NihontoEurope

Hi to you all, I need help on the NIDAIME part of the MEI. Does anyone of you know what it refers to or what it means? Second Gen (NIDAI)? 讃岐守　藤原　盛廣　二代目　　I hope my interpretation of the MEI is correct :S　　　 SANUKI NO KAMI FUJIWARA MORIHIRO NIDAIME Regards Martin

Ed, The text you posted as reference was for NAGAYOSHI. I'm looking for reference for NOBYYOSHI. : ) /Martin

Thanks Ed, Been there already. I have vaccuum cleaned the whole internet : ) It could be the same smith I already pointed out from Hawley, or the father. /Martin

( : Thanks for the interest. Adding Nagako + Mei. Thanks /Martin

Hello, I need some help to find out some more about a smith. I have looked through my books (Fujishiro, Hawley and Kokan Nagayama). There is a record in Hawley (attached scan-image plus Hamon). The MEI reads (authenticated and carries a Tokubetsu Hozon): 平安城住藤原信吉 HEIANJYO JYU FUJIWARA NOBUYOSHI Anything helps : ) /Martin 　　　

Ok! Thanks for the replies. I learn new things all the time!! /Martin

Howdy Mark I saw the MEI and noticed that there are som simularities to a sword that I own. I am not sure which SUKENAGA mine is, but perhaps it could help you in the search of your smith. Please check it out. /Martin

Hi yall, A general question... I would say that the school of Tadayoshi is somewhat classic in many ways. The classic boshi, sugu-ba, yasurime and so on. I came across a (supposed) Shodai MASANAGA/MASAHIRO on Ricecracker today: http://www.ricecracker.com/inventory/it ... ahiro.html Almost 12k with a nice Higo mount. Why is it still not sold? So, what's bugging me? Check out the Nagako and tell me that it is ok with the Suji-Kai/Kiri mix on one side and Kiri stand-alone on the other. Never seen it. Comments? /Martin

reinhard, We all have different logics. That is the beauty. I drive a 4WD JEEP. What do you drive? I went online in 1988. When did you? : ) /Martin

Jean, The Conoisseur book of the Japanese swords by Nakayama Kokan translated by Kenji Mishina - In the shelf already Fujishiro books - on wish-list. Nihonto Koza 6 Volumes - I will try to look for that one. Thank you for tips on books! /Martin

nagamaki and ALL, When I used the word definite was referring to the signature. A definate GIMEI i.e. the smith at hand always signed with big box kanji. Books, yes. I am concurrently buying books. I currently own books and the books I cannot purchase I loan from libraries around the world. For example, Hawley (Japanese Swordsmiths) not easy to buy. Do you have a copy for sale? I'll buy it. MEIHIN KATANAEZU SHUSEI, I have a copy of that in the U.S. on hold for me right now. I don't want it shipped due to theft and it is very expensive to have it shipped and the penalty at the border is severe (it is called taxes). If the books I have on the shelf do not hold any information of the smith and the internet has no images. What would you do? So, I'm not leeching on you guys at all. This was a last resort for me on 3 of the swords/threads/posts I uploaded. The POSITIVE thing with this is that I actually have learned a lot here the last couple of days! SO THANK YOU ALL for the time you have spent on my item and the items I wanted. Hopefully I can repay you some day. Perhaps I can get a hold of a sword that you want, perhaps make a comment, perhaps I have a book of information or perhaps I have a sword that can be used as comparison. What "use" would you have to resources that have the same knowledge as yourself? /Martin

Brian and pcfarrar, I think both of you are making the correct judgement; the hamon appears to be running off slightly on one side of the blade. /Martin

pcfarrar, Correct assumtion. I currently do not own any sword with horomino. That is why my interest. In what way do you think it is fatally flawed? /Martin

If the signature is made by smith: The smith who made this piece of metal did not add the gold, and he did not know that it would be, when he signed the sword. This is done as an attribute to the sword by someone else. What I need is some signatures from NAGAYOSHI for comparison or a definate answer from someone /Martin

Here comes the MEI: Thanks for all comments! I hope that a "confirming MEI" can be presented. /Martin

reinhard, Nice information. I will analyse it and cross check with other data I have. Most greatful! /Martin

This is tricky. Jean pointed out (according to his current info) earlier that only Shodai signed with 2 characters. I have not seen one yet so I have no idea at all. When you say big, I would see a box signature where each character is approximately 1.3x1.3 cm if framed. Right? Is this public information somewhere, where you have the Shodai data? /Martin

It appears that the hamon is "licking" the upper part and expands on one side with a stop/break, while the other side clearly runs along all the way to the expansion. Almost like it is supposed to run along the mune even after the expansion (looking closely). Good news or bad news? PAINT does not have The Spell Checking feature. Poing = Point : ) /Martin

Toryu,. I will upload omote side of nagako, but not right now. Brian, It is the hamon that continues up the ridge on the mune. I have requested an image which clarifies it and by mouth I can say it is thin and unbroken and expands. Is this good or bad? Uploading images later. /Martin

Jacques D., Nagasa = 27,2 /Martin

The man from Japan...he went Kamikaze on me and dumped a big payload in my in-tray! I hope this helps. Jacques D., Seen that one : ) /Martin

Jean, One issue... Having vacuum cleaned the whole internet the last couple of days for NAGAYOSHI signatures and variants, I have only seen the -長吉SAKU and not a single one with 長吉-only and the specimens have all been few. What do you think? It is a KINZOGAN MEI. AND some breaking news... I have an incoming picture from Japan. I hope the email servers in Japan can cope with attachments over 100kb. Uploading soon. /Martin

Jean, Based on your comment, "So no kurikara", I found some information in a book I have (The connoisseur's book of Japanese swords). At page 81 the are some info. Being to lazy to take a picture and the lack of a scanner I post a link: http://books.google.com/books?id=zPyswm ... ra&f=false Something to work on... /Martin

mariuszk, I welcome any opinions! You are both legally and morally safe. /Martin

Jean, Can you please explain.... Have you found the smith?!? /Martin