Kronos

Fujiwara Yoshimune kore saku (might be Yoshisada?)

What was the value in terms of pure cash when it was a Juyo Masamune compared to Tokoju Yukimitsu?

The three books that come to mind are the two above (Compton's and Nihon no bi) as well as Japanese Swords of the Bizen Tradition by Darcy and Bob Benson.It's a great book but you'd have to decide if just Bizen-to is ok although I'd recommend getting all three

Well it's one of three things really. Either: 1) they aren't papering to these smiths in which case Curran needs to post examples that are blatantly Kanshiro etc as evidence of this. 2) They are but Curran can't find examples in which case Mike or someone else should show examples and papers. Or 3) It was just a slow couple of years where no Tsuba by any of these artists or very few at least were submitted which can happen. They can't paper things that aren't submitted after all. You're all looking for negative evidence to disprove your theories when instead you need to provide evidence and until that happens it's just speculation and hearsay. I would liken it to a Republican debate except if that were the case then everyone would be denying Higo actually existed and demanding we bomb the NBTHK.

As rankings like this are comparative for age/school maybe it's just a really good showato? Lol

I said the same thing in another thread recently Paul, I think I'm going to have to pay another trip sometime this year as I believe I can appreciate it much more now (not that I didn't last I went).

When you consider there's about 2 million swords registered in Japan and many more around the world then they're not exactly rare so they only protect the best and they're designated Juyo Bijutsuhin, Juyo Bukazai and Kokuho, Kokuho being national treasures. Swords with those designations are restricted from export outside of Japan although I believe they do allow Juyo-bijutsuhin to be exported but will lose that status on leaving Japan. There's currently 1000ish juyo bunkazai and 122 Kokuho with most of the Kokuho being owned by museums and shinto shrines although some are owned by private individuals. There's also strict laaws on how they should be preserved.

What is he polishing for you if you don't mind me asking?

Definite Higaki yasurime, late muromachi Mino-den by the looks of it but as you say there's loads of Kanemori's so it's unlikely you'll be able to pin it down to one.

Like I said, late war kai Gunto but modified for marines specifically as they were used on land and made accordingly for certain practicalities that regular navy troops wouldn't face. I'll try to find my source when I get home. $550 does seem about right.

Did he go on the friday? If not I imagine all the good stuff went then.

I use it all the time for pricing aas well, some websites block it and google cache though.

It's always easier to learn when you're most interested so maybe take a look around at some websites and see what tradition/age/school appeals most to you and start there. Otherwise why not Koto Bizen? Most swords are from Bizen so there's a lot of availability, there's a wide range of prices from the worst Sue Bizen right up to Fukouka-ichimonji and the likes of Tomonari to suite your budget and there's a wide variety of styles so when you decide what you like you can hone in on that area. Franco is right in that it's not necessary to own swords to study them and starting from the beginning gives a better overall picture as there's much of it is reinterpretations of earlier work. If I could start again I would do it that way.

Yeah, $150-180 seems to be normal price now the market has settled.

Very nice, if I may ask why did you choose these two as they're so different?

i've got a pair you can have but they're only 1mm and I don't think the dimensions would fit yours. Edit I have a copper pair as well but also different dimensions.

Uwe, it's worth going just for the koshirae tbh and also there's a lacquered chest of some sort from the 1600's commissioned by a European noble that is stunning. If you want to see good lacquerwork it's up with the best. For swords the British museum is worth the trip as well just to see iirc a Shintogo Kunimitsu Tanto. When I went they only had 4 swords on display which was a shame but this Tanto was on a whole different level.

Everything on Aoi is genuine.

I had the same experience when I went a few years ago Greg, great fittings and Katchu but let down by only one sword imho.

It's a WW2 naval Kai Gunto with a stainless steel blade. They used stainless steel on the naval Gunto's to avoid rusting due to salt water etc. It appears to be missing the Tsuba and it only has 1 ashi and some other anomalies, but I think it's a marine version which had some changes to the normal Navy ones. As to value, whatever someone is willing to pay I did sell one that was more complete in slightly better condition a couple of years ago for $750ish as a rough guide. I'm sure someone much more knowledgeable in Gunto will come along to correct me.

I'm always open to offers as well

Then I'm not sure what you are referring to, there's only the smiths name and date.

Not sure what yyou mean by "brothers" mark but you may mean arsenal stamp, if there is it's not in the photo's so one of the entire tang would show it.

http://markussesko.com/2015/06/10/kantei-3-hamon-boshi-3/

Correct.