns out it came out of a blind that had been leaning against the wall, fell and unrolled in the small room under our basement stairs. After our oohs and ahhs had subsided he reached around the corner and produced a Type 44 with tan saya and olive drab tsuka. My mouth dropped at the drawing of that blade. Some weeks later , while perusing our monthly Smithsonian, I saw an ad (David Pepins)for "Japanese swords: 200-10,000 dollars paid! We'll by golly, I sent off for my "kit" and filled out my form as perfectly as a 12 year old could. The instructions did not mention the possibility of TWO mekugi so I ended up damaging the wrap but managed to produce a nakago rubbing on the provided EKG paper. Apparently my showato Nobumitsu was not in high demand but it got me to wondering; what sword WOULD command 10,000 dollars? There was almost NO info available back then but I read every tidbit I could get my hands on. I met Andy Quirt at a hotel buy and he graciously translated a shinshinto Mei for me. He thankfully , understood my more than passing curiosity and proceeded at various times to teach me has been a great mentor ever since. He did not spoon feed me however as so many new to this field seem to desire. I would read, think, and THEN humbly ask what I hope were thoughtful questions. Always the fair and consummate gentleman, he NEVER made me feel stupid but he expected me to do my homework. I went on to find a Satsuma Motohira, and a Hankei, mainly due to his encouragement and support. Life's dealings have made it too long since we have spoken, but I would like to publicly thank him for the gift of his time, knowledge, and friendship, I hope to speak with and see him again soon. To the newbies, this community is replete with people who will freely and gladly share their knowledge with you but please do them the respect of learning what you can on your own, they, and this passion so sacred to us, demands it of you. Doug

Paul, sorry to say but I am in the gimei camp. Without even getting out a book for comparison the hand is way too unsteady and unconfident. Additionally, the yasurime is rather sloppily done, shoshin would be much more precise. Fittings can also be a big clue; guys of this caliber were thought well of in their own time and typically would have koshirae befitting the quality of the blade. Just my thoughts, nice tanto nonetheless! Doug