max

Chris, All, I was told this shrine that the blade was likely made at produced around 8000 swords from variouse smiths that worked out of it including this one. However, with said I was also told this smith was good and this sword would still be considered somewhat rare. Is that true? Also, thank you to everyone thus far fotlr your insightfull discussions thusfar. Max

Thank you for the translation, I'm thinking the signature is good based on some info i have already recieved.

Hello All, Would someone be so kind and translate the writing on this sword for me please. Also, any additional information anyone may be able to add in regards to what I have here would be wonderful. From what I was told I believe it to be a type 98 army sword made between 1933-1945 and possibly at the Yasukuni shrine with a possible smith of Yasunori. I am still a novice and this information was given to me with the sword. This sword may eventually be for sale. Thank you very much, Max http://imageshack.us/g/824/20120714152414851.jpg/

Thank you gentlemen.

Hello all, Would someone be so kind as to translate this for me. I want to begin to identify this sword. Thank you in advance. Max http://imageshack.us/g/545/dsc04439d.jpg/

O and one more thing, the reserve is much lower than 5,500, happy bidding. Max

Brian, Mr. Bowen is correct, it is one of the ones I posted awile ago, and also the same one Larry was trying to sell for my family. I figured I would try my luck on EbAY with it. If this goes well I will be posting one more after it. Thank you all for looking. Thanks, Max

In case anyone is interested. http://cgi.ebay.com/Wakizashi-Den-Osafu ... 3a67c1c22c Thanks, Max

Could someone give me the brief standard Fujishiro and Hawley’s info on this smith please? I plan on looking to pick up some of these reference books eventually but have not been able to yet. The internet didn’t get me to far as usual. Thanks, Max

Thank you :D

Hello all, I tried to translate this one on my own this time but would say I failed miserably. I didnt get anywhere with it. I think I am going to stick with learning about the actual swords for now minus the kanji until later. All I have to go off of at this point is a handwritten note that says “signed Yuki-Naga”. Can anyone add to this for me. As always, thank you for your assistance. Max http://img861.imageshack.us/g/dsc04391.jpg/

Mr. Bowen, I appreciate your apology. I’m sure we will be speaking soon. Sincerely, Max

Mr. Bowen, Most of what you stated is accurate to a point. Yes my uncle did contact you, yes I did speak with you, and yes eventually many swords will be for sale. However, with that said I also believe I expressed to you without saying it directly that please don’t pay attention to what my uncle says as he for lack of better words may not be the best representative as he tends to be eccentric to say the least. As you are obviously aware by him making such a statement to you such as “museum quality masterpieces.” However, being that he is my uncle and an adult I cannot control who he speaks with or does. But I certainly do not appreciate you taking advantage of what he said to you and posting on here. In addition to this I know that I also expressed my desire to learn more not only to sell some of the swords eventually as an “informed seller,” as I have no choice in doing so, but also because I have a genuine interest in them and always have. In addition to this I also expressed to you that I intended to send the swords that have not previously been evaluated to shinsa as I believe this would be a prudent step. In fact you told me this as well. Now, Mr. Bowen, I certainly appreciate the fact that you did help me and I have not forgotten this fact. However, as I believe a prudent person should do, I took steps to verify just who you are. As I am sure most people would not blindly send anything that holds value to someone they only spoke with on the phone one time and exchanged a couple of emails with, or for that matter take that persons word for it, especially for a “small fee.” Further, I do believe I never actually stopped communicating with you all be it that you did just spend a month in Japan and have been for the most part unavailable during that time. Now for stating my intentions. I have been very clear with my intentions and especially to this forum. In fact you were the one who showed this forum to me. After this I began to follow the posts here for weeks before I actually posted anything. In addition to this I even contacted the site administrator and sent him this email; "Hello Brian, I have become a member of your message board. I have to say I am really enjoying reading it every day. However I have a question. I am attempting to respect your rules but unclear how to proceed. I have multiple swords that I am attempting to asses what exactly they are, place a relative value to them, and eventually sell them. I understand how difficult a task this is as I have spoken with several collectors, some of which turned me onto your forum, and am attempting also to learn as I intend on continuing to collect myself. Unfortunately, I don't own the swords I have to sell and cannot afford to purchase them all. I would love to get the valuable insight on them your forum would provide but don't know if this is appropriate. If not can you suggest a couple of respected places I could sell them through. Please advise me on this situation. Thank you for your time on this matter." And he responded; "Max, I have no problem with that, and members usually only take issue if they unaware of the commercial status of the items. In other words, if you post them and write exactly what you told me (ie..you are looking for info, but they will ultimately be for sale) then no-one will have any objections. When you do list them for sale, we just move the topic to the commercial section. Try them maybe one at a time, in the appropriate section and let's see what happens?" Additionally, if you would have “spent anytime looking at the archives here” you would have seen this was my very first post under “Den Osafune Tadamitsu Wakizashi, “ of which many of the members here responded to me on. "Hello, This is my first post and I will attempt to respect all the rules of this forum. First I would like comment that I am a new member here and inexperienced with swords but anxious to learn. I have been monitoring the forum now for a couple of weeks attempting to get a good grasp of the etiquette and learn as much as possible. During this time I have really enjoyed reading many of the opinions on the various swords and topics and learned much. I have always had an interest in them but unfortunately not much extra time to devote to them up until now. As of recently I have inherited several and have been tasked with research and eventual sale of several others that belong to another family member. Several of the swords that I have to sell I would love to keep and build my own collection but unfortunately will not be able to do this with them all. At this point I have spoken with several wonderful people, some of which are members of this forum that have provided me with valuable insight and knowledge into a couple of them. However, I would love to have a chance to eventually post all of them on this forum as well and see what everyone’s thoughts/comments are. After I have managed to identify all of them, including sending a few to Shinsa, I will eventually list several for sale. Any thoughts on the swords themselves, any suggestions on avenues to proceed, recommendations on people to follow up with, and generally any info would be appreciated. I have included a link to several pictures on the first sword I will post and I uploaded a copy of the original Shinsa worksheet. Thank you," Now I apologize if I was supposed to place this declaimer on every post I make but I figured it would get rather redundant as most of the posts I have been following are by the same small group of members. As for this posting. This sword is mine and as I stated my favorite. This sword I intend to keep and wanted to gain more information on it. You can believe me when I say that I wrote down every detail you told me about it, but, Mr. Jean as given me more which I appreciate and respect. Further, I know this sword peaked your curiosity as you wanted more pictures as well, if I remember correctly. For that reason I posted it thinking it would be an interesting conversation piece for the members here. Not to mention I really wanted a good tip in how to get the shirasaya off to take those pictures. As for my further intentions. I am trying to soak up as much information as possible. I have also begun reading several books I also inherited and that you recommended to read. Unfortunately, my time is usually very limited and I can only get a chance to make some fast posts and hope to learn a few things. I have actually learned more from posting here and the members than what I have read in a book. Further, time is running out for me and I am struggling to make some decisions on these swords for my family that I don’t want to regret for the remainder of my life. Perhaps you have a taste of what I have to contend with as you posted part of your conversation here for all the world to see. Even though I may not know all the details about them and am not as savvy with swords yet as many are here, these swords, are very precious to me as they represent a lost family member and they were his pride and joy. With that said I have never deviated from my stated intentions. In fact at some point most of the swords that are beyond my humble means to compensate my family for will have to be sold. In fact I was looking forward to possibly offering them to the members here and was considering using your services to do this as well and or your web site. Up until this point I was beginning to trust you as I have read many of your posts here and I have to say was very interested in what you had to say. In fact as you are aware I was supposed to call you this Sunday. Now I am not so sure you would like me to do that anymore or that it is appropriate as I would have to say I am slightly offended by your post. Now, Please humor me in explaining why you would take the time to type such a post that I’m sure you knew would come across as offensive to me. Thank you, Max And yes I am a “budding collector and genuinely trying to enter this esoteric hobby,” and as you put it so eloquently in a previous email, yes, I am “over my head,”.... for now.

Gentlemen, When I can get to it would you like me to take photos of the bottom? Also, I believe that mark is written on the paper as well but I will have to check to verify. It was awhile ago I took the photos and the sword is not handy were I can just quickly check. Also, are there any other specific photos I should take of them. Thanks, Max

Jean, As embarrassing as it is I am having trouble getting the shirasaya off of the nakago. I attempted to do it the traditional way and have been unsuccessful, and to be honest I am a little gun shy as I don’t want to harm it. This is why I simply photographed the old sketching. Do you have any tips suggestions for removing it without damaging anything. As soon as I get it off I will take many more photos. Thanks, Max

Jean, Thank you, those pictures were still from my original bunch I took. I would like to think I am improving but have not had a chance to retake them and prove myself with those swords. However, some of the post examples of my photographic work can be examined in another thread I just started. Titled “My Favorite” if you are interested. I think I captured the subject much better doing at least more justice to it than I did here. However, I feel I certainly still can improve. Thank you, Max

Yes, it does, thank you for the start.

Any money spent on something you truly enjoy or personally like is worth it no matter what anyone else’s opinion is. After all you are the one who appreciates it. God knows I have spent a lot of money on things my wife would say I should not have, but they were all things I appreciated. Max (Novice)

Can anyone even tell me approx. age or anything about this? I have zero to go off of here. Are tsuba usually sent through shinsa as much as the swords themselves are?

Jean, I guess just your thought/opinions/comments. What do you think of the school its from? Would you consider this sword a good representation of this school? Is it typical for this school it is attributed to. Is this considered a sought after school and how would it compare to the Osafune school of the first sword I posted. I guess really anything as I am soaking up all the info you guys are giving me and learning as I go. In fact I am even learning just the basic sword lingo from translating what you guys reply to me. Some of the basic responses you guys may take for granted significantly broaden my horizon because it gives me direction to look things up further. Thank you, Max

Hello all, I just wanted to post this sword tonight for you guys to take a look at. It is my favorite of the bunch thus far. I have received a little bit of info/opinion on it from one of the members here but am anxious to hear anyone else's thoughts/comments/opinions. I'm not sure how collectable or sought after it is or is not considered, but, for whatever reason I just really like it and always have. Thank you, Max http://img20.imageshack.us/g/dsc04539nf.jpg/

Yes, Thank you, that is a lot of information and really helps my understanding.

John, Any suggestions of where to look/learn that is user friendly or an accepted place that we go to? Thank you, Max

Hello all, I realize I am new and don’t have much to add but I found it interesting that on this shinsa rejection for a fake signature they mentioned it to be a good blade. From what I have been reading I thought this was uncommon. Unless the original translation written on here was incorrect as I didn’t translate it, any thoughts? Thanks, Max Sword_Paper (fake papers)1.pdf

Thank you for all the information. However, I apologize for my lack of knowledge as I am really struggling to understand and I’m a little confused still. Is “Hojoji Tachibana Kunimitsu” all that the sword says on it or is there more to the translation? I understand who Hawley’s was and his reference but am not exactly sure what “KUN 533” is (page # maybe). The “x35” I realize is a ranking in Yen but don’t really understand it just yet either. Also would “Hojoji Tachibana Kunimitsu” be the actual smiths whole name or is it simply “Kunimitsu” with him claiming to be the descendent of “Hojoji” and then how would the family name of “Tachibana” fit in? Further, when we look it up and say that he is listed, is he actually listed as “Hojoji Tachibana Kunimitsu” in Hawley’s and Watson’s translation or simply “Kunimitsu?” You wouldn’t know it by all of these questions, but, I am actually learning a great deal. I try and Google as much as I can and look up as much as I can but it is just not get it. Thank you, Max