gtstcactus

I'm pretty sure pieces fail hozon papers these day for reasons other than the maker is still alive...

Ford, thanks for your opinion...... Would the use of seppa not remedy where the habaki would be and how it would relate to the saya and tsuka? I guess as everyone is entitled to an opinion Ford you are entitled to feel it looks modern and amateur, however the good folk at the NBTHK must have felt a little different when they gave it the entry level hozon origami. If I recall right it's supposed to be around 400 years old. When I receive the origami I'll post a scan here.

Hey, I know little can be told from the photos but can anyone tell if it's a modern cast repo? If legit, any likely school?

Hi Keith, The guy is a fellow collector / nihonto enthusiast..... I met him at a militaria auction..... I guess it's a free world and people are entitled to there opinions..... We don't have to agree with them tho! I really do like the suguha hamon!

That's a nice tsuba Thierry!

Pics of the origami to come as soon as the courier brings them and the tsuba to me.... Given that I can't read Japanese, I still won't know what it says exactly! Perhaps the good members will help me there. I know the papers state it's ko-kinko. I wasn't expecting anyone to tell me something the origami won't. I Was just inviting comment on it.....

Also forgot to mention, it's a papered Tsuba. Origami from NBTHK - Hozon origami....

Thierry, You mean wait a few days til it arrives?

Chris, I'm not going to take this the wrong way.... Sometimes I feel you jump down my throat a little harshly tho.... It's my fault I should have worded myself better. I did ask questions of the dealer, (I suspect he's a european living in Japan as a dealer) I asked about how he concluded it to be an edo period sword, he said he thought it older but cautiously stated edo period. I asked on here prior to purchasing about the norimitsu, only to be told none of the norimitsu smiths in bizen osafune signed the way this one did. I also thought osafune was a town which perhaps had more than one sword school. I was well aware he was from Bizen, osafune. I just misunderstood that bizen osafune is only a school not a town with more than one school. So now I know my Norimitsu is from Osafune School in Bizen, could anyone possibly tell me which Norimitsu??? (chris I think in another thread told me no norimitsu on record signed this way) Chris, I did not buy this blindly..... I simply had a minor misunderstanding (aren't us newbies allowed a mistake or 2?) I liked the blade, the sori, the hamon. There is much in this blade I can study, I will benefit from it very much! have I done myself a dis-service with this sword? Is it a shocker best sent to the scrap heap?? It is certainly an improvement for me.... And if I keep improving with each new aquisition I'll keep learning..... Jas

So are you saying it's of sanmei construction? And therefore not made of yamagane? Which means you think it is something other than ko-kinko??? have i understood you correct?

Hey just thought I'd post a pick of my latest Tsuba aquisition..... The pic is the only auction pic I have. The tsuba should arrive in a few days..... I'm told its a ko-kinko work....SIZE = 70 mm tall by 65 mm wide It's made of yamagane... It is NOT a cast repro! There are no cast seams to be seen! I quite like the wave design... I'll post some more pics when I can... Any comments or thoughts?

Thanks for the replies..... He did say it does take great skill to create a good straight suguha, I guess it must just be that he prefers the more flamboyant hamon styles.... The sword he was referring to is pictured in my wakizashi thread in the nihonto forum.... I like them, and will continue to get them if such a hamon is part of something that appeals to me... regards Jas

last ones... The blade does look a little better in person, some of the detail is simply not shown in the photos..... And no I do not have the license / registration.... it was surrendered before leaving Japan...

few more...

more photos

Hi, I've just aquired this wakizashi recently.... It's not "perfect" but I thought it's not to bad.... It came in shirasaya with a perfect fitting habaki. It's ubu, sori 1.4cm, nagasa 44.5cm The mei reads: Bishu osafune junin Norimitsu I'm not sure which norimitsu this is.... or if the mei is gimei. Any help there appreciated! Photos next:

hi folk, A chap had a look at a couple of my swords and said they're ok but they just look like any other sword with one of those suguha hamon..... As if to imply suguha hamons are boring, uninteresting and not worthwhile.... I actually quite like them! Now I realise my swords are not the finest examples in the world..... but what's that about??? Are suguha hamons considered less skillful, inferior or something??? Or have I just encountered someone who perhaps prefers more "flamboyant" hamon I mean I guess you could apply the statement to any sword with a paticular hamon ie that looks like any old sword with a notare hamon...... Jas

Thanks Brian, I can always rely on you to make me feel good! I didn't get them for other people to like them I got them because I like them!!!!! Don't suppose anyone could hazard a guess at possible area / school of manufactuer?

which is considered the better of the two?

Thanks Morita, Was he the only smith by that name active in WWII? I just seen that a sword sold on ebay recently http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=120715375081&nma=true&rt=nc&si=HkIlNMkiJlKkUq1%252BmVa0rToT6NM%253D The naga character is different from the mei I posted (I think). So were there 2 smiths called Hoshiya yoshinaga from seki active in WWII? I greatly appreciate your time and help!

So does it say Seki ju Hoshiya yoshinaga? The only smith in the database from mino is: Yoshinaga Koto, Mino no kuni (Tenmon:1532) Chu-jo saku YOS607 TTp737, ¥2M Would it be this yoshinaga?

Thanks John, What does Issei Tananaki mean? or is it a name / place? I googled it but got no hits....

Thanks John, Do you know what time period this smith was active in? Also any chance you (or someone else) could translate the whole mei for me? The characters are just too busy for me!

Hi Guys, This mei is on a sword in WWII mounts. Can't see any sign of hamon / hada on it. The owner thought it was a machine made blade because no hamon / hada is visible, I thought it might just need a polish. The best I've managed is the last 2 charaters which I think is Kanenaga. Am I right? If I am can anyone identify which one? Did this smith sign machine made blades (surely not)??? I've been thru the kanji pages swordsmith database and can't match the 1st 4 characters, any help would be appreciated!