Cello

I hear what your saying....I've been reading up and attending meetings just looking to see what it would be worth.The only way for me I feel to be able to some what judge the value on swords like this, would be to get opinions of the more advance collectors. cello

Hey all, So I came across this one and wanted to get some advive on value or lack there of.It's being offered to me for sale.I can see it needs work its been rubbed with some steel wool possibly and has a few chips ect.I looks to me "in my newbie opinion" to be koto and has a apox nagasa of 27" seemes to still have a decent ha machi, but shows no yokote? I dont have enough experience to know what a sword like this one's, fair value is?Any help will be appreciated as always..... cello

Has anyone seen this? So is this kin mei a little sloppy or am I seeing things?? http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem ... 9021898704

Hey thanks for the information guys.....Franco I'm pretty new at this would it be possible for you to post some examples? I've searched around and can't seem to find a good picture describing what exactly I'm looking at.The type i have runs directly down the mune about 1/8 in or more and dips down almost to the shinogi in one area.would that be the first type you mentioned?I had a hell of a time capturing it on camera! thx, Marcello

Hi ,maybe someone could help me understand the significance of mune yaki if any.......I know it makes a harder mune for less flexion when heavy cutting is to be done. What I would like to know is; does the presence of it place a higher quality on the blade or was it common on low quality blades and high alike??Also are there specific era's it was most prevalent or certain schoolsand can it be done as a retempering process later in a blades life?? I've read up as much as i could but haven't found much on this topic. thx Marcello

The reason I ask about the flaw is that it was undisclosed when the blade was purchased on line. I know bad way to but swords for this exact reason......but The seller is very easy and will refund without a problem.do you feel that 1000.00 is a fair price had it not had the flaw? And with the flaw?? Cello

So I assume their is not way to diminish the extent of this flaw?Not necessarly repair but cosmetical improve it?? cello

So chris would it be safe to say this is a fatal flaw?? or is it just a really ugly one?? Thx Cello

Here are some addt'l pics of the blade.....what would this type of flaw be called besides UGLY!!..haha.....also what is the term for this type of formation in the hammon??The sword has very little sori about 1/8 in and is very thick towards the nagako about a 1/4 inch is this typical to a older blade.I know the kanji bun limits the years but it doesn't seem to fit in the shinshinto style or maybe i'm just confused i thought the shinshinto era blades had a deeper sori??Anyone have any thoughts?? Thanks cello

That definitly helps narrow it down guess time to crack some books!..question does the new position of the machi show that rhe bohi is original since it is far above the maru-dome, since the original macho would have been lower and line up with it properly within 3cm according to what I've read ? I prob have ir wrong just seems to make sense to me??maybe lol... Thx Cello

Hey thanks Joe .,actually your post Is exactly the kind of input I was looking for. I gives me insight on how experienced collectors process and evaluate a blad so I can learn how to do the same.your correct not much sori I'm trying to get a better lens to take better shots of it myself. I'll add them as soon as I do.thanks for you thoughts give the limited info I posted Cello

Hi does anyone have any thoughs on this blade?Is it shinshinto/showa?Does it look to be of any quality or specfic school/smith? ....It's 36 3/7 total length but has been shortned,blade length is 25 5/16 on has the begining of the mei on each side any thought would be appreciated. thx Cello

Thanks chris you the best... Sorry about the flip didn't realize I should preview my posts huh Thx again Cello

Hi Can anyone give me a hand with this one?? I know first is seki and last is made lol still not so good with the kanji but I'm trying...is anyone familiar with this smith? thx cello

Yes that was a mistake sori= 13/16"....There are no stamps of any kind on it.what is the chris' shinsa you mentioned?? Thx Cello

Thanks for the info learning alot here.. So would a showato have had a shirasaya made for it if it was a machine made mass produced low quality blade?I realize it could have been made after but it looks period and was told it was brought home from Japan after wwII as is. It was cleaned with something along the line of a naval jelly mabye?.It looks as if some thing dissolved any rust spots but nothing deeper then the width of a hair or two?Could this effect the look of nie or ko-nie or nioi. There is a an area at top of temper line that is more white and brighter and looks like very fine grains of sand is that where the nie would be seen??If so then there are but they dont show in pics. its really hard to photograph with the lens i have i'll try with a different camera. The temper line pattern is two bumps straight two bumps very regular near the tip and then big/ small big /small bumps more irregular close to the nagako seems very well patterned,It looks a lot like one I saw if full polish on line.There also is no stamp on the nagako. thanks all I really want it to not be a showato LOL..... it just feels like quality not like other gunto heavy clunky chopper I have.

thanks for the input....I tried to photograph the nie on a koto blade I have which has been looked at by some people at the ny tokenaki and I can not see the nie on that blade either?? they look very very similar in person except the kanemitsu does not have the wood grain look in the iron.The thing i noticed under light the gunome reflects a rainbow color while the rest does not not sure if that means anything...Also is it possible to have very small nie that appear uniform??

It was pretty hard to get e good pic I had to use shoot through a mag to get close. Do you see any grain in the steel?I thought there were some small nie it's not in a very good polish right now,But i'm by farrrr no expert!! I can tell you it feels like a good blade in hand not that that means all that much. thx marcello

Hi I posted some pics i was asked take of the blade to help figure out if it's kanemitsu work. It's under mei translation.. "kanemitsu showato or nihonto"...... thanks for all your help everyone, -cello

Here are some of the pictures george asked to post to help determine if it's a showato or nihonto kanemitsu.I also took a measure of the sori if that helps it's 1 3/8 ''. The blade has pitting but nothing deep it can be hardly felt with the a finger nail run across it very very shallow looks to have been cleaned improperly at some point with something slightly corrosive wich left a strange patttern in places mabye??All input is welcome. thx marcello

I like you solution the best lol!! Have any on hand I can borrow?? Haha... I do see how valuable it is to be able to read kanji and not have to spend so much time looking it up and matching ect... Thx Cello

Jerry is good is small doses only...thx for the recommended reading I've read a few books I'm not so bad with evaluating the physical characteristics. I teal just seem to get lost with the kanji it's feels like I'm trying to find a needle in a hay stack most of rhe time. Cello

Sorry for the lack of knowledge but what is kanti exactly?? I assume it means evaluate the traits of the sword ??

Thanks for the link I've browsed that site a few times very helpful.How does one go about narrowing down a translation is it just matching kanji???Also I've looked up a few examples of the mei online the all look to have a different style than mine.Is this a showato to or a nihonto blade?Anyone have a clue about the Wakizashi mei?? thanks marcello

sorry about that I'm not versed in the use of message boards they were never my thing...I'll answer to jello from most.But for this site Marcello will do lol .I've trained Togakure Ryu Ninpo Taijutsu,Kukishinden Ryu Happo Bikenjutsu,ect. Unfortunately I have yet to spend any serious study in the written language. Thanks for the traslation I really appreciate it!..... on the wakizashi i've come up with tomo maybe??and kan??ju ??? saku on the katana.So I was kinda close on the katana not sure about the older wak ...close only counts in horseshoes and hand granades right..!Also does anyone have any suggestions of books to start with to learn how to read sword mei?? thx Marcello