Geraint

Dear Joel. Just to add a little to what you already know, the habaki, (blade collar), is a two piece type which is slightly unusual and the seppa, (washers), look to be gold foiled, an expensive thing to do. (The one on the tsuba is back to front). There is a possibility that the habaki is also foiled, have a close look at the back edge. You might be able to see it looking something like this. , Don't get excited, it's going to be low carat but it does suggest that this was a well mounted and well thought of sword in it's heyday. Light oil and a clean cloth, quite a bit of dirt will come off so keep renewing the cloth. Very un likely that anyone can tell you who made it in its current condition but it gets more interesting as you go along. Enjoy! All the best.

Dear Volker. Not sure what you have already but Higo no Kuni Hagi Jiuemon Munekage. Another thread here. Your search will be complicated by the fact that someone has chosen to copy one of his swords for modern reproduction but others are, http://www.ricecracker.com/japanese_swords/past_swords/s2/s2_dotanuki_munekage.htm and a little here, http://www.sho-shin.com/4munekag.pdf Inevitably I am going to ask if we can see the whole blade please? All the best.

Dear Weston. Well, looks like you did alright with this one, barring unseen condition issues. This is a genuine Japanese sword made quite some time before WWII and modified to be carried in that conflict. The pale space in the scabbard is where the kurikata, the protrusion that has the sageo threaded through it, would fit but a hanger has been added and it would probably have had a leather combat cover fitted. The tsuba is signed Seiryuken Eiju, a recent discussion here, I would guess that it is a katana, if the length from the tip to the shoulder of the tang is 60cms then it is. Go slow, just wipe with a little light oil for the moment. Others will chime in with more detailed advice but above all resit that urge to clean anything. Welcome and all the best. (Just crossed posts with Brian!)

And fresh paint! All the best.

Dear Brian. It's all down to personal taste but I'd be looking at No. 1, carving seems to go over the mimi, No. 3 looks rather fine and No. 14, theme of Shiguretei, that slightly attenuated interpretation is often seen in Akasaka. Enjoy! All the best.

Dear Edward. Hawley does list one, 4th generation who signs this way, MAS176. Worth a look perhaps. All the best.

I think bottom right of the top mekugi ana I can see one of the little feet. All the best.

Dear George. Well, from these pictures we can tell that is is a tanto, given the nakago probably not Gendai. Sizes might help but there is not a lot to be said from out of focus and out of polish pictures other than that you probably did OK. At any rate for that money you can afford to get it polished and in shirasaya. All the best.

Dear BaZZa. I believe in his first post Nick told us there was no tsuka, well he said handle but that bit is missing either way. Absolutely agree with everything else you said and the extra missing bits just make it more of a quest. All the best.

Dear Jean. First picture, the iron plate with applied Aoi mon signed Kunihiro. One or two unusual ones here. All the best.

Dear Haon. I assume that by wartime you are referring to Kamakura/Nambokucho period koshirae? In which case there is not a lot of information around but you might find what you are looking for in the Tokyo Museum collection of Sword Mountings. Of course this contains many examples of more recent manufacture but does have some early tachi koshirae. All the best.

Dear Dale. I'm sure you are right, you can see the ken on each of the pieces in the post held downward against Shoki's leg. All the best.

Dear Colin. What a cracker! I love it. I think your Shinshinto call is a good one from the sugata, nakago and what I can see of the boshi. Personally I have ditched the idea of a merchant's sword, unless you have documentary evidence of a sword's history and it's koshirae there really is no way of telling who carried it and, malachite flecks not withstanding, I think this is a very harmonious and attractive koshirae. Thanks for sharing and enjoy! All the best.

Dear Vitaly. I really like the second tsuba, whether Saotome or Myochin, at least we are in katchushi territory. Attribution apart I find it a very pleasing tsuba; the iron, the asymmetry of the shape and the sukashi make for an appealing tsuba. Good catch indeed! All the best.

Dear T. Could we have a first name to address you by please? Have a check around Kiyonori as a name for your swordsmith. Of course we would like to see pictures of the whole blade please. All the best.

Dear Vitaly. Spot on! Usually read Shoami Shigenobu. Quite a few of these about and a classic design. As a matter of interest what size is it? (I have to agree with you about the 'better in hand' idea.) This one looks like it will improve with a little tsuba fussing. All the best.

Dear Dan. Thank you for the extra photographs, I think you did well to find this koshirae with a decent blade. To my eye this looks like a late Edo/Bakumatsu koshirae, smothered in Tokugawa mons to make it more saleable to the West. I have an example but yours is much more decorative than mine. Too good to resit especially as us mere mortals are never likely to find the originals. that Rivkin was talking about in his post above. All the best.

Dear All. One new to me and another that I have to confess I bought to complete a koshirae and only recently took a good look again. Just for enjoyment. All the best.

Dear John. Perhaps Yoshiyuki and kao? All the best.

Dear Dan. It would be wonderful to see some more photographs of your lovely tachi if possible. For what it's worth I do not think yours conforms to the attributes of a kazari tachi, though the saya fittings do have similarities. Specifically the tsuka is not comparable and one of the distinguishing features would be a shitogi tsuba whereas your koshirae carries the more traditional tachi style of tsuba. The other factor of note is that kazari tachi are remarkably slender and yours has more traditional proportions, not to mention a papered Muromach blade which would never fit into kazari tachi koshirae. Looking forward to others adding to this but I'm sure we would all like to see some more detailed images please. All the best.

Dear Alex. Just to start the ball rolling..... As we will have a hard time seeing very much in these photographs then take what I say with the proverbial pinch of salt. The nakago would certainly suggest that the sword is suriage however that of itself does not indicate age. The image that does seem to be clear is of the boshi which appears to be sugu ha. Given the rest of the hamon this would be a strong indicator of a Shinto sword. All the best.

Dear Piers. Thank you very much for the additional information, much appreciated. The barrel inlay was as black as the rest so almost invisible, now it's come back to life I will let it settle down a bit. I have not been able to find the number on any of the other parts yet but it is early days. I will have to try and get some photographs of the other matchlock which is quite similar in many ways. All the best.

Dear Jan and Piers. Very many thanks for the additional information. Jan I think this one would be classified as a Sakai gun, pictures below. Piers I have tried to photograph that last kanji but it is pretty rust obscured, I'll add a closeup with the other pictures. Still working on the bisen but the gun was sold as, 'action not working' and it does now! All the best.

Dear Steve. Thank you so much, I would never have got the smiths name. I'm guessing that in the context makibari? Still working on the bisen but I'm fairly sure the stock has never been off the gun; pins still partly in place and some degree of corrosion but externally pretty good so far. Once again a big thank you! All the best.

Dear All. Well the box arrived this morning and my new tanegashima is here. Delighted to find that it's signed but would love some help with this. Pictures are not great but the best I can do at the moment. Thank you in advance for any help. All the best.