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.

Haha, i did wonder! I wasnt really interested in the sword - the incredibly low estimate combined with the statement "Sold As Found" set alarm bells ringing - it was more an exercise to try and decipher a date (next time i will practice on a better example!) This is it if you are interested. https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/lockdales/catalogue-id-lo10074/lot-63b1ea90-de2e-4828-a561-a6e400cc0bda I guess learning how to spot a fake is as useful as learning how to spot something good - cheers for the replies

Could anyone translate the attached please? Its on a sword for sale at auction. Ive got as far as seeing an "8" and a "1" and then im stumped!

Haha - I was thinking the same! Yep, thanks George - fascinating info

Thanks - that's interesting. Any other info you have about any of the Munetoshi smiths would be most appreciated. I'd love to be able to confirm which made the sword.

In what way do you mean the kanji is different - are you referring to the fact that earlier than late 1942 he used a different kanji, as discussed in this thread: http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/8546-survey-of-gunto-contract-numbers/ Or do you mean that my "Toshi" doesn't look like the generally accepted 2nd version of his signature? Also, can you let me know where you would expect the signature to be? All the features on my blade look consistent with this sword - made about 3 months later I think: http://quanonline.com/military/military_reference/Japanese/sword_51.php Also, I have been chatting with George via PM - he suggested I check under the Habaki for the polishers signature (a barcode of sorts) and sure enough, its there - I didn't notice it before. 7 parallel lines...

Cheers! Ah - I wasn't sure if that was "11" or just two random stampings - but yeah, you're probably right. I wonder who has #1....

Spill the beans then!

Cheers! Thankfully I paid a fair bit less than that, but then the one you linked sounds like it is quite a unique length. I also notice it doesn't have a stamp number like mine - what does that suggest - that it wasn't specifically made for military use? Also his signature seems to be the earlier munetoshi signature (mine the later one) Either way, I bet your friend is pleased with it, as I am with mine

I thought I would post up some pictures of my new acquisition (my 2nd ever sword, and probably my last for a while as this is an expensive hobby!). Happy to be corrected on anything I write below: Its a Munetoshi, made in Nov 1942, in Type-44 mounts: The production number (443) is also found on two of the seppa: The blade appears to be (to my untrained eye) in fantastic condition - though my poor camera skills perhaps don't convey that. How would you describe the hamon? Downsides? just that its missing both mekugi (I believe these are screw type?) so if anyone happened to have any spare please let me know. I am right in thinking this is *Yamagami* Munetoshi, of the RJT, am I? The bit that confuses me slightly is that the mei on my sword is apparently what he used from 1943 onwards, but mine is dated Nov 1942 (or do we think that's "close enough" in terms of the switchover point? Would love to hear from anyone that can give me further information about it - alternatively, if anyone wants further/better pictures I can try. Cheers Chris

Not at all! Thanks for taking the time to explain, its all useful knowledge. As I said, it was a present received, so I wont tell my Japanese friend all this