Daddy Cool

Thank you both, and particularly Steve for the detailed explanation. So if I'm understanding correctly, TenWa/Tenna is 1681, and the 2nd year of that period would be 1682, right? The sword itself is at a local auction house (rather than online) so I may pop down and have a look, but here are the pictures from the site: Anything that screams forgery/Chinese fake? (someone needs to wipe off those fingerprints asap!)

Wonder if one of you chaps could cast your eyes over this wakizashi... I tried to have a go translating but didn't get very far with either the date or the name.... Its at an auction local to me... Thanks!

I found another thread on this board - looks the same as my signature: "Seki ju Kanematsu Kanetatsu Saku" http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/18814-is-this-made-by-kanemich-a-2-million-yen-smith/

Cheers guys - that's given me something to do some web-research on tonight then

Popped into a local auction house today to have a look at a sword that's up for sale tomorrow. Ive identified the Showa Stamp and had a go at the signature but running out of talent... could someone fill in the blanks/correct my mistakes? Cheers!

Interesting - thanks a lot. I wonder if that's who it was made for? da/ta - meaning rice field or paddy? do you think the first kanji refers to water?: http://kanji.nihongo.cz/search/water/in/auto/

Ive got the signature as "Fujiwara Sadayuki" (correct me if wrong) but I understand that's a common name. Could you translate the date so I can narrow it down? Cheers!

UK reporting in - mines just been delivered

Hi Matt, Cant offer much advice, as like you, i am very new to this subject, and also like you, i have limited funds available to me! Do you use www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb ? It searches all UK auctions, and once registered you can set up email alerts for keywords (eg "Katana"). Downside - unless the auction house happens to be near you, you generally have quite rubbish photos to go on, and poor descriptions. Plus all said and done, fees are generally 25-32% ON TOP of the hammer price. I have two swords, both bought via this auction site. Each sword came to ~£1,300 once fees were added. The first is a bit tatty - but at least appears to be old (1500s/1600s) http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21188-help-with-signature-translation-ww2-sword/ The second is much more recent (1942) but absolutely immaculate, and from a known (WW2) smith thats reasonably well respected. http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/21367-my-1942-munetoshi/ I feel like i have paid over the odds for the "old" sword, but maybe got a bargain on the "new" sword, so possibly its balanced out! (thats "man maths" at work there). Mind you, if/when i see another sword, i dont think i will be any better qualified to know if its legit. I will rely on the kind chaps on here to guide me. I have chatted via PM to a few other UK guys, so dont hesitate to drop them a line. And if you are ever passing through Berkshire, you are welcome to have a look at my pair. (ooh matron!)

Awesome - just pre-ordered too! So that is this and "The Connoisseurs..." at a combined cost of £94 - a fraction of what either one has been selling for second hand...

Wonder where its shipping from? I pre-ordered on the 24th Dec, and today received an email to expect delivery "February 07 2017 - March 02 2017"...

Yep! 24% + VAT for the auction itself, then assuming you bid online, a further 3% + VAT as an "internet premium". Say the hammer price is £100, i make that a total of £32.40 in fees, or 32% - ooof!

Cheers - might be worth having a look then (although ive just noticed the kissaki looks a bit odd - either blunted or its just the angle of the photo)

A local auction house has this up for sale shortly, so i was going to pop in and have a look at the weekend. I appreciate these are pretty bad pictures, and obviously no Nakago photo, but does anything scream out "fake" or "not fake"? If it looks generally legit, then i will examine it in detail at the weekend, though with a final buyers fee of over 30%(!) i doubt i'd want to pay the upper estimate! https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/john-nicholson/catalogue-id-srjo10140/lot-f341a5f5-f37d-4ba2-89d1-a6fe00b10feb?utm_source=auction-alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=auction-alert&utm_content=lot-image-link

Funnily enough, in the UK the price has gone up - I pre-ordered on 24th Dec at £59.64, and today its listed at £61.59.